Crossing Bolivia: from Peru to Chile, 7-days trip
- Sail on Lake Titicaca and explore the mystical islands of Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna;
- Visit the fascinating metropolis of La Paz;
- Go downhill biking on the Most Dangerous Road in the World, from La Paz to Yolosa;
- Take a Jeep tour through the second largest salt flats in the world, the Salar de Uyuni and the beautiful Avaroa National Park.
This 7-days Bolivia Trip is a connection trip between Peru and Chile, during which you will experience the two most important highlights of Bolivia, Lake Titicaca with Isla del Sol and the Salar de Uyuni. From Puno you go by bus to Copacabana where you get on the boat to Isla del Sol. You will sleep on the island and visit Isla de la Luna the next day before sailing back to Copacabana. In La Paz you will go on a City Tour to see the main sights. You will also go downhill biking on the most dangerous road in the world, from La Paz to Yolosa. You will fly to Uyuni and start your beautiful 3-days Jeep tour through the second largest salt flats in the world, the Salar de Uyuni and the beautiful national park Avaroa where you will see coloured lakes, geysers and volcanoes. The trip ends in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
Compose your own Bolivia Trip
This is an example trip; it can be customized in consultation.
Route: Puno - Copacabana - Isla del Sol - Isla de la Luna - Copacabana - La Paz - downhill biking on the Most Dangerous Road in the World to Yolosa - Uyuni, Salar de Uyuni, N.P. Avaroa - San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)
 | Day 1: Puno - Copacabana - Isla del Sol (3,600 m) |
Day 2: Isla del Sol - Copacabana - La Paz (3,600 m)
From Isla del Sol you will sail to Isla de la Luna in about 45 minutes. During the short boat trip, you will once again enjoy the beautiful views of the lake and the Cordillera Real.
On this island you visit the Inca ruins of El Palacio de las Vírgenes (virgins) del Sol or Inaj Uyo.
After the visit to Isla de la Luna you will return to Copacabana by boat, where you will arrive around noon. You will have time to have lunch (not included) before you travel by bus or with private transport from Copacabana to La Paz.
Stay overnight in La Paz.
Note: We advise you to take as little luggage as possible to Isla del Sol in a daypack or a small backpack. You must carry this yourself. You can store and leave larger luggage in Copacabana to pick it up upon your return.
 | Day 3: La Paz (3,600 m) Today you will explore La Paz; in the morning or in the afternoon you will do the exclusive 5-hours city tour. You will visit several places of interest in the centre of the La Paz metropolis such as, the Balcón viewpoint from where you have unequalled views of the city, the Tiwanaku Archaeological Museum and Plaza Murillo, where the Cathedral, the Government Palace and the Parliament Building are located. A short visit to the small but famous street Calle Jaén with its museums is also included. This is followed by a cable car ride from La Paz at 3,600 m to the city of El Alto at 4,100 m. From El Alto you have a unique view of the bowl in which La Paz is located. The tour ends with visits to the witches' market and the San Francisco church. Stay overnight in La Paz. |
Day 4: La Paz - downhill biking to Yolosa
A wonderfully active day: you will go downhill biking on the Most Dangerous Road in the World. From La Cumbre at an altitude of 4,700 m you go downhill biking to Yolosa, near Coroico. During the 64 km trip you will descend more than 3,600 m in height! The road changes from wide and asphalted to narrow and rocky. From the dry cold Altiplano you descend to the tropical Yungas where it is hot and humid! Just outside the village is the place where a late lunch is served and where you can rest for a few hours at a swimming pool. You will be brought back to La Paz at the end of the day.
Today lunch is included. Stay overnight in La Paz.
 | Day 5: La Paz - Uyuni - San Juan, Aguaquiza or P. Chuvica (3,600 m) * After a short early morning flight from La Paz you will arrive at Uyuni airport and you will be taken to the centre where you can have breakfast (not included) before your tour departs. You will depart around ten (private tour) or half past ten (group tour) on this fantastic tour through the Salar de Uyuni. First you will visit the Cemetery for discarded trains just outside Uyuni and then Colchani. There you can see souvenirs made from salt, as well as the process of making kitchen salt and the Salt Museum. Then you enter the salt flat and you will see the Ojos del Salar, where gasses bubble from under the salt flat, and Montones de Sal (salt heaps), a salt hotel and the Dakar monument. Then you continue with a visit to Incahuasi, cactus island, where you can take a short walk on the volcanic rocks between the giant cacti. Then you continue on the salt flat on your way to the place where you will spend the night. Today lunch is included. Stay overnight in San Juan, Aguaquiza or Puerto Chuvica. |
* The route of the Salar de Uyuni tour depends on the type of overnight stays that you choose; in very basic accommodations in dorms or in private rooms with private bathroom, or in 3* hotels.
The route described here is based on a tour with nights in basic accommodations.
You can also choose between a Spanish-speaking driver or an English-speaking guide.
Day 6: San Juan, Aguaquiza or P. Chuvica - Huallajara
You drive through the Salar de Chiguana to a viewpoint from where you will have a splendid view at the semi-active Ollagüe Volcano.
The journey continues through the Silolí Desert and you will get to see Laguna Cañapa, Laguna Hedionda and Laguna Chiarkota. Next stop will be at the Stone tree; a rock formation of over eight meters high.
You drive into N.P. Avaroa at Laguna Colorada, the red lake. After a visit to this lake, the day ends in the nearby place Huallajara.
Today lunch is included. Stay overnight in Huallajara.
 | Day 7: Huallajara - Hito Cajón - San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) The departure will be very early because you are going to visit the geyser Sol de Mañana; its vapours are best seen in the early morning light. You are here at 5,000 m, the highest point of the journey. The area is extremely volcanic with temperatures in the mud pools up to 90°C. Further on, if time permits, you can warm up in the natural thermal baths of the hot springs (Polques). Then you drive through the Salvador Dalí Desert, a very beautiful area with mountains of surrealistic colours that recall the works of Salvador Dalí and beautiful rock formations of petrified lava. Then you will reach Laguna Verde located at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano (5,868 m), which marks the border between Chile and Bolivia. Laguna Verde's green colour is caused by the high content of arsenic and magnesium in the water. After you have passed Laguna Blanca you go to the border with Chile, called Hito Cajon where you make the connection to your transfer at 9.30 hrs. to the centre of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. The transfer takes approximately one hour. From the centre you can walk to your hotel or take a taxi there. |
Your fantastic Bolivia trip is over. From here you will travel on through Chile.