Bolivia: The Magical Sky-High Altiplano – 15 days

April 22 – May 6, 2012

AND

Aug 17-31, 2012

This journey is designed to visit some of the most spectacular regions of the Bolivian highlands region with some early acclimatization to the semi-tropical Yungas on the eastern side of the Andes and the jewel of the Andes; mystical Lake Titicaca before heading south to the Sud Lipez region where the highest altitudes will be encountered. The itinerary has been designed to position you at the best locations at the best times for photographing the grand landscape and wild animals of this region. The season we recommend spans from late March to late November (which is our dry season) thus the roads should be in good shape for travel after the rainy season, which tends to be December to March.. The months between May and September are cold as it is the winter but the best climatic conditions are during this time. The Altiplano is a cold region any time of the year so be prepared for fairly cold temperatures at night and comfortable to chilly temperatures during the day. In any case, the landscapes are so spectacular that you will forget about the temperatures and focus on making some amazing photos of an awe-inspiring landscape that promises to deliver beautiful light, convoluted and rugged landforms, glacier-covered peaks and shimmering water spectacles that will not be easily forgotten. The Altiplano is an amazing landscape and offers surprises to new and frequent visitors alike. Make sure you have plenty of film/compact flash cards and a great variety of lenses – from very wide to very long as well as a sturdy tripod so you can make images of anything that may catch your eye. We travel with our laptops and/or a device where you can download your images for immediate back-ups, like the Epson viewers. Please get in touch with us for any equipment suggestions and recommendations before departing as we have decades of experience shooting in Bolivia.

Prices are in US $ and include all services as per the itinerary. Please contact us with any questions.

Included are: all airport transfers, accommodations, meals as noted (B,L,D) , bi-lingual guides, private 4×4 vehicles, our years of experience and local knowledge.

1 person     7,350.00/per person

2-3 people     5,950.00/per person

4-6 people     5,250.00/per person

7-10 people   4,550.00/per person

- ITINERARY -

Day 0: Depart U.S.
Flights to Bolivia depart late in the evening from Miami. International airfare is not included in this itinerary. For airline tickets, please contact our ticketing agent GEO Travel 1-800-938-7285.

Day 1: Arrival in La Paz, Bolivia – City Tour
Arrive in La Paz at 6:00 AM. The altitude at El Alto International Airport is 13,200’ above sea level. It is common to feel light-headed, have shortness of breath and slight nausea at this altitude. There is oxygen and a doctor at the airport if you feel ill. Upon arrival you will go through the immigration desk first and get a 30-day stamp in your passport. After you pick-up your bags you will continue through the customs section and then you will be met by us at the general passenger meeting point. We will take your bags and you will board our private vehicle and head down into La Paz. We suggest you have a basic photo kit easily accessible so you can take photos along the way. Along the route there are a few panoramic viewpoints where we will stop to see the grand canyon where La Paz sits. You will have plenty of time to make images before heading into the heart of La Paz. The hotel is located in the Valley of the Moon sector at the lowest level of La Paz (approximately around 10,500’) where you will check in and rest, relax or sleep for the rest of the morning. We recommend you have lunch at the hotel. We will pick you up at 2 PM to take a city tour so you can have a real close-up look at this fascinating city deep in the heart of the Andes. We will visit the heart of the business sector downtown, the open air markets in the Indian quarter and the colonial neighborhoods with great views of the city. We will return to the hotel about 4 hours later so you can rest and continue your acclimatization. Dinner is on your own tonight and we recommend a light dinner at the hotel. Avoid alcohol and caffeine tonight. Overnight at Hotel Oberland (3*) for the night.

Day 2: La Paz – Coroico – La Paz
We depart in the morning to the main pass that climbs over the Andes into the sub-tropical Yungas region; crossing a pass at 14,500’ where we will stop and take a look at the engineering marvel that this highway is as it winds it’s way across the high pass and down into deep u-shaped valleys that connect with the Amazon basin many thousands of feet below. The pass is actually a kilometer or so from the Choro Inca Trail that eventually ends up in the same area where Coroico is located. Have some warm clothes handy for this section. The paved highway drops down very quickly and after traveling less than an hour we will continue on the dirt road that heads into the “north yungas” region – this is the cloud forest and chances are that you will be in clouds at least part of the time. This is a two-way road and the vehicles heading down into the Yungas yield to the vehicles going up into the Andes. Along the way you will see beautiful mountains, pass under active waterfalls and see plenty of birds along the way. This is the main artery to the Amazon and it’s a popular road. As we go lower the mountains are not as steep and the road gets wider and the temperatures get much warmer quickly. You will be in a semi-tropical environment soon after the leaving the pass. Coroico is located high on the shoulder of a green mountain and you will drive up to Coroico from the junction at Yolosa. Upon arrival into the plaza you can relax and see the town before heading off to have lunch at a local restaurant. We will head up to the Hostal Sol y Luna located above the town that provides the best views of the region where you can see the glacier-covered Andes and the jungle-covered Yungas in the same view. The owner is a German lady who has lived in Bolivia for decades and has made Hostal Sol y Luna a paradise within paradise. After visiting the area we will go and visit a local coca-grower to see up-close the famous coca plant and learn about its roots, its uses and its place in the Bolivan culture. We begin our journey back to La Paz in the afternoon crossing the Andes once again and be back at the hotel around 6 PM. Dinner on your own. Overnight at Hotel Oberland (3*). (B,L)

Day 3: La Paz – Copacabana
After breakfast we depart out of La Paz onto the Altiplano and head to the town of Copacabana located on the shores of Lake Titicaca which sits at 12,500’ above sa level and is about a three-hour drive from La Paz. The road will take us out of the canyon of La Paz, next to the Cordillera Real mountains on your right, along the shores of Lake Titicaca on your left and across the Strait of Tiquina where the vehicle will cross on a barge and we will take a motorized boat to the Peninsula of Copacabana. Once across we will continue our journey high above the lake with spectacular views of the Altiplano, Lake Titicaca and the Islands of the Moon and Sun before arriving in the lakeside town of Copacabana. We will have lunch upon arrival at a local restaurant offering many local dishes. We will check into our hotel and prepare for a walk along town and up to the Calvario where you can catch the sunset and view the breath and width of Lake Titicaca. We will return and have dinner. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax and continue with your aclimatization. Overnight at Hotel Rosario del Lago (3*) (B,L,D)

Day 4: Copacabana – Sajama
Today we need to depart after breakfast as we have a long drive ahead of us. We return via the same road we came in on, across the Strait of Tiquina and towards La Paz but we will continue south at the city of El Alto and head towards Sajama National Park which is on the western edge of Bolivia next to Chile. Along the way you will get to experience the Altiplano and see that it is not flat at all but is an undulating plateau that has many interesting and uncommon characteristics. When we reach the town of Patacamaya we head west towards Chile and eventually arrive in Sajama National Park; which is named for the massive volcano that dominates the view. Lunch en route. The most prominent feature here is, of course, the volcanoes on the western edge of the Andes and Sajama is the tallest one in the region at 21,486’ above sea level – Bolivia’s highest peak. We will arrive in the mid-afternoon and have time to check-in to a local hostel that offers clean but basic acommodations in Tomarapi. We will be ready for the sunset that creates spectacular photo ops in this region. It is going to get cold quickly so have the proper gear handy. Dinner after returning to the hostel. Overnight at Hostal Tomarapi (2*) for the night. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Sajama National Park
If you want to catch the sunrise then an early AM call will be in order. It can be bitterly cold so be prepared for temps below freezing! After sunrise we will have breakfast and continue deeper into the park to see steaming geyser pools, vicunas, flamingos and other local animals. There is a hot springs nearby so there is time for a soak during the day. The local churches are very old and worth taking a look as the architecture is quite lovely made of basic materials and constructed by hand by the locals. We will choose the appropriate vantage for the sunset and return to the hostel for dinner and bed. Overnight at Hostal Tomarapi (2*) for the night. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Sajama – Oruro – Uyuni
Early AM departure from Sajama is necessary in order to get to Uyuni today. The drive heads east back to the main artery at Patacamaya and then south again along the Altiplano to Oruro where we will get gas. The drive continues to Challapata to have lunch. The paved road ends soon thereafter as we head south on the only major road to the Salar de Uyuni, a winding and dusty track that crosses some very spectacular territory as it heads south. A couple of rivers need to be crossed along the way as there are no bridges and the journey continues along valleys and ridges until we pass Colchani – one of only a few entry points into the salar – and end up in the city of Uyuni by the early evening. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel and then have dinner. Overnight at Hotel La Magia de Uyuni (3*). (B,L,D)

Day 7: Uyuni – Salar de Uyuni – Tahua
After breakfast we head north to Colchani to the only entry on the eastern side of the Salar de Uyuni where you will see the salt miners doing their work. You will have time to visit with these people and see how they gather salt and get a sense of the manual labor required to mine tons of salt on a yearly basis, all of it done by hand with picks and shovels. Lunch en route somewhere in the middle of the world’s largest salt flat. We will continue to the northern edge of the salar and exit via the village of Jirira which sits below Thunupa Volcano. We will continue to the village of Tahua where we will check into the salt hotel Takya for the night. Dinner and rest. Overnight at Hotel Takya de Sal (3*). (B,L,D)

Day 8: Tahua – Salar de Uyuni – San Pedro de Quemez
After breakfast we will embark on the journey to the Sud Lipez region staying in comfortable hotels along the way. Today we re-enter the salar and head south to one of the islands located in the center of the salar. You will have time to stop and take a walk to the top of the island in order to enjoy the amazing landscape and beauty of this place. Lunch en route. We will exit the salar on the southern edge and head south along the Altiplano gaining height the further south you go. We will end up in the village of San Pedro de Quemez and check into our hotel. Dinner and rest. Overnight at Hotel Takya de Piedra (3*). (B,L,D)

Day 9: San Pedro de Quemez – Ojo de Perdiz
After breakfast you will have time for a short walking tour of the area before heading south once again, crossing the Salar de Chiguana and gaining height as you head ever closer to Eduardo Avaroa National Park in the extreme southwestern corner of Bolivia. Today you will have plenty of time to stop and take pictures along the way of volcanoes and vast landscapes and have lunch en route. You will arrive at Ojo de Perdiz in the late afternoon, a location that is surrounded by a painted high-altitude desert of red, beige and rust colors surrounded by the rugged Andes mountains. Dinner and rest. Overnight at Hotel del Desierto (3*). (B,L,D)

Day 10: Ojo de Perdiz – Laguna Colorada
If you want to shoot the flamingos while they are still stuck in the frozen lagoon we need to leave before daylight as the drive is more than an hour long. We can have breakfast at Laguna Colorada after the first few hours of shooting flamingos if you like. It’s a big lagoon so be prepared to walk in order to get to the best photo spots. You can decide how much walking you want to do so the vehicle can pick us up or wait while we are out hiking and shooting. Lunch will be someplace protected from the wind, depending where we are at the time. There is a lot to photograph here so we will stay until after sunset then return to our basic accommodations at the edge of Laguna Colorada in the early evening. Dinner and overnight at Laguna Colorada. Basic accommodations for the night. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Laguna Colorada – Laguna Verde
We depart after breakfast and head south to Laguna Verde that lies below the 6,000 meter Llicancabur Volcano that stradles the Bolivia-Chile border. Along the way there will be innumerable opportunities to shoot incredible landscapes of volcanoes, multi-colored deserts, vast lava flows, sandy washes, schizofrenic rock outcrops as well as wildlife that you will see in this moon-like landscape. You will have an opportunity to soak in some natural hot springs early on the way south so make sure you have your bathing suit handy. Lunch en route. The journey is an incredible one that covers the highlights of the Sud Lipez region like; The Red lagoon, Sol de Manana geyser field with boiling mud pits (they are dangerous – so stay away from the edges!), the Dali Desert full of archaic rock formations that are severely eroded and the amazing Laguna Verde (green lagoon) just a few kilometers from the Chilean border. This is a very high-altitude region and tends to be cold and windy so be prepared for those conditions. We will stay in a basic hotel for the night that offers warmth and shelter from the winter-like conditions outside. Overnight at Hotel Laguna Verde. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Laguna Verde – Alota – Uyuni
Today is a long day so we will need to depart soon after an early breakfast towards the village of Alota. You will see more of the spectacular landscape found in the high-altitude Sud Lipez region full of multi-colored lagoons, salt flats, lava flows, andean puna marshes, rocky canyons and sandy desert landscapes. Upon arrival in Alota we will have lunch before continuing north to Uyuni. The Altiplano is full of amazing landscapes and this segment takes you through the Red Desert, named for the red-colored sands and soils found in this region. After crossing a few small rivers we should arrive in Uyuni for a much deserved rest and a hot shower in the late afternoon. Dinner and rest. Overnight at a hotel in Uyuni. (3*). (B,L,D)

Day 13: Uyuni – Potosi
After an early breakfast we will head east to the imperial colonial city of Potosi. The terrain and scenery along the way encompasses river canyons, ridges and mining centers, both active and abandoned. The red earth and weeping willows are a beautiful contrast to the desert-like Altiplano we just left. We should arrive in Potosi in about five hours, just in time for lunch. Potosi is the world’s highest major city that sits at 14,200′ asl. The setting is nothing short of spectacular and its height will take your breath away, literally. You should be very well acclimatized by now so we suggest a visit to the mines in the afternoon in order to see the daily life of a miner working at altitude. We will check into our hostel for a shower and some rest before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Hostal Santa Teresa (3*) (B,L,D)

Day 14: Potosi – Oruro – La Paz
The drive from Potosi to La Paz is pretty spectacular because it stays high in the mountains for the first half of the trip and it’s on a paved road all the way to La Paz – so it’s fast and comfortable. Along the way you will see multi-colored valleys, high Andean peaks, green lush Andean puna with llamas and alpacas grazing and the Altiplano as well as the Cordillera Real as you get closer to La Paz. The scenery is truly amazing and should provide plenty of visual appeal along the entire route. You should arrive in La Paz in the early evening. Group dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate a wonderful and adventurous journey of the Bolivian highland region. Overnight at Hotel El Rey Palace (4*). (B,L,D)

Day 15: La Paz – Home
We will pick you up at your hotel at 4 AM for the 40-minute drive to the airport. The American Airlines flights depart at 7 AM and you will have plenty of time to check-in before your flight.

End of our services.