La Paz to La Paz (15 days) Bolivia Encompassed (Inc. Amazon Jungle)

Company : Oasis Overland
Activities: Adventure Holidays / Tours
Duration: 2 weeks to 3 weeks
Approx Costs: 1500 to 1750 £ Pound (UK)
Group Size 10-25

The best of Bolivia, including a trip to the Amazon Jungle!

See all the highlights Bolivia has to offer, from the bustling hilly market lined streets of La Paz to the vast Salt Flats of Uyuni. Venture down a mine in Potosi and stare in awe at the dinosaur footprints in Sucre! Fly to the Bolivian Amazon and enjoy boat trips and walks learning about the flora and fauna of the area.

Swim with Pink Dolphins, fish for Piranha and search the Pampas for an Anaconda! We stay mostly in small family owned 3 star hotels with en-suite facilities, with some basic accommodation in rural areas.

Itinerary

Day 1

La Paz city (3,600 ms / 11,800 ft) transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure.
No meals included

Day 2

La Paz City Tour (approx. 4 hours). We visit Murillo Square & Cathedral, Congress and Government Palace, The Incan Gold Museum, Valley of the Moon and the famous Witches Market. Tour ends at Killi Killi lookout point to enjoy a 360 degree view of the city!
Rest of the day to explore at your leisure to maybe enjoy a Huari (local beer).
Breakfast

Day 3

Free morning (dependant on train times) to browse the local markets, find a café and watch street life go by or visit one of the museums.
Bus to the mining town of Oruro, followed by a high altitude train ride to Uyuni - home to the vast Salar (Salt flats).
Transfer to Hotel.
Breakfast

Day 4

3 day 4x4 Expedition to explore the Salar (Salt Flats) and stunning lakes, deserts and volcanoes.
We take short excursions to the Train Cemetery to view old steam locomotives and Colchani village to see the traditional Salt bagging process.
We drive to Inca Huasi Island in the centre of the 10,000 square km Salar. We can hike to the top of the island, passing giant cactus, to take in the spectacular views.
After lunch we head for San Juan Village, to visit a Pre Inca Cemetery and a small museum.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Basic Accommodation

Day 5

Heading south we are surrounded by huge volcanoes (up to 5850mtrs!) There is time for photo stops and if we're lucky we should see pink Flamingoes and many other species of birds at Canapa Lagoon.
We make a quick stop at Hedionda (Stinky!) Lagoon and continue past scenic lakes to the amazing Siloli Desert (4600mtrs). Here incredible natural rock formations are formed by powerful eroding winds.
Tonight we stay close to the shores of Red Lagoon, a wildlife sanctuary to 3 endemic species of Andean Flamingo.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Basic Accommodation

Day 6

An early start for sunrise at Sol de Manana Volcano Crater. Here beautiful steam geysers and colourful boiling volcanic mud pools await us.
We breakfast on the banks of Challviri Lagoon where those of us that want to can enjoy a hot spring!
Passing through the barren volcanic environment of Dali's Desert, in the southwestern tip of Bolivia, we see the breathtaking Green Lagoon, at the foot of Licancabur Volcano (5900mtrs).
Heading back to Red Lagoon, we take another route back to Uyuni via Rock Valley, stopping off in some small villages along the way.
We complete our day by visiting the highest pizza restaurant in the world! (Optional).
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7

Travel to Potosi, enjoying the beautiful mountain views and bouncy gravel roads along the way!
In the afternoon there is the option to visit the once famous Silver Mines in Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) and step back in time to experience life as a miner in these harsh conditions. The tour is not for the faint hearted!
Other attractions include the ancient Mint, which tells the history of the silver mined here and shipped to Spain in Colonial times or view the city from the roof of the San Francisco Church!
Breakfast

Day 8

We have a free morning at leisure to do some last minute exploring of Potosi before we head to one of Bolivia's most beautiful cities, Sucre, via bus.
Sucre is known as 'The 4 Names City' because of its long and varied history
Free afternoon to wander the charming streets and possibly visit Liberty's House where Bolivia was created a new free Republic in 1825.
Breakfast

Day 9

After breakfast we visit The Cretaceous Park, where we can see thousands of dinosaur footprints, including the world's biggest!
More free time to explore in the afternoon - why not visit Asur, Bolivia's best Textile Museum (some textiles are at least 1500 years old!)
In the late afternoon we transfer to the bus station and join our Bus Cama (bed bus) which will be our ride and accommodation to La Paz!
Breakfast .There is an optional flight from Sucre to La Paz -subect to availability.

Day 10

On arrival in La Paz we transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is yours to wander and maybe pick up some souvenirs, such as Andean blankets, ponchos and jewellery from the hilly market streets.
Breakfast

Day 11

Flight to Rurrenabaque City in the Amazon basin.
Transfer to our boat on the Beni River to travel to Madidi National Park.
The impressive Estrecho del Bala, where the Beni River becomes deep and narrow.
Lunch, before following jungle paths and learning about the rich flora of the region, medicinal plants, toxic plants, mushrooms, etc.
We venture out on a night walk to feel and hear the sounds of the Amazon and to observe nocturnal animals.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12

We explore jungle paths learning about the trees, leaves, flowers and plants.
Visit a clay lick to observe several species of macaws, parrots and parakeets.
Travel by river and 4WD vehicles to Yacuma River, passing by the picturesque towns of Reyes and Santa Rosa.
We hope to see on the river banks, caiman, turtles, capybaras, Bolivian squirrel monkeys, and much more.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13

Walk and learn about another Amazonian Ecosystem well known as the Pampas.
Go in search of birds, alligators, and the famous Amazonian Anaconda.
Piranha fishing and swimming with the extraordinary Pink Dolphins known as Bufeo.
After dinner, we explore the river with torches in search of alligators!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14