Bolivia 15 Days: Uyuni Salt Flats, Lake Titicaca & Andean Highlights

Points of Interest : Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Welcome to Bolivia! Although the country is best known as an Andean destination, you first arrive in Santa Cruz, its largest city, located in the subtropics at about 400 m altitude with average temperatures around 30°C. A German-speaking guide greets you at the airport with a name sign and accompanies you to your hotel.

In the afternoon your guide picks you up for a walking and driving tour through tropical Santa Cruz so you can get a feel for the local lifestyle, gastronomy, history and handicrafts. You also receive a recommendation for a cozy restaurant where you can celebrate your arrival with a traditional dinner.

Driving time: airport–hotel transfer around 40 minutes; city tour about 3 hours.

• Meals included : Early check-in breakfast and dinner
• Accommodation : Hotel LP, Santa Cruz

Points of Interest : Sucre

In the morning a private transfer takes you from your hotel to the airport for a short domestic flight to Sucre, Bolivia’s constitutional capital. On arrival your driver brings you to your centrally located hotel. After some time to rest, you meet your German-speaking guide for a tour of this elegant white city.

Enjoy sweeping views over the red-tiled rooftops, delve into Sucre’s colonial past and learn about the region’s diverse ethnic groups and their renowned weaving traditions.

Travel times: domestic flight Santa Cruz – Sucre about 40 minutes; airport–hotel transfer about 35 minutes; city tour approx. 3 hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Boutique La Posada, Sucre

Points of Interest : Serranías de Maragua

Today you head into the countryside to explore Maragua, about 47 km from Sucre. This area is famous for ancient Inca paths and striking geological formations that resemble a vast crater, set at roughly 3,060 m above sea level. You hike along original Inca stone trails through spectacular scenery; many sections of the original paving are still intact, making the roughly two-hour descent easier.

The Maragua Crater spans about 8 km. In its center lives an Indigenous community that preserves its traditional textile art. You visit the community to see how people work and live and to learn more about their weaving techniques.

Driving time: Sucre – Maragua and back around 3 hours. The excursion includes a hiking tour with private transport and an English-speaking guide, lasting about 8 hours, with a picnic or lunch in the community and entrance fees.

• Meals included : Breakfast and box lunch
• Accommodation : Hotel Boutique La Posada, Sucre

Points of Interest : Sucre

This day is entirely free for you to discover Sucre as you wish. If you are fascinated by dinosaurs, you can visit nearby fossil sites; food lovers may opt for a cooking class or a visit to the famous chocolate factory. If today is Sunday, it is possible to make an excursion to the renowned Tarabuco textile market.

You may also simply relax: with its pleasant climate, green parks and inviting cafés, Sucre is an ideal place to slow down and soak up the atmosphere. Optional activities can be arranged on request.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Boutique La Posada, Sucre

Points of Interest : Potosí

Today you travel by road to Potosí, a fascinating high-altitude city at around 4,000 m. World-famous for its colonial architecture, Potosí is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Dominating the skyline is the Cerro Rico, the historic silver mountain whose riches shaped the fate of the local population and fueled European wealth in colonial times.

In the afternoon, from your centrally located hotel you set out on a walking tour with an English-speaking guide through the historic center, including a visit to one of its most important buildings: the Royal Mint Museum (Casa de la Moneda). Thanks to your three days of gradual acclimatization in Sucre, your body is better prepared for the altitude; your guide keeps a close eye on your well-being.

Travel times: Sucre – Potosí around 3 hours by road; walking city tour about 2 hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hostal Santa Monica, Potosí

Points of Interest : Uyuni, Potosí

In the morning you visit one of the working mines on Cerro Rico to gain insight into the harsh reality of the miners and their beliefs, a blend of Andean and Spanish religious traditions. Before entering the mine you are equipped with protective clothing, helmet and headlamp, and you purchase small gifts for the workers and the spirit of the mine. You then descend into the tunnels for an unforgettable experience. If you prefer not to enter the mine, other sights in Potosí can be visited instead.

In the afternoon you leave Potosí and enjoy the changing landscapes on the drive to Uyuni, gateway to the famous salt flats.

Travel times: mine visit around 3 hours; Potosí – Uyuni about 4 hours by road.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Atipax Salt Hotel, Uyuni

Points of Interest : Salar de Uyuni, Colchani

Your three-day 4×4 adventure into the surreal world of salt flats, volcanoes and lagoons begins today. You first stroll among the rusting train carriages of the famous “train cemetery”, then visit the small village of Colchani where salt is still processed by hand. Later you explore an island covered with ancient giant cacti and step out into the dazzling endless expanse of the world’s largest salt flat.

Lunch is served in the middle of the salt desert, surrounded by glistening white crust and distant mountains. As the sun sets and the light over the salt changes, you continue on to the small village of Atulcha, where you stay in a simple guesthouse and warm up over a hearty soup. During the highland winter (June to September), sleeping bags are provided.

Driving time in the Jeep is around 8 hours with many scenic stops. The tour is shared, with up to 5 passengers per 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol, accompanied by an English-speaking driver/guide.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Accommodation : Simple guesthouse with private bathroom, Atulcha area

Points of Interest : Provincia Sud Lípez

Your 3-day Jeep expedition continues deeper into the remote landscapes of North Lípez. After breakfast you drive through an otherworldly region where volcanoes, mineral-rich lagoons and bizarre rock formations create dramatic scenes that feel like a movie set. Along the way you may spot flamingos feeding in colorful lakes, vicuñas grazing on sparse highland grass and shy vizcachas among the rocks.

Despite the seemingly barren surroundings, the area is rich in unique Andean flora and fauna. In the afternoon you reach the striking Red Lagoon (Laguna Colorada), the bubbling Sol de Mañana geysers and finally the hot springs of Polques, where you spend the night in a simple lodge.

Driving time in the Jeep is around 8 hours with many stops. The indicated lunch is provided en route during the drive. The tour operates in a small shared group with up to 5 passengers per vehicle.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Accommodation : Simple guesthouse with private bathroom, Polques hot springs area

Points of Interest : Uyuni

Today you reach the southernmost point of your journey near the Licancabur volcano and the border with Chile. Some fellow travelers may leave the group here to continue on to San Pedro de Atacama, while you turn back north through the desert landscapes towards Uyuni.

In the evening you arrive in Uyuni. You have access to a room and shower at the same hotel you used before the tour, allowing you to freshen up and rest a bit before boarding the night bus to La Paz. Shortly after departure, a simple dinner is served on board the bus.

Driving time in the Jeep is about 8 hours with numerous stops; the night bus journey to La Paz takes approximately 9–10 hours. Bus tickets and the transfer to the bus terminal are included. The indicated lunch is provided during the day’s drive.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the bus
• Accommodation : Night bus Uyuni – La Paz with shower access at a hotel in Uyuni before departure

Points of Interest : La Paz

You reach La Paz early in the morning, around 6 a.m. A driver meets you at the bus terminal and transfers you to your centrally located hotel, where you can already check into your room, have breakfast and rest.

At about 2 p.m. your German-speaking guide picks you up for what is likely the most diverse city tour of your trip. La Paz spreads across a deep valley and up the surrounding slopes, with an altitude difference of about 1,000 meters between its lowest and highest neighborhoods. As a dramatic backdrop, the Andean mountain range and the imposing Illimani peak at over 6,400 m frame the skyline.

You glide above the city using the cable car network, visit the surreal Moon Valley, explore the historic center and browse the colorful Witches’ Market. The tour includes private transport, tickets for three cable car lines and entrance to the Moon Valley.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hostal Naira, La Paz

Points of Interest : La Paz

Today is completely free for your own discoveries. La Paz sits at the foot of the Andean range and is only about two hours by car from the tropical lowlands, making it an ideal base for a variety of excursions. The city is rich in cultures and has a lively artistic scene.

You can explore the markets and neighborhoods at your own pace, or opt for optional tours such as a day hike in the Andes, a mountain-biking descent into the tropics, visits to coffee and cacao plantations, or meetings with social projects. Whether you are interested in culture, art or local cuisine, La Paz offers a wealth of experiences.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hostal Naira, La Paz

Points of Interest : Copacabana

Today you leave the city for the fresh air of Lake Titicaca. Early in the morning you are picked up at your hotel and travel by comfortable tourist bus along the Cordillera towards Copacabana on the lake shore. After crossing the narrow Tiquina Strait by ferry, you arrive in Copacabana, where a local English-speaking guide meets you at the bus and accompanies you to your hotel.

Copacabana has been a sacred site since pre-Inca times, and many places in the area still bear witness to its spiritual importance. You visit the over 400-year-old cathedral, home to the revered statue of the Black Madonna, and can make a short hike up Calvary Hill to enjoy a promising sunset over the vast lake. A fresh trout dinner in the cozy atmosphere of the hotel is the perfect way to end the day.

Travel times: bus ride around 4 hours; Tiquina Strait ferry crossing approx. 20 minutes; visit to the cathedral and Calvary Hill about 2 hours. The bus ride to the lake and services of a local English-speaking guide in Copacabana are included.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hostal La Cúpula, Copacabana

Points of Interest : Isla del Sol

After breakfast you board a public motorboat for the short ride across Lake Titicaca to Isla del Sol, the legendary Island of the Sun. Carrying only a light daypack, you take a leisurely walk from the harbor up to your secluded hotel, which boasts a beautiful terrace and sweeping lake views.

Enjoy the pure air and tranquility – there are no cars on the island. You have time to soak in the peaceful atmosphere and, weather permitting, watch another memorable sunset over the lake. In the evening you are invited to a dinner of fresh trout. An English-speaking guide, boat tickets and entrance fees on Isla del Sol are included.

Travel times: motorboat to Isla del Sol about 40 minutes; hike on the island roughly 1 hour.

• Meals included : Breakfast and dinner
• Accommodation : Hostal Waliki, Isla del Sol

Points of Interest : Isla del Sol, La Paz

In the morning you can take short walks on Isla del Sol to enjoy a final dose of serenity and views before returning to the mainland. Around midday you travel back by public motorboat to Copacabana, then board the tourist bus for the drive back to La Paz, where you arrive in the early evening and return to your hotel.

Travel times: motorboat Isla del Sol – Copacabana about 1 hour; tourist bus Copacabana – La Paz roughly 4 hours. An English-speaking guide, public motorboat and tourist bus are included for today’s journey.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hostal Naira, La Paz

Points of Interest :

Depending on your flight schedule, a private transfer collects you from your hotel and takes you to the airport in La Paz. Your journey through Bolivia’s highlands and lake landscapes comes to an end – farewell and safe travels!

Driving time: hotel – airport around 45 minutes.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Private transfer from hotel to La Paz airport for your departure flight