Best of Bolivia

Itinerary Highlights

From its wild landscapes, colorful textiles and ancient ruins, Bolivia is an untouched and magical destination perfect for a tasteful and off-the-beaten path adventure. Beginning in the lofty heights of La Paz, amid Andean peaks, explore this intense city in every sense. Rich with 19th century churches, colorful markets and a robust food scene, this city will take your breath away (literally!). Discover Lake Titicaca and Sun Island, the birthplace of the Inca Empire. Explore the archaeological site of Tiwanaku, a major pre-Colombian civilization and dive into the myths and mysteries of this lost empire. Visit Sucre, the colonial "white city" with charming architecture and beautifully manicured parks. Pay a visit to the authentic indigineous market of Tarabuco, witnessing the mountain communities gathering here every Sunday and walking through the lanes of textile art. Take off on an overland trip from Sucre to the Uyuni Salt Flats, finishing in Bolivia's most renowned and remarkable location. Stay at Kachi Lodge's mathematically perfect and elegant luxury domes for enjoying unbelievable views from your window and sleeping under the never-ending star-studded sky above the world's largest salt flat. Join us in our pursuit to explore the deepest frontiers of the Andes in a way that grants a completely new perspective with our "Best of Bolivia" itinerary. 

Hotels and lodges described in the itinerary are recommended by Craft Travel but there are numerous options in each destination and we will customize your itinerary based upon your preferences. With your feedback, we will similarly customize suggested activities, time spent in each location and trip extensions to additional destinations of interest nearby.

Detailed Itinerary

You will be met by one of our representatives at El Alto International Airport and will be privately transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy a private welcome dinner at La Popular Restaurant, led by chef Diego Rodas, specialized in Bolivian cuisine with a contemporary perspective and vision, who respects and takes care of taste, applying traditional dish techniques.

Overnight at Atix Hotel (Dinner)

After breakfast, we will explore La Paz, the highest administrative capital city in the world, set in an impressive landscape nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. This city is a fascinating mix of old and new, indigenous and colonial, all under the watch of the snow-covered peaks of the Illimani Mountain. You’ll embark on a cable car ride to enjoy beautiful views of the cityscape and the adobe and brick neighborhood of Challa Uma, painted in bright colors with motifs of Aymara indigenous women, hummingbirds and other images in a macro mural that seeks to capture the soul, culture and identity of the inhabitants of this city. Lunch will be reserved at Ali Pacha, a vegan food fine dining restaurant in the heart of the city.

In the afternoon, we will venture 25 minutes outside of the city, to a spiritual healing center in the Valley of the Souls, where you will experience a traditional Aymara ritual lead by a Yatiri shaman. In the evening, dine at Bolivia's best restaurant, Gustu. Its founder, Claus Meyer, is the Danish chef behind Denmark's acclaimed two-Michelin-star restaurant, NOMA.

Overnight at Atix Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

After breakfast, we will drive for about 3h30m to Copacabana, a popular religious pilgrimage site and home to a 16th-century Cathedral on the shores of Lake Titicaca. There you will embark on a speedboat ride across the deep blue waters of the lake to Sun Island. We will hike to the village of Yumani passing typical agricultural terraces along the way. Once we arrive in Yumani village, we will have the opportunity to visit the house of one of the community members where we will learn about their architecture, ways and customs, agriculture, and the process of textile elaboration, finishing this cultural encounter with an “Apthapi”, traditional Andean buffet.

Overnight at Eco Lodge La Estancia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

We will explore the island in depth and descend the “Grand Stairs” - over 200 steps built by the Incas – to taste the waters of the Sacred Fountain which is believed to provide eternal youth and happiness. After lunch on Sun Island, we will sail on a private boat to the nearby Moon Island to visit the Sacred Temple (Iñak Uyu) of the Virgins of the Sun, who lived on this island in charge of keeping a sacred fire lit at all times. Afterwards, we will take a boat ride back to Copacabana and return to La Paz by road.

Dinner is suggested at Ona Restaurant, which presents an innovative menu designed to create a fine-dining experience with fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. ONA is led by young Bolivian chefs who are passionate about Bolivian food and gastronomic traditions.

Overnight at Atix Hotel (Breakfast)

We will depart to Tiwanaku, a pre- Inca civilization site located in the highlands of Bolivia over 4,000 masl, near the southern west shore of Lake Titicaca and 72 kms from La Paz. Upon arrival in Tiwanaku, you will visit the Ceramic Museum and the Lytic Museum. Then, we will visit the ruins and temples of the Tiwanaku archaeological complex. Among these are Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate),which captures the first rays of the sun on the Summer Solstice, Puerta de la Luna (Moon Gate), the Kalasasaya Temple - used as ceremonial ground during the Aymara New Year, and the Akapana Pyramids. After lunch we will return to La Paz.

Overnight at Atix Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch)

Today we will board a flight departing to Sucre, for a historic and cultural tour of the “white city”. Walk along the French-style colonial and republican streets visiting the most important architectural and urban monuments such as the convent of Recoleta, the museum of textile art of ASUR, 25 de Mayo main square, the famous Casa de la Libertad museum and the Bolívar Park, once reserved only for aristocracy. Enjoy a delicious snack of “salteñas”, a Bolivian pastry that everyone loves and visit the famous local chocolate factory.

Overnight at Santa Maria La Real (Breakfast & Lunch)

Visit the colorful Indigenous Market of Tarabuco (open only on Sundays). We will stroll along this traditional Quechua market, which has remained the same for centuries, offering an extraordinary range of products (variety of fruits, vegetables, Andean cereals, and of course, ethnic textiles). Finally, located approximately 65 km southeast of Sucre lies a great opportunity to witness the Yampara people in their beautiful traditional costumes and learn about this local indigenous community.

Overnight at Santa Maria La Real (Breakfast & Lunch)

Depart for the exciting full-day overland transfer from Sucre to Uyuni, an incredible way to visit different towns and witness the changes in landscape. A three-hour drive will lead us first into the city of Potosi, the so-called "Villa Imperial“ at the foot of majestic Cerro Rico, which was once the most important and most populated city in the world attributed to the silver mines in Cerro Rico. After a short walk along the colonial streets of the city we will continue our overland with a four-hour road trip towards the world-famous Uyuni Salt Flat. Different stops along the way can be made for visiting different towns.

We will arrive to the luxury Kachi Lodge Domes, located outside Jirira on the north shore of Uyuni Salt Flat. Despite having seen Uyuni Salt Flat in many photos and videos before, when we are actually there, we will feel amazed far beyond our imagination. Its immaculate surface makes us dream, its atmosphere is special, its immensity is overwhelming, and the horizon seems to have no limits all around. It is also splattered by several islands where we can take pictures, have a picnic, and above all meditate on the immensity of this world’s natural beauty.

About Kachi Lodge:

As guests, the portfolio of activities within an hour of the lodge is vast: it ranges from cultural and ethnic excursions to the ancient archaeological site and scared grounds of Alkaya – where ancient mommies can be seen - to high altitude hikes on the nearby Thunupa volcano (5321m), amidst ochre and red coloured earth. Breathtaking. A daily visit to the quinoa fields or walk to encounter lama farmers amidst their herd are a unique way to understand the local culture - and the dedication needed to fight the extreme climate and make a living out of it. Sunrise hikes followed by a breakfast at the tip on an island surrounded by giant cacti is a unique way to start the day while sunset drives to catch the last rays of light are spectacular every time, especially when comfortably installed with a glass of wine or cocktail prepared on the spot. During the rainy season, the salar turns into a thin lake where one can paddle, canoe out or simply enjoy a photographic session as clouds endlessly reflect on the surface of the water. At night, when the telescope is out, the sky seems to open up and pour stars above one’s head. The salar is a place of endless possibilities. Some of the endemic wildlife of the altiplano can be spotted near the lodge: flamingos, vicuñas (producing the finest wool, surpassing cashmere in quality), viscachas and Andean fox. Giant cacti can be found all around the lodge. The Echinopsis atacamensis towers up to 10m and blooms in October and November. On your way from Uyuni, you'll probably stop at the old train cemetery with its dozens of old locomotives and carriages dating back to early 20th century, then to Inca Huasi Island, covered with a forest of giant cacti.

Overnight at Kachi Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

While staying at Kachi Lodge, all experiences are done with your own guide, private car and driver. You will arrange your program with your guide when arriving to the lodge. It can be modified during your stay, according to your interests and weather conditions. Please refer to the Excursion List for the different activities offered.

One of Craft Travel’s favorite excursion is visiting the ancient mommies of Alcaya. Today, we will depart early in the morning to reach the archaeological site of Alcaya. The site is on an extraordinarily beautiful hill covered with cacti. It has been restored and enhanced allowing for an immersion into the Chullpa culture. The circuit takes us through ancient Aymara tombs and the remains of a sacred place. You will find very well- preserved mummies, ruins of small houses and barns. The site seems to have been a place of pilgrimage rather than a place of living. In the afternoon, a small detour is necessary to go to the small cave of Chiquini, a unique place with strange limestone formations.

Overnight at Kachi Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Another favorite excursion is visiting the neighboring village of Coquesa, located at the foot of Tunupa Volcano to discover pre-Columbian mummies dating back to about 700 years B.C. We will take a soft and slow hike to the viewpoint on the slopes of Tunupa Volcano (approx. 2h hike) for splendid views over Uyuni Salt Flat.

Overnight at Kachi Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

You will be transferred to Uyuni airport for your departing flight to La Paz. Upon arrival, you will shop with your expert guide to the most stylish shops in town. Let your imagination run wild in the land of textiles.

Overnight at Atix Hotel (Breakfast)

You will be privately transferred to El Alto Airport for your international flight home.

(Breakfast)

• 11 nights accommodation (based on double/twin occupancy)

• Daily breakfast

• Additional meals as specified in the itinerary

• All meals, snacks and soft drinks at Kachi Lodge

• All lodge-based activities at Kachi Lodge

• Scheduled guided excursions as specified in the itinerary

• All ground transfers between airports and accommodations

• *Not included: gratuities, visas (if applicable), international and internal flights, meals and drinks not described above, items of a personal nature

• The government of Bolivia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever. The Ministry of Health of Bolivia also states that all travelers visiting yellow fever risk areas must carry proof of yellow fever vaccination. Based on the itinerary above, you will not be visiting yellow fever risk areas and as such, proof of a vaccine is not required.

• La Paz City: situated approximately 3,500 meters above sea level, some travelers inevitably struggle with the thin mountain air, causing altitude sickness. To help mitigate the altitude blues, we recommend spending an extra night in La Paz at the beginning of the trip to acclimatize to the altitude and simply rest. A local remedy known as “mate de coca” also helps fight any altitude sickness symptoms. For more sensitive travelers, flying into low-lying cities such as Santa Cruz before traveling onto Las Paz can help limit your chances of developing altitude sickness.