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Salar de Uyuni
[Palacio del Sal Hotel / Oruro / Laguna Colorada]
3 DAY UYUNI ---------------------
DAY 1 / LA PAZ - ORURO (Bus) / ORURO - UYUNI
(Train only Mondays and Fridays !). Early departure from La Paz in bus to Oruro (3 hours), then train to Uyuni (6 hours), crossing a big portion of the Bolivian highlands. Overnight in hotel. (D)
DAY 2 / UYUNI SALTFLAT / FISH ISLAND / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL.
Visit the cemetery of old trains and stroll through town, then trip to Colchani, a village on the shores of Uyuni saltflats, where locals produce salt, adding iodine. Entering the saltflats is spectacular, over 10,000 km2 of white salt welcomes you, stay the rest of the morning in Palacio de Sal hotel, the only in the world built of salt bricks. In the afternoon trip to “Isla Pescado” with its impressive gigantic cactus and special flora. Back to spend a the night at the Palacio de Sal hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL / ORURO / LA PAZ.
Private transportation to Oruro (6 hours) and bus to La Paz (3 hours) . (B, L)
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6 DAY UYUNI with Potosi and Sucre ---------------------
DAY 1 / LA PAZ - ORURO (Bus) / ORURO - UYUNI (Train only Mondays and Fridays !).
Early departure from La Paz in bus to Oruro (3 hours), then train to Uyuni (6 hours), crossing a big portion of the Bolivian highlands. Overnight in hotel. (D)
DAY 2 / UYUNI SALTFLAT / FISH ISLAND / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL.
Visit the cemetery of old trains and stroll through town, then trip to Colchani, a village on the shores of Uyuni saltflats, where locals produce salt, adding iodine. Entering the saltflats is spectacular, over 10,000 km2 of white salt welcomes you, stay the rest of the morning in Palacio de Sal hotel, the only in the world built of salt bricks. In the afternoon trip to “Isla Pescado” with its impressive gigantic cactus and special flora. Back to spend a the night at the Palacio de Sal hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL / POTOSI - P. M. City tour.
Trip crossing many Andean ranges with beautiful scenaries, wind erosion has created nice spots with outstanding stone formations. You'll pass the famous Pulacayo tin mine, before one of the main mining centers with a strong mining Union of workers. Then through the villages of Chaquilla and Tika Tika, to finally reach the famous silver city of Potosi, the largest of the world in colonial time. In the afternoon visit the Mint House (Casa de la Moneda), traditional colonial streets and the artisan market, also San Francisco and San Lorenzo churches, that has one of the greatest examples of stone carvings of the baroque-Indian style. Finally Santa Teresa church and its colonial museum. (B, L)
DAY 4 / MINE IN CERRO RICO/ SUCRE.
This excursion allows visitors to experience an unforgettable trip to a mine, that was and still is the main legacy of the silver production done in colonial times in the famous Silver mountain of Potosi. You'll see the living and working conditions of the Bolivian miners (protective clothing and helmets are provided). In the afternoon bus to Sucre (3 hours), the first part is through the highlands, then goes down more then 1,500 m/5,000 ft to the valleys of Chuquisaca. Passing the Pilcomayo River at Puente Arce, to see an old pending bridge. The contrast from valley to highlands is nice, finally arriving to the city of Sucre (capital of Bolivia). (B)
DAY 5 / HALF DAY CITY TOUR.
You’ll enjoy the great colonial legacy of the city with amazing churches fand museums, a well kept downtown area in colonial architecture. Visit the Indian Textile museum of ASUR, to recuperate and promote the textiles of the Jalq’a and Tarabuco cultures. Afternoon FREE (B)
DAY 6 / SUCRE / LA PAZ.
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5 DAY UYUNI with Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada ----------
DAY 1 / LA PAZ - ORURO (Bus) / ORURO - UYUNI (Train only Mondays and Fridays !).
Early departure from La Paz in bus to Oruro (3 hours), then train to Uyuni (6 hours), crossing a big portion of the Bolivian highlands. Overnight in hotel. (D)
DAY 2 / UYUNI / LAGUNA COLORADA.
After visiting the cemetery of old trains, the trip goes through the highlands crossing the rich lands of Alota, passing areas with great stone formations done by the wind erosion, called “Valle de los Sapos”. Ascend to the high desert of Siloli before reaching Laguna Colorada, visiting the area with over 40,000 flamingos at 4,300 m/14,107 ft. Overnight in basic lodging. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 / LAGUNA COLORADA / GEYSERS SOL DE MAÑANA / LAGUNA VERDE / SAN JUAN.
Early departure to visit geysers “Sol de Mañana", then pass alongside Challviri lagoon, having a natural hot spring in the shores, great for a bath. The journey continues to “Laguna Verde” (4,300 m/14,107 ft), a beautiful green lagoon at the foothills of the Licancabur mountain in the border of Chile. Return through Laguna Colorada, pass again desert of Siloli and then cross: Ramadita, Honda, Chiarkota, Hedionda and Cañapa lagoons, all with special habitats. Continue going north parallel to the Western Andes range, through the highlands until San Juan. Basic lodging. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 / SAN JUAN / ISLA PESCADO / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL.
The trip goes north through the highlands until entering the largest natural highway in the world, the Uyuni saltflat with over 10,000 km2 of salt, visit "Isla Pescado" and its special habitat like the gigantic cactus. Continue to overnight in Palacio de Sal hotel, the only one in the world built with salt bricks. (B, L, D)
DAY 5 / UYUNI / ORURO / LA PAZ.
Private transportation to Oruro (6 hours). Bus to La Paz (3 hours) . (B, L)
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8 DAY UYUNI with Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada and northern Chile -----------
DAY 1 / LA PAZ - ORURO - UYUNI (In Palacio de Sal Hotel).
Private transportation from La Paz to Oruro (3 hours), then to Colchani (6 hours), crossing a big portion of the Bolivian highlands. You’ll enter the Uyuni saltflats, seeing first the artisan production of salt in their shores. Overnight in hotel Palacio de Sal, built with salt bricks. (L, D)
DAY 2 / PALACIO DE SAL HOTEL / ISLA PESCADO / SAN JUAN.
Journey again through the largest natural highway in the world, the Uyuni saltflat, visiting "Isla Pescado" and its special habitat like the gigantic cactus. Then trip crossing the highlands to San Juan. Basic lodging. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 / SAN JUAN / LAGUNA COLORADA.
An incredible day in terms of natural beauty, crossing: Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramadita lagoons, parts of the desert highlands of Siloli until Laguna Colorada (red lagoon - 4,300 m/14,107 ft). Basic lodging. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 / LAGUNA COLORADA /SOL DE MAÑANA /LAGUNA VERDE / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA.
Early departure to visit “Sol de Mañana geysers”, and then pass alongside Challviri lagoon, where you’ll have the chance to bathe in natural hot springs. The journey continues to “Laguna Verde” (4,300 m/14,107 ft), a beautiful green lagoon at the foothills of the Licancabur mountain, cross the border to Chile and descend to San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon you’ll visit the local museum and late in the afternoon will experience a spectacular sunset in the Valley of the Moon. Overnight at a hotel. (B, L)
DAY 5 / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA.
Visit to the impressive Salt range, the ruins of Tulor from the Atacama culture and the Pukara (fortress) of Quitor of Inca influence. Free afternoon. (B)
DAY 6 / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA / CALAMA / TOCOPILLA / IQUIQUE / ARICA.
Its a long driving day, but surely worth seeing different habitats, mostly desert. Early trip to Calama and enter the desert area towards the west, descending to the Pacific ocean in the city of Tocopilla. The highway runs along the coast with many beautiful landscapes, with chances of seeing sea lions, until the city of Iquique, then through the desert until the city of Arica. Overnight at a hotel. (B, L)
DAY 7 / ARICA / CHUNGARA / PUTRE (Lauca National Park).
Trip to Putre, crossing firstly the rich valley of Lluta, visiting the Pukara of Copaquilla and the Tambo of Zapahuira before reaching the town of Putre at 3,400 m/11,150 ft, where you’ll find the entrance to Lauca National Park. Then you’ll visit Lake Chungara at the foothills of the volcano Parinacota. Visit to the Indian village of Parinacota, return to Putre. Overnight at a hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 / PUTRE / CHUNGARA LAKE / LA PAZ.
The trip continues in to Bolivia, at the border of Lake Chungara, where you’ll pass through immigration and then enter the Sajama National Park in Tambo Quemado (Bolivia). The Sajama mountain is the highest in Bolivia, at 6,542 m/21,450 ft. Then you’ll cross a big part of the Bolivian highlands until reaching the city of La Paz. (B, L)
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THE UYUNI SALTFLAT
A NATURAL AND MYSTIC WONDER - “THE UYUNI SALTFLAT”
AND ITS SURROUNDINGS, one of the greatest “natural wonders of the world - Uyuni Saltflat”, around 10,582 km2 of salt at an elevation of 3,692 m/12,110 ft, surrounded by different branches of the Western Andes Range with its rich minerals, the main resource of Bolivia for centuries. The climate during the day is pleasant, getting cold at nights, but worth visiting due to the variety and beauty of its highland landscapes.
This area was one of the first centers of the Andean cultures, having as a main mountain god “The Thunupa Volcano”, his divinity was spreads to the rest of the Andes. Uyuni is geographically connected to Abaroa National Park with its natural wonders: Red and Green lagoons and its flamingos; the geysers of ”Sol de Mañana” to see the geothermal energy; the natural hot springs and the high deserts of Siloli, near the Western Andes Range.
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Uyuni played a big role alongside the mining industry due to its train connections to Chile and Argentina and had the main train maintenance and service workshop in western Bolivia. Now, the area is thriving again thanks to the tourism. Uyuni is closely located to one of most important cities in colonial times, Potosi and its famous “Cerro Rico de Potosi”, the richest Silver Mountain. It is impressive to see until these days, how miners are still producing silver using old techniques, the city retains much of its colonial architecture with splendid churches and the famous MintHouse. Potosi is a short distance from Sucre, the capital of Bolivia, located in a pleasant lower valley with lots of colonial legacy and new attractions, like the largest dinosaur footprints found in Cal Orcko.
The other interesting option is to continue the trip from Laguna Verde down to San Pedro de Atacama (in Chile), another “must” because of the immense beauty of one of the driest deserts in the world, combined with the Salty Range, the Valley of the Moon and pre-Colombian ruins. The trip will continue to the desert coast of the Pacific ocean between Tocopilla and Iquique with great landscapes, finally visiting Arica. You’ll ascend to the sky entering Lauca National Park in Putre, visit Lake Chungara and its surroundings, returning to Bolivia at Sajama National Park. The Sajama mountain is the highest in Bolivia, at 6,542 m/21,450 ft; a remote area. The trip finishes crossing the Bolivian highlands in La Paz.
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