|
Day |
Activity/Location |
|
1 |
Arrive
in La
Paz and transfer to our hotel. We'll take a
city tour in the afternoon if there is time,
visiting the Witches' Market, downtown La Paz, the
presidential plaza and the eerie Valley of the
Moon. If there is not time for a city tour
today we will include one before your departing
flight on day 11.
|
|
2 |
This
morning we head out of La Paz to the ancient ruins
of Tiwanaku. The Tiwanaku culture thrived from
around 200 to 800 AD and controlled a large area of
Bolivia and southern Peru. The ruins are
fascinating with strange sculpted faces set in the
walls of a sunken temple, and a huge carved archway
called the Gate of the Sun. We will return to La Paz
in the afternoon.
|
|
3
|
This
morning we are off
early by private
transport to Lake Titicaca where we'll board a boat to the Island of
the Sun.
The Island of the Sun is the
mythical, and perhaps actual, origin place of the
Incas. This morning we visit some fascinating
maze-like proto-Inca ruins and then head by boat to
the south side of the island for more sightseeing
and lunch with
spectacular views of the lake. Afternoon
return by boat to Copacabana then by private vehicle
to La Paz.
|
|
4 |
This
morning we fly to Sucre, Bolivia's actual capital
and a beautiful colonial city in its own right.
We'll visit the Casa de la Libertad, Bolivia's site
of independence from Spain, the Cathedral with its
accompanying museum, the scenic bell tower of the
San Felipe Monastery, as well as some well-preserved
dinosaur tracks just outside of town!
|
|
5 |
We're
off on a beautiful journey by private transport this
morning to Potosi, once one of the wealthiest cities
in the Americas and still one of the highest, at
13,340 ft. This afternoon, we'll visit the
"National House of Money" with its accompanying
museum, as well as the colonial center and some
historic churches.
|
|
6 |
This
morning's tour is not for the claustrophobic!
After purchasing some traditional gifts for the
miners such as coca, alcohol, cigarettes and (that's
right!) dynamite, we'll descend deep into the mines
of Potosi. The various processes of the mines
will be explained as well as the traditions and
belief systems of the miners, before we return to
the surface before the afternoon's detonations.
Back up on the surface you can even set off a stick
of dynamite yourself! In the afternoon we
continue on by private vehicle to Uyuni, on the edge
of the salt lake.
|
|
7-10 |
Our
four-day journey across the vast and stunning expanse
of southeast Bolivia begins this morning.
We'll visit the immense salt lake with its cactus
islands, get great views of several massive
volcanoes, visit lakes of many colors (some teeming
with flamingos), soak in hot springs, view sulphur
geysers and visit the famous and surreal "Dali
rock", pictured at the top of this page.
A visit to the "railroad graveyard" is also
included. On the evening of day 10, we return by evening train
then private transport to
La Paz.
|
|
11 |
Departure Day. City tour today if you have not
had one already, then an included airport transfer. |
TRIP DETAILS
11 days:
US$2890
per person
with internal flight
Currency Converter
(What's Included)
Is this trip for me?
Best of Bolivia! is an 11-day tour which includes walking in various
ruins and on city tours, as well as a bit of "roughing it" on
the Uyuni section of the trip. As with all of our tours any section is optional
and can be removed or changed. As always, a certain amount
of patience is
required for the inconsistencies and delays of developing-world
travel.
Please note: Southern Crossings has many relaxed tours, this
tour however is for the more adventurous traveler. Please ask
your client services assistant for more information on transport and
accommodation for your specific tour.
Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by
one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings
placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No
bargaining or being ripped off by airport taxis!
What's included in the trip
·
Airport pickup at the beginning of trip and drop
off at end of the trip
·
Southern Crossings bilingual guides throughout
·
All internal transport
(excluding transport to optional restaurants,
bars, sights and excursions)
·
Seven nights of hotel accommodation,
three nights basic accommodation at Uyuni
·
Breakfast
included each morning
All food on Uyuni excursion
·
Full-day
Island of the Sun/Lake Titicaca excursion,
including bilingual guide, round-trip boat to/from the island, all
entrances, guided tour of Inca ruins and south side of island,
round-trip private transport from La Paz
·
Half-day
Tiwanaku excursion
Four-day, three night Uyuni Salt Lakes excursion,
including bilingual guide, round-trip transport, all
entrances, guided tour of the salt flats and surrounding lakes
and scenery.
Half-day Potosi mine tour
·
La Paz,
Sucre and Potosi city tours
·
Southern Crossings T-shirt or cap
What's not included
International flight to/from La Paz, airport
taxes (approx. US$30), pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas,
vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified
above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while on optional
excursions and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel
insurance is not included through Southern Crossings though we
do require that you have a policy. Check
www.travelguard.com to purchase a policy for your trip.
Extra Accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation
for you in La Paz, Sucre, Potosi or Uyuni before or after your trip
for $110 double/$90 single
Single Person Supplement:
$1250
Please add this to your total payment if you will be travelling
alone or wish to have private accommodation.
PRE-TRIP PLANNER
Required documents
All
travelers to Bolivia are required to have a passport valid for at
least six months from
date of entry.
Visas are not required for E.U., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand
passport holders.
A visa IS required for U.S. citizens, which costs
US$135.00 and can be obtained at point of entry. Please
visit
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1069.html
for what you will need to present to obtain your visa. A
visa can also be obtained in advance through any Bolivian
consulate.
For other nationalities, please consult the
nearest Bolivian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and
proof of funds may also be required at entry and
should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks,
currency, or a bank
statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are
sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
No
immunizations are required of travelers to these areas of
Bolivia, except for U.S. citizens, who are required to show a
yellow fever international certificate as part of the visa
requirement.
Travelers may wish to receive
hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other
standard vaccinations. No areas visited on this trip are
malarial or yellow fever zones. Please consult your physician
or local health department for more information.
Things to bring
One should come well
prepared for
outdoor activity at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit, and for
extremes of sun and the possibility of rain. A list of things to
bring would include:
· Passport and, if necessary, visa
· Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
· Airline ticket and Travel Insurance Policy
· Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
· Wearable pouch for documents and money
· Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
· Smaller, comfortable day pack
· Trekking/walking boots
or shoes, comfortable and worn-in
· Sandals or flip-flops
· Rain poncho or jacket
· Waterproof pants
· Sun hat
· Hat for cold weather
· Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
· Scarf and gloves
· T-shirts
· Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best),
undergarments
· Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
· Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
· Sunscreen
· Lip balm
· Earplugs
· Alarm clock or watch
· Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
· Camera and film/digital memory cards
· Camera batteries
· Playing cards, games, reading material
· Prescription medications
· Toiletries
Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and
such toiletries as
toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine
hygiene items are
available in Bolivia.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds,
eyewear and care, extra
large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also
note that most digital
camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in
internet cafes in
La Paz.
Climate
Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high
mountains and on the Bolivian altiplano, and
one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will
visit is as follows:
La Paz,
Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku, Potosi and Salar de Uyuni:
days are warm if sunny, chilly if cloudy. Nights are
cold in La Paz and can be extremely cold in Uyuni and Potosi.
Sucre: warm days, cool evenings.
Money guide
The
unit of currency in Bolivia is the boliviano. Current
currency conversion:
Currency Converter
Automatic cash points are available in La Paz. Visa,
MasterCard, Plus, and
Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler's
checks (American Express is
best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also
options. Do not bring Money
Grams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely
difficult to exchange. Banks
and exchange houses are available in La Paz, Sucre and Potosi, and exchange houses
are available in Copacabana. For
currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily
exchanged. Please note that cash
must be untorn. It
can be older-looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge
will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills come out of the
ATMs in country.
Expect to spend about US$3-10 on a meal, US$1 on a beer, water
or soft drink in Bolivia.
Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca
sweaters, for example, run between $5 and $30.
