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La Paz - Uyuni - Potosi Tour By Bus

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Must Visit City
La Paz, Bolivia
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Day 1: La Paz Uyuni At 19h30 you are transferred from your hotel (La Paz centre) to the bus terminal in La Paz. The bus station is famous because it was built by Gustave Eiffel . .
Country: Bolivia
City: La Paz, Bolivia
Duration: 4 Day(s) - 3 Night(s)
Tour Category: Classic Tours
Departure Date: Thu 01 Jan '99
Package Itinerary

Day 1: La Paz – Uyuni

At 19h30 you are transferred from your hotel (La Paz centre) to the bus terminal in La Paz. The bus station is famous because it was built by Gustave Eiffel (Eiffel Tower in Paris, France) and used to be the railway station of La Paz. At 21h00 we start our journey to Uyuni and our route takes us first to Oruro from where we descend through Challapata where the asphalt gives way to dirt tracks. If the first 350km/218mi seemed easy, some of Bolivia’s worst roads lie ahead of us; holes, mud, river crossings, cold and detours.

Finally, after this adventure, we arrive in Uyuni around 07h00 where you have time for breakfast before the tour starts.

Day 2: Uyuni - Colchani - Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) - Incahuasi Insel - Cueva de las Galaxias - San Pedro de Quemez

We start our journey from Uyuni around 10h30 in the morning and our first stop will be the locomotive cemetery which is a vestige of more prosperous times. From here we continue to Colchani which is a small village situated on the edge of the Salar and whose inhabitants live from salt exploitation. In Colchani we discover how the salt is processed manually and we visit the small salt boutique, which also serves as a museum, where we can see large salt carvings and other objects (pottery, jewellery, tools, etc.).

After this impressive visit with the craftsmen on the top of the world we enter the famous Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats); the biggest salt desert in the world with an acreage of 10.582km²/4.086mi2. One of the particularities of the Uyuni Salt Flats is that it contains a reserve of 9 million tonnes of Lithium which represents 40% of world production. We head to the Island Incahuasi which mistakenly is better known as the Fisherman’s Island. This geological formation is a remnant of petrified coral and is covered in giant cacti that can get up to 12m/39.37ft high. From the top of the island, we have a wonderful 360° view of the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats).

After lunch, our journey continues in the direction of Puerto Chuvica. We have the possibility to visit the “Cueva de las Galaxias” which is a strange phenomenon of fossiled algae which reminds us that the ocean was present here all the way to Oruro.

In the adjacent cave, we can observe the Chullpares which are Inca funerary remains. We climb to the viewpoint from where we have an unobstructed view of the desert and if we take a closer look we can also observe the fossil coral that once were part of an impressive coral barrier. After this impressive visit, we continue to San Pedro de Quemez situated at the doors of the Lipez desert. We arrive at San Pedro de Quemez around 16h00 and the evening is free. L/D

Day 3: San Pedro de Quemez – Salar de Chiguana – Ollagüe Volcano – Siloli Desert – Ruta de las Joyas Alto Andinas (Lagunes Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiar Khota, Honda et Ramaditas) – Ojo de Perdiz

We continue our tour of south Bolivia and from Puerto Chuvica we pass the Uyuni – Ollague railway, which is the property of the FCA (Empresa Ferroviaria Andina), before crossing the Salar de Chiguana. We observe the still active volcano Ollague and even from far we can see its fumarole. We follow the famous Jewel Route which is composed of the Lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiar Khota, Honda and Ramadita. We arrive at Ojo del Perdiz in the Siloli Desert where we spend the night. B/L/D

Day 4: Ojo de Perdiz – Stone Tree - Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa - Laguna Colorada – Geyser de Sol de Mañana – Polques Thermal Spring – Dali Desert – Laguna Verde – Salar Challviri – Ciudad de Piedra - Alota – San Cristóbal – Uyuni – Potosi

Today we visit the Stone Tree (please refrain from climbing on the rock) planted in the middle of the Siloli desert and later we enter the Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa where we arrive at the Laguna Colorada. This Alto Andina Laguna gets its name because of the red colour which is caused by microscopic shellfish which is the principal nutriment of the rose flamingos that live in this area. Due to climate changes (lack of rain) and the high evaporation of the Altiplanic basin the water level of the region Lagunas is reduced rapidly which year after year also reduces the population of the flamingos.

Our tour continues in the southern direction to the Laguna Verde – one of the most southern points in Bolivia. We leave the Laguna Colorada in order to go even deeper into the Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. We visit the boiling geysers of Sol de Mañana which is an impressive geothermal field with pits of boiling mud and strong smells of sulphur.

Our tour continues in the direction of the thermal bath of Polques, a natural source of hot water where we have the possibility to go for a swim. We continue through the South Lipez and we observe the “Damas del Desierto” which are enormous rocks planted in this barren landscape and carved by the wind and weather over the years. We also cross the Dali Desert, which was named in reverence to the Catalan artist because of the resemblance of the landscape with the unreal yet natural colours to the masters’ work.

We continue to the Laguna Verde and Blanca at the foot of the Licancahur where we stop to take a few pictures. The Laguna Verde gets its green colour from the high concentration of lead, arsenic sulphur and calcium – please refrain from bathing From the Laguna Verde we start our drive back north. We pass by the small village Villamar which seems lost in the middle of the gigantic Lipez desert before passing by the biggest mining project in Bolivian history at San Cristobal.

We arrive around 18h00 in Uyuni just in time for a quick dinner before getting the bus to Potosi. Once arrived in Potosi you are transferred to your hotel. B/L End of our services

General Information

Highlights: Uyuni tour and South Lipez 3 days, Train Cemetery, Colchani, Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) , Incahuasi island, Jewel Route, Laguna Colorada, Stone Tree, Polques thermal springs, Laguna Verde, Siloli Desert, Stone Town

Support Team: Spanish speaking driver/guide or Spanish speaking driver and English speaking guide depending on the chosen option

Guaranteed departure: from 2 people

Group size: 2 to 6 people

Transportation: Arrival with touristic night bus - Departure with evening bus

Difficulty Level: Short hikes

Comfort: 1 night in the bus, 3 nights in the hotel with private bathroom

Elevation:

La Paz between 3600m/11.810ft and 4200m/13.780ft, Uyuni 3650m/11.980ft/11.980ft, South Lipez up to 4900m/16.080ft, Potosi 4070m/13.350ft/13.350ft

Included in the price:

- Transfers and transport as outlined in the program
- Accommodation in hotel in Potosi (1 night)
- Meals as indicated in day a day program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, and D=Dinner)
- The assistance of your driver/guide or driver and guide depending on the chosen option and his expenses and fees

Not included in the price:

- Entrance fees to parks, sites and museums (allow for approx. 200-250bs (bolivianos – national currency) per person – this is an estimate and actual prices may vary)
- Everything not mentioned in “Included in the price”
- Obligatory personal travel insurance
- Possible visa expenses
- Personal equipment

Expenses during the tour:

- Tips, drinks and other personal expenses
- Meals not mentioned

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