Sensational Cities & Salt Flats

Touch down in Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia. Transfer to your hotel and get settled in*. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace. The perfect base for exploring eastern Bolivia, Santa Cruz boasts a warm tropical climate, a beautiful colonial center, and a rich offering of restaurants, bars, and nightlife!

For those arriving in Bolivia before 12:00 p.m., we highly recommend an optional visit to Biocentro Guembe, an eco-resort home to the world's largest butterfly sanctuary.** Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*If you would like your hotel room to be available before 2:00 p.m., early check-in can be added for an additional cost during the next step of the booking process.

**Optional half-day excursion to the Biocentro Guembe: Transfer to Biocentro Guembe for a 1-hour visit, where you’ll explore a magical nature sanctuary home to native wildlife, plant species, and beautiful pools. Relax in the water, explore the incredible butterfly garden, or stroll along the nature trails.

Please note: This activity is only recommended for arrivals before 12:00 p.m. local time, as the centre is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Breakfast at the hotel. Your journey through Bolivia begins today as you take a private transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Sucre.

Arrive, transfer to the hotel and get settled in. Sucre is home to a rich array of colonial-era architecture and is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in a valley surrounded by low mountains, Sucre enjoys a perfect climate and is known for its university and production of delicious chocolate products! In the afternoon, set off on a city tour of Sucre for an overview of the city's most emblematic sights and monuments.

Stroll through Plaza 25 de Mayo to see important buildings such as La Gobernación, La Alcaldía and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Visit the House of Liberty, to learn more about Bolivian history, or the Indigenous Textile Museum ASUR, to admire a rich array of authentic Bolivian textile arts. End the tour by taking in the views from La Recoleta, the highest part of the city. Return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. Overnight stay in Sucre. 

Please note: The House of Liberty is closed on Mondays, and ASUR museum is closed on Sundays.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get out and explore Sucre at your own pace today. Spend some time wandering the old town, with its white-washed buildings and Baroque architecture or experience the hustle and bustle of Sucre's vibrant Mercado Central. To experience the landscapes and heritage of this beautiful region, we recommend an optional Inca Trail Excursion.* Overnight stay in Sucre. 

*Optional Half-Day Inca Trail Excursion: Embark on an unforgettable trek along the Inca Trail of Chataquila today to experience the spectacular landscapes and Inca heritage of the Southern Highlands. Starting from the sacred Church of Chataquila, walk 4.5 kilometres (mostly downhill) along the ancient Inca Trail, built by the pre-Hispanic inhabitants as a trade route. Visit Chaunaca Village and enjoy impressive views of the Maragua Crater before transferring by car to the Ravelo River, where you can rest and take a refreshing dip in the cool, clear waters before returning to Sucre.

Breakfast at the hotel. The adventure continues this morning as you transfer to the bus station to catch a bus to Uyuni, home of the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats! Arrive in the small town of Uyuni and transfer to your hotel. Once an important railroad junction, today Uyuni is better known as the gateway to the largest and most beautiful salt flats on earth! After a day of travel, enjoy a relaxing evening at your leisure. Alternatively, we recommend a unique Stargazing Experience.* Overnight stay in Uyuni.

*Optional Uyuni Stargazing Night Tour: Depart your hotel this evening and journey to the salt flat where you can observe the night sky in all its glory! Free of light pollution, observe the star-studded sky and the Milky Way and see them reflected in the mirror-like surface of the salt flat. A truly spectacular encounter and an amazing opportunity to take incredible photographs!

Please note: This optional excursion is dependent on weather conditions.

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day awaits as you are picked up from the hotel and transferred to the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats, a true natural wonder and highlight of any trip to Bolivia! Firstly, pay a visit to the Train Cemetery, a relic of an abandoned 19th-century project to expand the Uyuni train network.

Next, continue to Colchani, where you can observe salt processing and extraction and the mesmerizing Ojos de Sal, the Salt Flat's subterranean river outlets. Continue your adventure at Incahuasi Island, a unique and isolated ecosystem populated by giant cacti that measure up to 10 meters high. Enjoy an unforgettable lunch in the middle of the Salt Flats, admiring the epic landscapes of endless white salt or mirror-like surfaces, depending on the time of year. Stay to watch the sunset before returning to Uyuni. On arrival, head to the bus station to catch the overnight bus back to La Paz. Night on board.

Please note: the salt flats can be visited all year round, however, during the rainy season (November to March) they may flood and you will not be able to visit Incahuasi Island. During this season, the salt flat becomes the largest mirror in the world when a layer of water settles on the crust of the salt desert.

Arrive in La Paz this morning and transfer to your hotel for breakfast. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure to savor your final moments in Bolivia. Go shopping for last-minute souvenirs or explore the numerous museums and art galleries. Alternatively, we recommend a half-day 'La Paz like a local' city tour and/or an optional excursion to the Moon Valley.* Overnight stay in La Paz.

If you want to have the hotel room available before 2:00 p.m., you can add early check-in at an additional cost. In case you are interested, you will be able to see the price and do the upsell in the next step of the purchase process.

*Optional Half-Day La Paz Like A Local City Tour: Meet your guide at the hotel and head to the cable car station to enjoy spectacular views of the northern and central parts of the city. Disembark the cable car and enjoy a guided walk through the city's most colorful streets and markets. Visit the Musical Instruments Museum and taste an authentic Bolivian empanada at Plaza Murillo before heading to the famous Witches Market to see an array of traditional Andean products known for their medicinal properties.

*Optional Half-Day Moon Valley Excursion: today depart from the city to discover the otherwordly landscapes of Moon Valley, a fascinating geological anomaly justly named for its cratered, moon-like surface. Explore the walking trails and navigate these unique rock formations, carved out of the soil over centuries of erosion.

Breakfast at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to bring your journey through Bolivia to a close. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US and wave goodbye to this beautiful country. Night on board.