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South America: La Paz, Santiago & the Uyuni Salt Flats

5.0Based on
11 daysDuration
Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers
16 peopleMaximum group size
12 - 100 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Moderate
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Highlights

Encounter colonial cities and historic cultures in Bolivia.

Cross the world's largest salt flat by 4x4 at the Salar de Uyuni.

Explore the former capital of Sucre on your own.

Enjoy an included excursion to the Valley of the Moon to cherish the uniqueness of the environment

Itinerary

Bolivia and Chile’s wild wonders are yours to discover on this 11-day small group tour, crafted for experienced explorers ready for a moderately active adventure. Begin in La Paz and journey through Potosi, Uyuni, and the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Plateau, ultimately reaching Santiago. Marvel at the vast, mirror-like Salar de Uyuni, wander through the rugged beauty of the Atacama Desert, and uncover hidden gems along the way.

This explorer trip uniquely balances guided excursions with free time, ensuring you absorb both the highlights and the lesser-known cultural treasures. The unique draw: a seamless connection between iconic sights and off-the-beaten-path experiences, making it the ideal trip for travelers who crave variety and depth in their South American journey.

day 1 - La Paz

Arrive at any time. Enjoy a welcome meeting in the evening to get to know your CEO and fellow travellers.
Arrive early and choose to explore the city’s many fine museums or its historic structures, like the Iglesia de San Francisco. The city is also renowned for its many markets, including the Mercado de Hechicería (Witches’ Market). With streets lined with market stalls and vendors, the pace on the street and the vibrant atmosphere is an incredible experience. To the south of the city is the Valley of the Moon, with crater-like formations made of sand. Thrill seekers can pre book a Death Road mountain biking adventure.

*Please note for any of the optionals listed on Day 1, travellers will need to book a pre-night in La Paz in order to participate.

Accomodation:Hotel Las Brisas (or similar)
Included Activity:Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Duration : 1.0 hr
Optional Activities:Death Road Biking Adventure , La Paz City Tour Explore the city on a guided tour. Check out stunning cathedrals, impressive museums, and lively markets, learning more about the history of this fascinating city. Look for majestic Mt Illimani in the background. , Valley of the Moon Tour , Witches' Market Visit Learn more about the pre-Columbian Aymara beliefs at the Witches' Market. You can witness locals buying products such as dried frogs, potions, and talismans for use in rituals and offerings.

day 2 - La Paz/Sucre

Fly to Sucre and explore this beautiful colonial city.
Optional activities include mountain biking, hiking, and searching for dinosaur footprints.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Independencia (or similar)
Transport:Plane Duration : 1.0 hr
Optional Activities:Hiking Head out of town, take in some fresh air, and explore this scenic area by foot., Mountain Biking Take a guided mountain biking trip on the outskirts of Sucre and explore more of this beautiful region., Sucre Dinosaur Tracks Excursion Get ready to get up close and personal with the prehistoric times: Sucre is home to one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur footprints made some 68 million years ago. Discover more than 5,000 footprints perfectly preserved footprints in the Cal Orck’o cliff just outside the city centre. See the world's longest trail -- 347m (1138 ft) -- left by a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex now affectionately known as 'Johnny Walker'.

day 3 - Sucre

Free time to explore the city, the former capital of Bolivia. For more active options opt to go hiking in the surrounding area or mountain biking.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Independencia (or similar)
Optional Activities:Hiking Head out of town, take in some fresh air, and explore this scenic area by foot., Mountain Biking Take a guided mountain biking trip on the outskirts of Sucre and explore more of this beautiful region., Sucre Dinosaur Tracks Excursion Get ready to get up close and personal with the prehistoric times: Sucre is home to one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur footprints made some 68 million years ago. Discover more than 5,000 footprints perfectly preserved footprints in the Cal Orck’o cliff just outside the city centre. See the world's longest trail -- 347m (1138 ft) -- left by a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex now affectionately known as 'Johnny Walker'., Rewilding Yampara: Walks Through Culture and Forest

day 4 - Sucre/Potosí

Travel by bus to Potosí and get a view of the mountain Cerro Rico looming over the city.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Gran Libertador (or similar)
Transport:Local Bus Duration : 2.5 hr
Optional Activities:Casa de la Moneda Learn about the first global currency at this renowned National Mint museum., Potosí Mine Visit Visit the inside of Potosí's historic mines on a eye-opening tour guided exclusively by former miners. They will share their stories firsthand about life underground. This is the only experience in the region guided entirely by former minders who have pursued toursim as a way to build a safer and healthier alternative to life beneath the surface. Visit the miners' market, an ore processing plant, and walk through the tunnels of Cerro Rico, an iconic mountain in global history. As you go, learn more about the cultural and historical significance of mining in Bolivia, and how important it was in fueling the global economy. This activity is the perfect way to enjoy a G Adventures-supported, community-led experience aiding local efforts towards education and safety around this important piece of Bolivian history. Bring a bandana and wear protective gear (boots, helmet and headlamp) as you head deep into the bowels of Cerro Rico (Rich Hill). Please note there is an optional add-on to this activity. It's recommended to consider visiting the Royal Mint Museum to complete the story. Ask your CEO for more information.

day 5 - Potosí/Uyuni

Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni, the jumping off point for the three Day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Samay Wasi (or similar)
Transport:Local Bus Duration : 7.0 hr Distance : 230 km

day 6 - Uyuni/Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Enjoy a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery. Today you will be heading into the Salar de Uyuni. Our groups like to get creative with photography, as the endless white of the salt flats creates some great depth illusions that are fun to play with in photos. Last stop for the evening is a G Adventures-supported community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Jukil Lodge (or similar)
Included Activities:Salt Flats and Desert Crossing Excursion, Jukil Community Experience & Lodge

day 7 - Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Explore the desert altiplano on a 4x4 excursion. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons and interesting rock formations along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Laguna Colorada (or similar)
Included Activity:Salt Flats and Desert Crossing Excursion

day 8 - Salt Flats and Desert Crossing/San Pedro de Atacama

Rise early to cover more ground of the unique landscape of the Salar de Uyuni. Continue to see incredible scenery, including volcanoes, salt lakes and geysers. Travel to the border and descend by bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It's a long but scenic drive.
From the high Bolivian altiplano descend almost 2000m to the edge of the Atacama Desert, arriving at the small desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, just across the Chilean border. Said to be one of the driest places on the planet, this little town is an oasis in an otherwise barren, dry landscape.

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch
Accomodation:Hostal Puritama (or similar)
Transport:4x4 Duration : 1.0 hr, Local Bus Duration : 1.0 hr
Included Activity:Border Crossing (Bolivia - Chile)

day 9 - San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoy an Included excursion to the Valley of the Moon. In San Pedro, opt to go sandboarding or mountain biking.
Enjoy an included excursion to the Valley of the Moon to learn about and appreciate the beautiful uniqueness of the landscape.

There are plenty of optional excursions in San Pedro de Atacama, including biking, exploring nearby ruins, and horseback riding. Despite its size, San Pedro offers some great restaurants as well as numerous handicrafts and artisan stores for those looking for souvenirs.

Accomodation:Hostal Puritama (or similar)
Included Activity:Valley of the Moon Visit Duration : 4.0 hr
Optional Activities:Observatory Tour Gaze at the impressive desert stars from one of the best places to see them in the world and be guided on a planetary journey with an expert astronomer., San Pedro de Atacama Hot Springs Relax in large geothermal pools surrounded by stunning desert landscapes and scenery. , Mountain Biking Price variance is by hour, or for a full-day rental. Most excursions are about 4 hours. , Sandboarding Hit the dunes and experience the rush of surfing down.

day 10 - San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago

Drive to Calama and fly to Santiago, a vibrant capital city.
From the nearby city of Calama, fly to Santiago, the capital of Chile. The city is surrounded by mountains, and there are both internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts within a couple of hours from the city centre.

Explore the city’s many museums and parks and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista with its handicrafts, trendy cafés, and San Cristobal Hill with its views of the city and the surrounding area.

Accomodation:Ibis Budget Santiago (or similar)
Transport:Local Van Duration : 3.0 hr, Plane Duration : 5.0 hr
Optional Activities:Bellavista Neighbourhood Visit Head to Barrio Bellavista as the locals call this bohemian neighbourhood to enjoy a delicious meal, check out some art galleries, or have a drink at one of the many bars in the area. , Day Trip to Isla Negra Take a day trip to Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda’s seaside home. This house was one of the poet and politician’s three homes, while not technically an island the house is near the water and it’s believed that watching the storms on the ocean inspired Neruda to write his famous poem Oda a la Tormenta. The author and his third-wife Matilde Urrutia are both buried on the grounds and the house is now a museum.

day 11 - Santiago

Depart at any time.

Meal:Breakfast
Included Activity:Departure Day
Optional Activities:Day trip to Valparaiso Take a day trip to the beautiful port town of Valparaiso and wander by the rows of colourful houses. The Historic Quarter is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, explore the examples of 19th century Latin architecture built into the hillside. , Santiago City Tour Spend the day visiting different neighbourhoods of Santiago, stop at the Museo de la Memoria and learn about the history of Chile. Visit the Central Market and enjoy a traditional Chilean snack before heading to a local bar to try Terremoto (Earthquake) a local drink made with pineapple ice cream, white wine and pisco. , Bellavista Neighbourhood Visit Head to Barrio Bellavista as the locals call this bohemian neighbourhood to enjoy a delicious meal, check out some art galleries, or have a drink at one of the many bars in the area. , Day Trip to Isla Negra Take a day trip to Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda’s seaside home. This house was one of the poet and politician’s three homes, while not technically an island the house is near the water and it’s believed that watching the storms on the ocean inspired Neruda to write his famous poem Oda a la Tormenta. The author and his third-wife Matilde Urrutia are both buried on the grounds and the house is now a museum.
South America: La Paz, Santiago & the Uyuni Salt Flats

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What's Included

Accommodation
Hotels/guesthouses (8 nts), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels (2 nts, multi-share).
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Note: Allow USD280-365 for meals not included.
Transport
Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4x4 vehicles, hiking.All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Guide
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Included activities
Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de AgenchaYour Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour Discover Moment: Sucre4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and desert crossing (3 days)Tour of Valley of the Moon (San Pedro de Atacama)Free time in Sucre, Potosí and San Pedro de Atacama for your own choice of activitiesInternal flights

What's Excluded

Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

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Travel Insurance
Visa
Other Practical Information

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