Optional Tours Bolivia Tours
Bolivia Tours
Bolivia may be one of the poorest countries in South America but its cultural wealth, the mind-blowing Andean landscapes, and the remnants of mysterious ancient civilizations make it the richest and most exciting destination for adventurous and independent travellers.
- City Tour La Paz (5 H)
- La Paz at night: Folk Show and Dinner (4H)
- Tiawanaku: The Pre-Incas Ruins (6H)
- Chacaltaya: Highest ski resort in the world (5H)
- Coroico: Ecological Tour (10H)
- Coroico: Mountain Biking
- The Salar de Uyuni
City Tour La Paz (5 Hours)
La Paz is the highest capital in the world. For this city tour, we either take our guests in the morning at 8 am or in the afternoon at 1 pm. We will see this wonderful 453 year old city; First we will make a visit to the great Moon Valley in Mallasa, as you walk you will discover a matchless place full of bizarre view of rocks formed by erosion and time. Then, we will go downtown so we get a thorough approach to the Americas Bridge, the Presidents Residence and the Highest Olympic Stadium in the world, plus a replica of the semi-subterraneal temple of the Aymara culture. To follow with, we will go to "Killi Killi", a nice view, from which all the amazing beauty of La Paz city will be appreciated, Thereafter we will visit the "Plaza Murillo" the citys main square, where we will see: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the House of Government, the Congress House and the citys three main museums: The Costumes Museum, The Gold Museum and the Murillos House. We will finish in San Francisco Church. Transfer to your hotel.
Included:
- Professional English Speaking Guide
- Entrance fees
- Transportation
La Paz at night. folk show and dinner (4 Hours)
La Paz at night. At 8 pm, we start this tour at your hotel, to go to the viewer "El Monticulo" from where we will appreciate all the lights of this city that seem to be falling stars for its amazing topography.
Then we will go to the show, a place where you will see all the extensive folklore of this Andean region, the dances are full of color and the rhythms you will hear being played by artists, using millenary Bolivian instruments, and you will enjoy the delicious traditional dishes. You have to taste the delicious llama meat (0 cholesterol), trout ,or any dish that you choose. Your guide will be with you explaining and discovering for you all the mysticism, about the origins, meanings, and legends of each of this rhythms and dances. A full color and spectacular display of customs and traditions. Transfer to the hotel.
Included:
- Professional English Speaking Guide
- Entrance fees
- Transportation
- Dinner in a Tourist Restaurant
Tiawanaku the pre inca ruins (6 Hours)
Starting this tour we go Northeast passing by "El Alto", the highest city in the world, for about 45 min until we get to the town of "Laja" the place where originally this city was founded in 1548 with the name of "The Ville of our Virgin of the Peace", as we get there watching the old church they will explain to you why and how this city was moved to the valley, our guide will tell us the story about its foundation. Then we will continue on the road to get to the viewer of "Lloco Lloco" with 4028 masl. or 12,800 ft. of elevation. This place allows you to appreciate the immense beauty of the imponent "Altiplano" (The High Plain). There you will be shown a map and also told about millenary cultures, religion and beliefs, which some people in Bolivia still practice. Ten more minutes on the road and we will get to "Tiawanaku", a place full of energy, and remains of ancient civilizations that were built using a fantastic and yet unknown technology, you will be surprised and amazed to hear all the theories and explanations clear and detailed about this empire and its buildings, people who were excellent farmers, astronomers and wise. You will also appreciate the impressive monuments on solid granite worked with perfection, such as the gates of the Sun, and the monoliths.
Included:
- Professional English Speaking Guide
- Entrance fees
- Transportation
Chacaltaya (Highest sky resort in the world) (13 Hours)
The trip starts going up, by a very scenaric and panoramic road, seeing beautiful lakes and lagoons of many and different colors formed by the snowy mountain meltings, and eternal glaciers like the imponent "Huayna Potosi" 6088 masl. or 19,400 ft. to get by car to the refuge "The cabin" at 5,300 masl. or 16,960 ft. a place from where we will start the ascension for 30 mins. to get to the "Chacaltaya Peak" 5,690 masl or 18,200 ft. right in the middle of the Real Andean Range of Bolivia, touching the clouds, and with a just unique panorama. As we get down back we can enjoy a hot beverage in the cabin before we get back to La Paz. (Specially designed "Acclimatization" tour is available for high mountain climbers)
(Optional longer snow treks are available)
(Optional use of ski track in season only with rented equipment from resort)
A spectacular Downhill in mountain bikes is available (2 hours of danger daring downhill)
Included:
- Recommendation and more details will be sent by E-mail
Coroico (Ecological Tour) (10 Hours)
We start our tour, coming out from the hotel, at an altitude of 3100 masl or 9,920 ft. approximately 1 1/2 Hrs until we reach "La Cumbre", (The top) 4,690 masl or 15,000 ft., from there we will start the descent to 980 masl. or 3,136 ft to the location called "Yolosa"(Jungle), going through a simply fantastic road, which is an attractive in itself. Once in this place you will already have experimented a change in temperature, with an average of 20C and a humidity factor of 82% and the lower altitude of course. The vegetation here is just impressive. For about 40 more minutes on the road we will reach "Coroico" a town which is beautiful by itself at 1,670 masl or 5,334 ft. it is a paradisiacal place. Lunch, then we will continue walking in this wonderful panorama looking at the plantations of coffee beans, oranges, tangerines and other citrics , later on we will get ready to go back to the city of La Paz.
(Mountain bike downhill is available, a spectacular and full of adrenaline 5 hrs downhill)
Include:
- Professional English Speaking Guide
- Lunch
- Transportation
Mountain biking to coroico
Daily departures
- Total time required: 13 hours (return to La Paz), or 7 hours (stay overnight in Coroico).
- Approximate riding time: 5 hours.
- Approximate downhill 90%. (One section contains a few small uphills)
We begin the ride at wind-swept La Cumbre (4,700 masl. or 15,400 ft) where you will see fantastic views of a number of snow-covered peaks, including Huayna Potos (6,088 masl. or 19,973 ft). From there, we descend rapidly down a twisting road amongst mountain peaks, grazing llamas and alpacas, tiny villages and a drug check-post. We stop for refreshments and a rest along the way, all the better to give us time to take in the scenery: towering cliff faces, dramatic drops and ever greener vegetation.
After a snack we descend further, and after a brief undulating section of road, we enter the jungle itself and the most challenging section of the ride. This infamous narrow dirt road is cut precariously into the side of the mountain and descends 2,000m (6,500ft). With 1,000m+ (3,300 ft) sheer drop offs to our left and hulking rock overhangs and cascading waterfalls to our right, we ride through mist, low cloud and dust. With your positive attitude and our expert supervision you can safely enjoy some of South America's most dramatic and beautiful scenery as you hurtle down the road. (Besides, in our opinion, it's safer on this road riding a speedy bicycle, than being trapped inside a big bus.)
As we get near the end of the ride it gets progressively hotter and dustier. By the time you arrive at the bottom in Yolosa (1,100 masl. or 3,600 ft) you will feel tired, hot, dirty and exhilarated. From Yolosa we catch a 7km (4 mile) ride up to Coroico (1,600masl or 5,250 ft) ,... although masochists may choose to cycle up, ... where we can enjoy a late lunch, take in the magnificent scenery, spend time relaxing by the pool and enjoy a cold drink, in the afternoon, well return back to la Paz.
Optional: You can spend the night in Coroico rather than returning to La Paz the day of the ride, in such a case, we will arrange for the delivery of your backpack to a hotel in Coroico. Many people take this option and then bus the next day from Coroico to Rurrenabaque and the Bolivian Amazon Jungle.
Include:
- Entry Fees Included
- Fantastic US made mountain bikes.
- Cycling helmets and cycling gloves.
- Professional speaking English Guide with more than 5 years of mountain biking experience.
- 4x4 vehicle support throughout the ride (for carrying your luggage, spare bikes, and first aid supplies) .
- 2-way radios for guides and driver.
- Full first-aid supplies (and our guides are trained to use them)
- Instruction and coaching throughout the ride
- All transportation.
- Snacks and a light lunch
The salar de uyuni
The Salar de Uyuni tour is one of the most enjoyable trips I have ever taken. Tickets can be bought from various tour operators in La Paz, and the trip usually takes four days. From La Paz one has to travel first to Uyuni, to start the tour, and this journey is a trip in itself. We take two buses to get to Uyuni-one to Oruro (a 3-hr ride) and then from Oruro a seriously bone-rattling 9.5-hour bus ride through the night before reaching our destination.
All tours are done in a 4x4 vehicle (Toyota Land cruisers seem to be the ones of choice for most tour operators) and involve staying at small lodges or hotels in towns along the way. What makes the trip so enjoyable is not only the variety of scenery along the way, but also the amount of it.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: SALAR DE UYUNI
Travel across the Salar (salt), visit the salt hotel, and explore Isla del Pescado, an "island" in a sea of salt. Spend the night in San Juan.
DAY 2: LAGUNA COLORADO
Day of lagunas (lakes). See the flamingos and beautiful colours of Laguna Chiarcota, Laguna Canapa, and Laguna Hedionda. Spend the night beside the red waters of Laguna Colorada.
DAY 3: ALOTA
Steam vents, hot springs, and more lagoons. Wake up at 5:00 Am. In the morning to drive to some geysers, and go for a dip in a natural hot spring. Visit Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, and stop in the town of Villa Mar. Spend the night in Alota.
Day 4: UYUNI
A bumpy ride across the desert. With the overload of stimuli over the past four days, I do not mind that there isn't as much to see this day. Stop at the train cemetery before returning to our starting point in Uyuni.
Include:
- Professional English Speaking Driver Guide
- All Meals During the tour.
- Private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser to and from La Paz.
- Local Hostels to spend the nights and Camping Equipment
Bolivia Tours,La Paz,Coroico,Salar of Uyuni,Chacaltaya,Biking Coroico