Bolivia and Chile hiking from Santiago to La Paz

Today, we can choose to visit Santiago for good or leave the city to discover another Chilean gem: the city of Valparaiso.

Located near Santiago, Valparaíso is a beautiful port city on the Chilean coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nicknamed the Jewel of the Pacific, Valparaíso is known for its elevators with incredible views, colorful houses, and amazing museums. It's also home to "La Sebastiana," one of Pablo Neruda's three houses in Chile. If you're wondering where the others are, we have the answer: "La Chascona" can be visited in Santiago, while "Isla Negra" is located in the city of the same name.

Journey to the North

Today we say goodbye to Santiago and take a domestic flight to the north of the country, towards Atacama, where we will sleep for the next two nights.

Atacama is home to the driest desert in the world, but that doesn't mean it lacks dynamism... on the contrary, Atacama is teeming with life and especially with indigenous villages located more than 4,000 meters above sea level.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we take the opportunity to grab a bite to eat, then we head straight for the Moon - not literally of course, but that's where we arrive after a short Jeep ride.

The Valley of the Moon

The Valley of the Moon is probably one of the most beautiful places in the world. There, I've said it!

As soon as you enter, you are immediately struck by the extraordinary beauty of this valley and its geological formations, sculpted by wind and water over millennia into a lunar landscape. You are struck by its incredible aridity (not a single blade of grass grows here) and by the shades of red that sunlight creates on the rocks, a thousand tones that constantly shift depending on the time of day.

The Arcoiris Valley

Today we are dedicating the whole day to the Atacama Desert, starting with the Arcoiris Valley, named for the thousands of shades of rock and sand that form a huge and crazy panorama.

We spend the whole day in the desert, but we save a good amount of energy for the night: movida?! No, but if conditions permit, we can visit one of the many observatories in the region: in these parts, the sky is an absolute spectacle!

Avaroa Park and the Green Lagoon

Today begins the real expedition, the one with a capital E, to remote places of stratospheric beauty. It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to San Pedro and climb aboard our jeeps, which will take us to the border with Bolivia: goodbye Chile, welcome Bolivia.

We head towards Eduardo Avaroa National Park, visit Laguna Verde and the Salvador Dalí desert - the name is already a clue and yes, we confirm it: it is practically a painting!

The journey continues north, passing by the geysers of Sol de Mañana and its impressive fumaroles, the hot springs of Polques and Laguna Rossa, until we reach our lodge in the middle of this unique desert.

Between volcanoes and lagoons

After breakfast, we will travel through the incredible landscapes of the Siloli Desert to the imposing Stone Tree, which is a tree-like rock formation caused by erosion over thousands of years.

We will continue our journey towards the Salar de Uyuni, visiting along the way magnificent lagoons such as Laguna Cañapa, with its colony of pink flamingos, and Laguna Hedionda, with its characteristic smell of sulfur.

The last stop of the day will be at the viewpoint of the Ollagüe volcano, the only active volcano in Bolivia, from where we will have a beautiful view of the landscape and the volcano with its fascinating columns of smoke.

Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt desert on the planet

We wake up before sunrise, but you'll soon understand why: today we have all day to enjoy the unique beauty of the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt desert on the planet and one of the most evocative places on Earth.

It is a magical place, and several legends surround its origins. One of them tells of a beautiful young woman named Tunupa who gave birth to a daughter even more beautiful than her mother. All the men were in love with her, and the women, driven by jealousy, decided one day to make the young woman disappear, causing Tunupa immense grief. Tunupa began to weep without ever stopping: her tears flooded all the neighboring fields, rendering them barren until a vast salt desert formed in their place.

Incahuasi Island and the village of Colchani

In the middle of this desert of tears, we visit the island of Incahuasi, covered with ancient cacti reaching up to 18 meters in height.

After taking the usual photos - you will no doubt play with perspective and show imagination for your best shots - we resume our journey and reach the village of Colchani to buy some snacks at the local market.

Discovering the silver mines

Wake up! It's time to hit the road and head to Potosi.

“How much longer?” We know you’re going to ask, so we’ll tell you first: the total journey is 3 and a half hours - do the math!

The city of Potosí is located in the southern highlands of the Bolivian Andes and is an essential stop on any trip to Bolivia. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it has distinguished itself as one of the most important colonial cities in South America. In the city center, you'll find several well-preserved colonial churches and numerous museums that highlight the impressive mining history this part of Bolivia experienced under Spanish rule. Speaking of mining, we have the answer to the question you're about to ask: we can arrange a special tour this afternoon.

The White City

Another day, another city: from Potosi, we travel to Sucre

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, this beautiful colonial city lies in a valley surrounded by mountains and is dotted with lovely white buildings. We'll have the whole afternoon to wander the streets of Sucre and explore all the hidden corners of the city, without losing sight of our evening rendezvous: dinner! And we'll be sure to find a place worthy of a delicious Bolivian dinner in Sucre.

On the roof of the world

We're almost at the end of our trip: today we arrive in La Paz, our last stop before heading home! A domestic flight will take us to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, known for being the highest capital city in the world. The city is a mix of urban jungle and tranquil squares where cobblestones and concrete blend together, fragrant markets and chaotic streets, brightly colored buildings and local clothing. In the afternoon, we'll take the cable car that connects La Paz to the city of El Alto, a maze of brick and small shops where we can buy local crafts. Afterwards, we'll head back down to the city center to enjoy the evening.

Adrenaline or shopping?

Today, we're free and can decide together the best way to explore La Paz. A guided tour is definitely a good idea, starting with the main square, Plaza Murillo, where the cathedral and the presidential palace are located, and then moving on to Plaza San Francisco, the city's second most important square. Since we're already on the move, we can't miss the local markets, the most famous of which is the Mercado Negro, where you can find practically anything.

We can also opt for an excursion outside the city: does the Death Road ring a bell? And for the less intrepid, another valley is ready to be explored: the Valley of the Moon - which is different from the Valley of the Moon in Chile!

In the evening, we can attend a lucha libre show, the Bolivian version of wrestling, featuring cholitas, young indigenous women dressed in traditional clothing and the typical bowler hat. Don't miss the chance to try the street food either: why not try choripan (chorizo ​​and bread) or anticucho (cow's heart served with potatoes and a spicy sauce)?

Check-out and goodbye

It is with a heavy heart that we must say goodbye to South America and our travel companions: see you soon!