Bolivia
Discovering the Bolivian Andes
Réf : UBODECX
In summary
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Sports
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Duration17 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationAmerica / Bolivia
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AgeFrom 18 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions8979.75 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Let yourself be charmed by Bolivia on a comprehensive 17-day trip, emphasizing cultural immersion and the discovery of wild landscapes with unforgettable colors. This journey is accessible to everyone, without requiring you to be an experienced hiker. Furthermore, its itinerary is designed for a gradual ascent to altitude , guaranteeing optimal comfort.
Your journey begins with the discovery of the country's colonial history, starting in Sucre , the city of eternal spring, nestled in the foothills of the Andes. You will then travel to the Altiplano in Potosí , the legendary imperial city that was the heart of the Spanish Crown's economy.
The wonder continues with the striking contrasts between sky and earth, particularly on the iconic Salar de Uyuni and in the Southern Lipez desert . Finally, encounters take center stage in the Cordillera Real: share daily life and a typical breakfast with a traditional Andean community , preserving its customs and culture. This journey opens the doors to the hidden charms of an authentic Bolivia .
The highlights
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Immersion in the landscapes of South Lipez and the Salar de Uyuni
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Hiking through the Cordillera Real and its colorful lagoons
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Discovering the archaeological sites of Tiwanaku and Sucre
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 1h
- Average daily elevation gain: 61 m
- Average daily descent: 68 m
- Maximum altitude: 4850 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band :
1 supervisor for 4 to 15 people
Languages spoken:
French
French
Supervisor
Supervisor
French-speaking local tour guide.
Our guides have been chosen for their field experience, their specific knowledge of a geographical area and its associated culture, and for their passion for sharing the country.
Program
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Paris - Santa Cruz
- Transportation Plane - 17h - 9996km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Overnight flight to Santa Cruz (arrival the following morning: Day 2). Meals at your own expense or on board.Day 1 -
Santa Cruz - Sugar
- Transportation Plane - 00h45 - 293km
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 2800 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Arrival in Santa Cruz. We usually connect to our domestic flight to Sucre in the morning, without leaving the airport. Your Santa Cruz/Sucre flight schedule will be provided a few days before departure. The guide will meet us directly at Sucre airport. Upon arrival in Sucre, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free. You can relax at the hotel after your long journey or explore the streets of Sucre. (Note: For some departures, depending on your flight schedule, the above information may be subject to change.)Day 2 -
Sugar
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 2800 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
We are now in the constitutional capital of Bolivia, home to the Supreme Court (La Paz being the administrative capital and the seat of government). Also known as the City of Eternal Spring, Sucre sits at an altitude of 2,800 meters and enjoys a pleasant climate. We'll take a guided tour of this magnificent colonial city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other sites, we'll discover the Recoleta Convent, the Ethnographic Textile Museum, the San Felipe Monastery, and the Museum of Liberty, offering a chance to learn about Bolivia's fascinating history. Dinner is at your leisure.Day 3 -
Tarabuco Market
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 3200 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure for the small village of Tarabuco, nestled in a hilly region at an altitude of 3,200 meters. The village is renowned for its Sunday market, one of the most magical in South America. Here, the inhabitants have preserved many ancestral customs and traditions, and you'll see many Indigenous people wearing hard leather hats reminiscent of the conquistadors' helmets. Return to Sucre at the end of the day. We'll have dinner at a typical restaurant. Note: If departing from France on Friday, we will reverse days 3 and 4 so that we can visit the market on Sunday.Day 4 -
Sucre - Potosi - Visit to the Cerro Rico silver mines
- Transportation 03h
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 4100 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The road leads to Potosí, once the most important city on the continent. Indeed, it was from its mines that tons of precious metals were shipped to Spain. The ore was transported by donkey across the Andes to reach the Río de la Plata (the Silver River). In Buenos Aires, it was loaded onto caravels bound for Andalusia. During our journey, we cross the striking "Sugar" Bridge spanning the Pilcomayo River, then continue through the Chuquisaca Valley and up to the Potosí Plateau. After lunch, we visit the Cerro Rico mines and enter the tunnels with a former miner, observing the traditional methods of ore extraction.Day 5 -
Potosi - Uyuni
- Transportation 04h30
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 4300 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our tour of this imperial city with its steep, winding streets with our guide. We discover the magnificent Casa de la Moneda museum, where the Spanish minted their coins until the 19th century. After lunch, we depart by vehicle through the Cordillera Frailes to reach Uyuni (a 4.5-hour drive), a small town nestled on the edge of the world's largest salt flat.Day 6 -
Uyuni - Villamar
- Transportation 05h
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 4200 m
- Accommodation Hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off to visit the famous train cemetery, where dozens of old steam engines have been abandoned for a quarter of a century, exposed to the extreme weather conditions of the Altiplano. A beautiful day of driving awaits us on dirt tracks towards the South Lipez region. This is an opportunity to discover some of the most isolated villages in Bolivia. We stop in several of them and can admire the buildings constructed with natural materials. There's also the possibility (if it's open) of visiting the small but richly decorated colonial church of San Cristóbal. Then, we cross the Rio Grande, an area inhabited by vicuñas and rheas (Andean ostriches), and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.Day 7 -
Sol de Mañana Geysers - Laguna Colorada
- Transportation 06h
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 4850 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Another magnificent day of off-road driving through the stunning landscapes of the South Lipez region. Certainly one of the most beautiful of the entire route. In the morning, we reach Laguna Colorada: a brick-red lake dotted with thousands of pink flamingos. We then continue towards the Sol de Mañana geysers (4,850 m altitude): volcanic craters resembling immense boiling mud pots. We also stop at the Polques hot springs where we can bathe in 37°C water in a dreamlike setting, before driving along Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (so named because the landscapes are reminiscent of one of the master's paintings). We arrive at Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde late in the morning. This spectacular emerald-green lake is dominated by the perfect silhouettes of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes (5,916 m). Return to Laguna Colorada in the late afternoon.Day 8 -
Laguna Colorada - San Juan
- Transportation 06h
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 4400 m
- Accommodation Hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, we head north through the stunning landscapes of the Siloli Desert and its famous "stone tree," where viscachas (a type of chinchilla) sometimes venture. Next, we follow the Chilean border along the "Route of Jewels," passing numerous lagoons teeming with pink flamingos. We stop at the Ollagüe volcano viewpoint (5,865 m). Still active, it also houses one of the world's highest sulfur mines. The road then descends to 3,600 m. We cross the small Chiguana salt flat at the foot of the Tomasamil volcano (5,900 m) before reaching the village of San Juan, where we can admire the spectacular mummies of the "Lord of Lipez."Day 9 -
Salar de Uyuni - La Paz
- Transportation 03h
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 3700 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Another magnificent day: we leave San Juan and the track leads us to the Salar de Uyuni (3,650 m altitude), the largest salt flat in the world. The feeling is unique: the horizon stretches endlessly, and the immensity invites silence. We head due north towards islands covered in giant cacti, offering a beautiful view of the salt flats. In the afternoon, we turn east to reach Uyuni. Along the way, we visit a salt mine in Colchani and a former salt hotel. We arrive in Uyuni at the end of the day. There, we leave our 4x4 and board the bus to La Paz. Dinner is on your own. Overnight journey by comfortable bus (approximate times: departure 8:00 PM, arrival 7:30 AM). Note: those who wish can take the "Uyuni - La Paz Flight" option. They will then spend the night in a hotel in Uyuni, before taking a domestic flight the following morning to La Paz to meet up with the rest of the group. This option is subject to availability at the time of booking.Day 10 -
La Paz
- Activity Hiking
- Maximum altitude 3900 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We arrive in La Paz in the morning. Transfer to the hotel to drop off our luggage and rest before setting off on a guided tour of this fascinating city. This highest administrative capital in the world stretches across a vast basin between 3,300 and 4,100 meters above sea level, with the Illimani Glacier as its backdrop. We explore Calle Sagarnaga and its shops, the Street of the Witches, the typical San Pedro Market, the historic center, and the colonial quarter. We take the cable car, the highest in the world, for a panoramic view of the city crowned by glaciers. Then, we cross the Bridge of the Americas to reach the viewpoint at Plaza de España in the colonial quarter of Sopocachi.Day 11 -
La Paz - Tiwanaku - Lake Titicaca
- Transportation 03h30
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Maximum altitude 4000 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We leave La Paz for the Tiwanaku archaeological site (1.5 hours). The Tiwanaku civilization was a pre-Inca civilization that dominated the southern half of the central Andes between the 5th and 11th centuries. We visit the pre-Columbian ruins, which are among the most important on the continent. Then, we travel along the Cordillera Real and Lake Minor before crossing the Strait of Tiquina by ferry. We cross the Calata Peninsula to Copacabana and its charming little port on Lake Titicaca. We climb the Hill of the Stations of the Cross to watch the sunset.Day 12 -
Copacabana - Island of the Sun - Yumani
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Maximum altitude 3950 m
- Accommodation Hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
In the morning, after breakfast, we depart for the Lourdes Grotto, where we begin a hike to Llampupata. Upon arrival, we take our boat back to the Island of the Sun. A long climb awaits us on the way to Yumani, where we spend the night. (Note: We will not have access to our main travel bag and must carry our belongings for two days.)Day 13 -
Pilkokaina Temple - Cordillera Real
- Transportation 04h
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 350 m
- Maximum altitude 3950 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After visiting the Pilkokaina temple, we leave Isla del Sol by boat for Copacabana. We visit the most interesting sites in this lakeside village, including its church. We then get back in our vehicle and follow a beautiful road that runs alongside Lake Titicaca and winds its way into the Cordillera Real. After a four-hour drive, we arrive at a small Andean community nestled in the heart of the mountains. We are welcomed into the community.Day 14 -
Cordillera Real: The Condoriri Massif - Santa Cruz
- Transportation 01h
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Maximum altitude 4400 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After a hearty traditional breakfast, we set off for a short walk in the footsteps of llamas and alpacas in the Condoriri massif (a glacial peak shaped like a condor with outstretched wings). There, we'll discover the plants used by the Aymara people. We depart for La Paz airport in the afternoon, where we say goodbye to our guide and take a flight to Santa Cruz. Upon arrival, we'll be met at the airport, transferred to our hotel, and have the evening and dinner at your leisure.Day 15 -
Santa Cruz - Paris
- Transportation Plane - 17h - 9996kmper day
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free morning in Santa Cruz depending on flight schedules, then transfer to the airport and overnight flight to France. Meals at your own expense or on board. Arrival in France on day 17. End of the trip.Days 16 to 17
Note
Depending on weather and operational conditions, the guide reserves the right to modify this itinerary.
Accommodation
During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.
Access
Departure
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivie
Day 1
End of stay
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivie
Day 17
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isAéroport international de Viru Viru
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Price details
The price includes
- International flight departing from Paris (Departure from other French cities upon request and subject to availability)
- Airport taxes (excluding any local taxes)
- Transportation
- The accommodation as described
- Meals except those mentioned as free
- The local French-speaking guide
- Entrance fees to the sites and museums included in the program
The price does not include
- Insurance
- Personal expenses, drinks and tips
- Meals not included (allow €10-15 per meal)
- Departure tax of US$25 payable locally in Santa Cruz
Options
- Additional night in Santa Cruz in a single room : CHF82.33 / person
- Additional night in Santa Cruz in a double room : CHF50.31 / person
- Airport transfer to city center : CHF27.44 / person
- Single room : CHF356.77 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- walking sticks
- gourd
- toilet paper
- plastic bags for waterproofing your belongings
- For added comfort, you can bring a fleece sleeping bag liner which will raise the temperature of your sleeping bag by about 5°C.
- High-protection sunglasses are essential, as the brightness is very strong at this altitude.
- toiletry bag and bath towel
- high protection sunscreen
- headlamp
- sleeping bag:
Warm, comfortable, and tailored to your size, this mummy-shaped bag features a side zipper for easy opening. Ideally, you want a sleeping bag rated to -15°C or lower. However, a bag rated to -10°C (or even -5°C between September and April) is sufficient, provided you add a fleece or silk rain cover.
Nights can be very cold from June to August and it is important to be well equipped.
Clothing to bring
Clothing, from head to toe:
- Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots that support the ankle and have good soles. (Wear them before you leave to avoid blisters, especially in the first few days).
Also bring sneakers to wear during stops in towns, or in the evening at the bivouac.
- Wool socks for hiking or high altitudes,
- classic socks for the city
- warm tights
- 1 pair of sturdy canvas trousers or hiking trousers
- 1 pair of trousers for the evening
- 1 swimsuit
- Quick-drying warm underwear
- 3 to 6 t-shirts
- 2 warm long-sleeved shirts
- 1 sweatshirt
- 1 warm sweater or good fleece
- 1 anorak, mountain jacket or good windbreaker
- warm gloves and glove liners
- wool hat (can be purchased on site)
- Hat, cap, scarf: important because at altitude the sun is sometimes scorching, risk of sunstroke
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(1440 reviews)
• 453 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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