Journey Salt Flats Uyuni
La Paz - Uyuni Salt Lakes
8 Days / 7 Nights
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
La Paz
When your international flight arrives in La Paz, you will be met and assisted by our English-speaking representative. From there he will accompany you to your hotel.
Day 2
La Paz
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of La Paz. With few flat areas, La Paz has its own unique topography, and it is protected by its eternal guardian, the snowy peak of Ilimani (6402m). La Paz houses the seat of government of Bolivia. Visit the Plaza Murillo (with its presidential palace, national congress, and metropolitan cathedral), the famous Witch’s Market, and a choice of fine museums: the National Museum of Art, The Ethnographic and Folklore Museum, and The Tambo Quirquincho Museum (with displays of old fashioned dresses and silverware). On Street Jaen, a beautiful colonial street, there are four museums which may be visited one after the other. These are: The Precious Metals Museum, The Casa de Murillo, The Litoral Boliviano or Military Museum, and the Juan de Vargas Museum; there is even a Coca museum. You will also visit the Valley of the Moon before returning to your hotel.
Day 3
La Paz - Oruro – Uyuni
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Oruro for the fabulous train journey south to Uyuni. You will pass the huge Poopo Lake, where many flamingoes come to feed. Poopo Lake is located in west-central Bolivia on the altiplano, at an elevation of 12,090 feet. It is Bolivia’s second largest lake after Titicaca. Oddly, it is only eight to ten feet deep. It is a saltwater lake, and for this reason, attracts many migratory birds. There are legends that tell of an Atlantean population that once lived on an island on the edge of a lake that later sunk into the water, and some believe this island was located at Lake Poopo.
Arrival in Uyuni at night, transfer to your hotel.
Day 4
Uyuni Salt Lakes
After breakfast, you will leave Uyuni in a private 4X4 vehicle, heading towards Colchani, a town of only 70 families, whose entire livelihood consists of activities surrounding the extraction of salt from the natural salt lakes located here. The two major lakes are Poopo and Uru Uru Lake, which were once part of the huge prehistoric Lake Minchin. They are the highest salt lakes in the world. The Salares, or salt deserts of Uyuni, are estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt. Less than 25,000 tons are extracted annually by the local populace. Continuing through this amazing region, you will arrive at Pescado Island, a rocky island where hundreds of huge cacti grow. Lunch on the island before continuing past several salt villages such as Puerto Chubica, Mañica, Colcha, and on to the village of San Juan.
Day 5
Uyuni Salt Lakes
After breakfast, you will continue your journey, passing a military post at the town of Chiguana. You will stop at Paso de Leon to observe the Ollagua Volcano, which is currently mildly active. Stops will also be made at various lagoons: Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota, Honda, and Ramiditas. You will stop for lunch and have an opportunity to observe three different kinds of flamingos: James', Andino, and Chilean. You will pass the Siloli Desert and possibly observe vizcachas, rodents that inhabit the salares. Vizcachas have a bushy tail and long, furry ears, and live in some of the harshest climates on Earth. You will also see the famous stone tree. In the afternoon you will arrive at the beautiful Laguna Colorado, an amazing red lake. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.
Day 6
Uyuni Salt Lakes
The tour carries on to Sol de Mañana, a volcanic zone where there are many geysers that shoot sulphur steam high into bubbling mud cauldrons. The fumaroles emit vapor that consists of water and steam, and can shoot as high as 10 to 50 meters into the air. Further ahead you will stop at the natural hot springs where you are welcome to take an inviting soak. After a rest, you will pay a visit to the Dali desert, decorated with huge rocks said to resemble works by the artist Salvador Dali. Continue on to Laguna Verde, the green lake, and see how the color of the water changes. The lake is located at the base of the Llicambur Volcano. After lunch, return to Mallku Villa Mar and your accommodation at the Posada.
Day 7
Uyuni - La Paz
Your final visit will be to the train cemetery before arriving back in Uyuni. This is where you can see a collection of old train relics and cars that have been put to their final rest. Transfer to your hotel for day use before transferring to the train station for the very early morning train back to Oruro, founded in 1606 as a silver mining center in the Urus region of Bolivia. Its original name was Real Villa de Don Felipe de Austria, after the Spanish ruler, Philip III. Once the silver was exhausted, Oruro was abandoned, later becoming a tin mining center. In fact, the La Salvadora mine located here was at one time the most important tin mine in the world. Oruro is famous today for its carnival, featuring colorful, masked “devil dancers.”
Day 8
La Paz
Transfer to La Paz and on to the airport for your flight home.
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