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Blog - Jim's Thoughts

Bolivia Tours and Travel

Best of Bolivia / La Paz / Lake Titicaca / Sucre-Potosi / Santa Cruz-Missions
Uyuni Salt Lake / Bolivian Pantanal / Madidi National Park / Amazon cruise

Best of Bolivia Tour

Day 1 - arrive Santa Cruz, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will be picked up for a city tour. It is known for its mix of colonial and modern architecture and it surrounded by tropical vegetation. Mennonites and Japanese settlements, as well as some primitive tribes, give a special flavor to this area.

Day 2 - full day Samaipata ruins visit. Located 120 kilometers from the town of Santa Cruz, the ruins of Samaipata are one of the most enigmatic ancient sites in all of South America. Perched at 6500 feet above sea level (1949 meters), the site was first discovered by the early Spanish and named ‘El Fuerte’ as it was believed to have military significance. Archaeologists no longer believe in the military use of the site but consider that it had religious significance. The ruins of Samaipata consist of two parts: 1) the stone hill with many fascinating carvings of jaguars, snakes, other zoomorphic and geometrical figures, a water tank with conduits, and a curious seating arrangement, and 2) an area to the south of the stone hill that seems to have been the administrative and residential district.

Day 3 - transfer to airport, for flight to Sucre, wher you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will be picked up for a city tour. This colonial city, founded in 1538, is the testimony of Bolivia's independence. Churches centuries old, priceless colonial paintings, furniture and religious figures are exhibited in its museums and historical buildings are also a testimony of its past. The San Francisco Xavier University is the 2nd oldest one in South America and the 1st to start a medical school. UNESCO has declared it “The Historical and Cultural Legacy of Mankind”

Day 4 - transfer to bus station to take bus to Potosi, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon tour of the city. The discovery of ore in silver-rich Cerro Rico (rich hill) in 1544 prompted the foundation of the city of Potosí on April 10th, 1545 at the foot of the hill. Large-scale excavation began in the site immediately and the first shipment of silver was sent to Spain. In 1672, a mint was established to coin silver and water reservoirs were built to fulfill the growing population's needs. At that time more than eighty six churches were built and the city's population increased to nearly 200,000, making it one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Latin America and in the world, known for its silver mines, magnificent architecture and extravagance. There is a popular saying that its Rich Mountain has produced enough silver to build a solid bridge from Potosi to Madrid. Today, Potosi speaks of its history with a language of stone written with the blood and sweat of the silver miners; a sample city of colonial exploitation.The wooden machinery of the Royal Mint is still perfectly conserved and the city is today a living museum of the colonial period.

Day 5 - transfer to the bus statio and take the bus to Uyuni, where you will be met and taken to visit the salt lake.

Day 6 - transfer back to the bus station and take the bus back to Sucre (lunch is included)

Day 7 - full day visit to the native Tarabuco market (Sunday). Tarabuco is located 60 Km far from Sucre, the Tarabuco culture is one of the most ancient indigenous cultures of this continent which has preserved its values and customs. The market attracts peasants from the region, who are famous for their Conquistador style leather helmets and multicolored hand woven ponchos and chuspas (bags for carrying coca leaves and money). After a visit to the typical Sunday market of Tarabuco, we continue to the Indian Community of Jatun Yampara, where we'll have a typical Indian lunch with the products grown by the community. Demonstration of native weaving techniques, musical performances by some of the communards and walks. There's the possibility to consult the "yatiri" to know the future and buy textiles directly from the community.

Day 8 - transfer to the airport to fly to La Paz, where you will be met and transferred to Huatajata, on Lake Titicaca. Your visit includes here the CHULLPAS - mortuary towers of several periods, the Limachi brothers and their new exclusive museum including info about all the reed rafts expeditions of our century and a full size reproduction of the RA II used by Thor Heyerdhal in his epic expedition across the Atlantic. The brothers were builders of the RA II and TIGRIS for Thor Heyerdhal's and other scientist vessel expeditions.The Eco Museum shows the original home of our natives and a later improvement of their life style. A handicraft village where local artisans make the "Chicha" (local drink made out of corn), ceramics, "Abarcas" (native sandals made of old tires), the Melon Hats of the Indian women and the wonderful masks used in their colorful "fiestas".

Day 9- hydrofoil cruise to Copacabana, the Uros Iruitos floating islands and the Sun and Moon islands. According to the legend the Sun God Inti sent down to earth his son Manko Kapak and daughter Mama Ocllo in order to improve the life of the Andean People. After descending on the Sun Island they founded the Inca Empire. The Islands of the Sun and the Moon represent two of the greatest natural and cultural monuments of South America. Located in the southern side of Lake Titicaca (3810 meters above sea level), the islands house more than one hundred and fifty ancient settlements. During the Inca occupation of the region (around A.D. 1470 - 1532) these islands were the final destination of ritual pilgrimages from all around the empire. However, recently recovered archaeological evidence indicates that the sacred nature of these islands extends back at least to the Tiwanaku Empire (A.D. 600 - 1100). Prior to this time, humans first occupied the islands as early as 2000 B.C., and have continuously lived there for millennia.

Day 10 - bus to Tiwanacu, the "Cradle of the American Civilizations" and wonder with their advanced culture, their monoliths, the sun door, etc. Around A.D. 500, the great high plateau state of Tiwanaku emerged as the dominant culture of the region. At over 3800 meters above sea level, Tiwanaku ranks as one of the highest ancient imperial capitals in the world. The site was founded around 400 B.C. as a modest village. By A.D. 900, Tiwanaku influence and control extended over 350,000 square kilometers, an area larger than modern Great Britain. During its peak, the capital of Tiwanaku boasted a huge stone-faced pyramid, cut stone enclosures, elite residences, exquisitely decorated buildings, a system of subterranean canals, and at least four square kilometers of residential buildings, with a population of 100,000. There was a rigid social and political hierarchy expressed in elaborate art and architectural styles. Then continue to La Paz and transfer to your hotel.

Day 11 - you are picked up from the hotel to visit a typical Indian Market, the famous Witch Doctor's Market and the San Francisco Colonial Church. The tour continues to the Plaza Murillo where the Cathedral, the Government Palace and the National Congress buildings are located. Then, we will visit the famous colonial street "Calle Jaén" where interesting museums are clustered together. To change scenery the tour continues to the residential areas of Obrajes, Calacoto and La Florida. The tour ends with a visit to the unique Moon Valley, where you will have the opportunity to walk around.

Day 12 - transfer to airport.

2010 Price per person in US$: $2175 per person for 2, $2075 per person for 3, $1837 per person for 4, $1624 per person for 5-9, with a single supplement of $342