This expedition takes us to the heart of the most remote areas of the Altiplano and to the discovery of its stuning scenery. Lagunas and flamingoes at an altitude close to 5000 meters, omnipresent volcanoes, deserts… it is dedicated to the wild open space lovers!
After a short acclimatization trek on Lake Titicaca, a place loaded with history and myth. We head west towards Sajama National Park in Bolivia and then to Northern Chile’s great National Parks (Lauca, Vicuñas, Surire, Volcano Isluga). We skirt the Cordillera of volcanoes before returning into Bolivia by one of the remote and desolated border posts of the Altiplano.
Suddenly, in front of us stretches the immensity of the white Salar de Uyuni. Horizon and bearings seem lost and we stop to wonder if we are still on planet Earth.
We then head south, where we travel along extensive lagunas and deserts. We take a break at the pleasant oasis of San Pedro de Atacama before starting the crossing from the Grand Lipez to the canyons of Tupiza.
On the way back to La Paz, we visit Potosi, city rich in history and registered as a World Heritage City by UNESCO.
Great Adventures!

Pick up at the airport (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to hotel.
At 2 p.m. we meet at the reception of the hotel for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagárnaga Street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches’ street, San Pedro's food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (around 3h30). From there a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (island of the Sun), a 3-hour trip.
From the ruins, we start the trek following the crest of the island until we reach the village of Yumani in the South (a 3 to 4-hour hike).
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Maria and Ismaël’s house (Basic comfort).
Note: During the following 2 days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the gear during the walks.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +200m / -100m

In the morning we descend the 500 steps to the pier of the Fuente del Inca (Fountain of the Inca), where our boat awaits us to take us to the peninsula of Yampupata (20 minutes). Trek along the peninsula to the Virgin of Lourdes, by way of the remote village of Zampaya (about 4 to 5h). We then get back on our boat for the return journey to Copacabana and then to La Paz with a private vehicle (3h30).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +100m / -200m

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in our private vehicle for the archeological site of Tiwanaku (1h30). Guided tour of the pre-Colombian vestiges counting amongst the most important of the continent. After lunch we continue our route towards Viacha before entering further into the altiplano. In this region infrequently visited by tourists, we discover the real face of Bolivia...
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with host (Basic comfort).

The dirty track (overused by trucks loaded with smuggled goods) leads us to Charaña, a surrealistic border town. At its railway station (today abandoned) took place the famous meeting between the two dictators Pinochet (from Chile) and Banzer (from Bolivia) on February 8th 1975, and where Chile promised to give Bolivia access to the sea. As a consequence, both countries renewed their diplomatic relationships. Three years later, as the promise was never honored, Bolivia broke the diplomatic relations again. From Charaña, we head south along the Chilean border, steering towards the majestic volcanoes Parinacota and Pomerape. The track is beautiful. We see viscachas, vicuñas, ibis, wild Andean goose and ducks, and even ñandus (a close cousin of the ostrich) if we are lucky.
We enter the Sajama Park at the Huañya Khota lagoon and then reach the natural hot springs, at the foot of the volcano Sajama (el. 6542 m.a.s.l.)
Cold lunch, all included. Night at Doña Teodora’s house, close to the hot springs (basic comfort).

In the morning, trek to the geysers, 2 to 3 hours away from the hot springs. This particularly active area offers a unique display of bubbling baths spread over hundreds of square meters. We can try cooking eggs in their slightly sulfuric water. In the afternoon we return on foot to the village through the “bofedals”
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Doña Isabel and Don Marcelo’s (basic comfort).

In the morning, we clear the Chilean-Bolivian border. We skirt Lake Chungara, dominated by volcano Parinacota.
This day is dedicated to the exploration of Lauca National Park (Chile) by car as well as on foot. Magical lunar landscape populated by a particular and abundant fauna: viscachas, vicuñas, ibises, ducks and wild geese.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with host in the village of Parinacota (basic comfort).

Heading south, we pass by Volcano Guallatiri (still active) before arriving to the Salar de Surire (2h30) owing its name to the presence of ñandus in this region (suri in Aymara). We can spot three varieties of flamingoes as well as numerous lamas, alpacas and vicuñas. We take a lunch break near some Hot Springs. Later on, we take a narrow path heading south, through lands populated by the lamas of the Isluga Park. We traverse the colonial villages of Enquelga (el. 3850 m.a.s.l.) and Isluga (el. 3980 m.a.s.l.). We arrive in Colchane by the end of the afternoon (2 to 3 hours from Surire).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

We return to Bolivia in the morning, entering by the border crossing of Pisiga located on the West side of the Salar de Coipasa. This immense salt desert has a bad reputation. Often flooded, it is not unusual to find vehicles that have been stuck there for a whole season. For this reason, it is not often visited except by the huge trucks transporting the salt extracted from the Salar. We can, nonetheless, enjoy the unusual deserted scenery it offers before reaching the other Salar, larger and better known, the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.).
We drive around volcano Tunupa and reach, in the early evening, the village of Jirira, on the outskirt of the salar de Uyuni (6h approximately).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at Don Lupe and Don Carlos’ house (basic comfort).

With guide – No technical difficulty – Good physical condition required
Early departure for the ascent of the volcano that dominates the whole of the Salar (our 4WD drops us off at the end of the dirt road above the village). In about 4 hours, we reach the viewpoint (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.) that offers an exceptional panorama. The summit (el. 5400 m.a.s.l.) can’t be attempted because of the potential danger due to the necessity of climbing over some cliffs. Return to Jirira in the afternoon and arrival in Uyuni by early evening, after visiting the Salt Hotels and the salt factory of Colchani.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ***.
Ascent time: 7 h; Elevation gain: +850m/-850m

9 a.m. departure from the Hotel with our 4WD for the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.), the world’s largest salt desert. On the way, we visit the salt exploitation of Colchani and the Salt Hotels (closed since November 2001). We then stop in the heart of the Salar on the Island of Incahuasi. This island is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites and giant cactuses (Stomatolites are fossilized bacterial colonies, first traces of life on earth).
In the afternoon, we head South towards the village of San Juan.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

After leaving San Juan, we cross the Salar de Chiguana. From there, the dirt road climbs from 3600 m to about 4200 m of altitude. We pass at the foot of volcanoes Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) and Ollague (still active), on the Chilean border. We stop at the mirador of volcano Ollague, still active and sheltering one of the world’s highest sulfur mines. We then skirt the Chilean border going south following the “Road of the jewels”: lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Ch’arkota, Honda, Ramaditas, sanctuary to three varieties of Flamingoes. The track continues on through the beautiful scenery of the Siloli Desert and its famous “Stone Tree” where we can sometimes spot viscachas, before arriving, in the afternoon, at Laguna Colorada. This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the presence in its water of millions of shellfish Artemia, well-studied by scientists for their incredible adaptability in saline areas.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

We depart very early in the morning for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers `(el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escapes sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach Laguna Verde, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) before noon, to witness a curious phenomenon: the wind picks up and the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
We cross the Bolivian border in Hito Cajon in the early hours of the afternoon and after an hour long descent we reach San Pedro de Atacama (Chilean border), a refreshing oasis in the middle of the scorching Atacama desert.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel **.
OPTION: At nightfall, we depart with an astronomer for the observatory of San Pedro, for a “discovery of austral skies”. After 2 hours of observation with the naked eye and with a telescope, we return to the village, where we complete the explanations around a hot drink.
Note: excursion open to other participants (12 persons maximum)
- OPTION AUSTRAL SKY: $ 25 US / person.

Departure At 4 a.m. towards the Tatio where we admire the geysers roaring in the cold air of the Altiplano. The valley looks like a giant pot. Water spurts here and there. This geological curiosity mixed a ground still frozen to clear water springs at more than 70°C. (2 ½ hours trip). Option to bathe in one of the cooler hot springs. Return before noon to San Pedro by the Valley de Machuca. At 4:30 p.m., our vehicle takes us to the Cordillera de Sal and the Valley of the Moon, where we walk though imposing scenery made of dunes and sculpted Sandstone Mountains. We admire the sunset (superb colors over the contorted landscape) before returning to San Pedro, cool oasis in the middle of the scorching Atacama Desert.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel **.

A steep ascent to the Altiplano takes us to the border post of Hito Cajón, entry point into the region of Lipez. We reach Laguna Verde, at the foot of volcano Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.), before noon to witness its possible color change
Then we cross the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings) before skirting Laguna Salada, where we will change direction to reach the village of Quetena early evening.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Early departure, towards regions little known by tourism. We first reach the very remote laguna Celeste before arriving at Laguna Morejón. We then clear a pass at 4500 m.a.s.l. and then arrive at the strange formation of el “Torreón”. Visit of the ancient village of San Antonio del Nuevo Mundo. According to the legend, the village was suddenly abandoned because of a massive unexplained viscachas invasion (rodent typical of the area). Arrival in the village of San Antonio at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in the communal school of San Antonio (basic comfort).

We follow our expedition in this wild and deserted country where live condors and ostriches that escaped the more visited area of South Lipez. We cross the villages of San Pablo de Lipez and San Vicente, where Butch Cassidy and the Kid ended their legendary epic. Then we literally descend from the Altiplano to reach the town of Tupiza (6/7h of dirt road).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel **.

Trekking day, on foot, on horseback or mountain bike, through colorful canyons with interesting geological formations (some resembling phallic symbols). The trip and its duration can be adapted to the level of the participants.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel **.

9 a.m. departure from the hotel. We skirt the whole Cordillera Frailes until we reach the imperial city of Potosí (nominated as a National Heritage City by UNESCO). We follow a dirt track for about 6 hours through the Chichas region, well known for its alcohol of the same name (made from fermented corn). The landscapes of sun scorched rocks and of lush orchards alternate along the way.
Lunch on the road (included). Dinner open. Hotel **.

We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we can meet miners in their environment. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel **.

Long return trip across the Altiplano to La Paz, via the city of Oruro (8/9 hours). Evening open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.