This is “the” circuit for the lovers of geological shows who will find a fertile ground in the wide open spaces of Altiplano.
This itinerary offers the discovery of the result of the clash of two tectonic plates, the Nazca and the South American continental plates. From this titanic encounter, hundred of thousands (probably millions of) years old and still observable today, were born strange formations better understood nowadays: the volcanoes of the Cordillera Occidental, the abrupt mountains of the Cordillera Real, the geothermic hot springs, the geyser and all sorts of impressive natural phenomena
The itinerary is progressive; starting with a short acclimatizing trek on Lake Titicaca, a place laden with history and myth. We then head west, towards Sajama National Park, the North of Chile and the wonders of Lipez, with an atmosphere like the ends of the earth. On the menu, five volcano ascents between 5100 and 6000 meters of altitude.
Warning: totally off the beaten path. For lovers of wide open spaces!

Airport pick up (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day open.
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 backpacks 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

4WD expedition from La Paz to Paz
Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. in a private vehicle for the beautiful traverse of the altiplano until we reach the entrance of Sajama National Park (around 4 hours) via the village of Curahuara de Carangas, with its colonial church known as the Sixteen chapel of the Altiplano (for its perfectly preserved intricate frescoes). On the way, we stop at the chullpas (carangas sepultures) empty today after their systematic pillaging. We enter the park by a dirt road taking us to the village of Tomarapi. The fauna is abundant and varied: alpacas. Vicuñas and ñandus (a parent of the ostrich) if we are lucky, as well as some flamingoes on the laguna Huaña Khota that we skirt before arriving at the Hot Springs, at the base of the volcano Sajama.
Lunch on the way. All included. Night at Doña Teodora’s near 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 (2 ½ hours) 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 leading 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 cliffs. Return to Jirira in the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos’ (basic comfort).
Ascent time: 7 h; Elevation gain: +850m/-850m

North to south traverse of the salar. Possibility of a walk on the immense salt plateau and stop at the heart of the salar on Incahuasi Island. Of volcanic origin, the island is covered with stromatolites and giant cacti. Then we visit the little known Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) located nearby. Beautiful walk on the island. The viewpoints over the salar are mind blowing. At the end of the day we arrive in San Juan (3/4h). On the way we stop at «Devil’s Cave».
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Ascent with guide – no technical difficulty – good physical condition required
Departure from San Juan at 4 a.m. We follow a dirt track that takes us to the base of volcano Iruputuncu (2 to 3 hours). The ascent, on foot, to the crater at 5000 meters takes 2 to 3 hours and to reach the summit takes about 30 minutes more.
We return to our vehicle left at the base of the volcano before noon. From there we drive towards San Juan and follow on to Ollagüe in Chile.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in a small hotel in Ollagüe.

In the morning, we discover from our car the area and its surrounding volcanoes: Miño (el. 5611 m.a.s.l.), Olca (el. 5407 m.a.s.l.) and Aucanquilcha (el. 6176 m.a.s.l.). Then direction to the South: we traverse the lsalar de Ascotan, dominated by the volcano of the same name (el. 5478 m.a.s.l.) before skirting the volcanoes San Pedro and San Pablo (over el. 6000 m.a.s.l. / active). Stop near the “pukara” (fortress) of Lasana, dating from the 12th century, before returning to the small village of Chiu Chiu at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

We wake up at dawn to admire the geysers of Tatio that gurgle in the cold of the Altiplano. The valley resembles a gigantic caldron. Water spurts here and there, sometimes to many feet above the ground.
We admire this geologic curiosity that mixes a ground still frozen with clear water springs at more than 70°C. We go back down to San Pedro de Atacama (2600 meters of elevation) at around noon.
At 4:30 p.m., excursion to the Valley of the Moon, on the outskirt of town. We go through Death Valley, the Mirador and the Valley of the 3 Marías. We enjoy the sunset (superb colors on the tortuous scenery) before returning to San Pedro.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel **.

Ascent with guide – no technical difficulty – good physical condition requiredse
Departure from the hotel at 6 a.m. in our 4WD for volcano Lascar (2h 30), one of the most active in the Andes. We begin the ascent at around 9:00AM. A struggle of 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit (the crater is located at 5000 m.a.s.l.), then an hour descent.
Return to San Pedro at the end of the day.
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 (15 persons maximum)

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.
Option of a walk and then to bathe in the hot springs at the foot of the volcanoes at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in a shelter (basic comfort).

With guide – no technical difficulty – good physical condition  required.
Start at 4 a.m. for the tentative ascent of Licancabur. The 4WD drops us off at the foot of the volcano (el. 4550 m.a.s.l.) from where we begin our climb under the faint glow of our headlamps. The whole mountainside is nothing else but scree. From the summit we overlook entirely one of the Cordilleras of the Andes: exceptional view on Lipez and the Atacama Desert as well as the Lagunas Verde and Blanca (between 6 and 10 hours round trip). Upon return, we will take a well-deserved bath in the Hot Springs at the foot of the volcano.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging in a shelter (basic comfort).
Ascent time: 8h; Elevation gain: +1410m / -1410m

Early departure for an excursion to the geysers Sol de Mañana (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then skirt the laguna Salada before crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings) before skirting laguna Salada. We stop at the geysers Sol de la Mañana before returning the way we came and then heading East. From there, 2 to 3 hours of dirt road, through the altiplano and green canyons, will take us to Quetena Chico.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with host (basic comfort).

Ascent with guide – no technical difficulty – good physical condition required
Departure in the morning from the village of Quetena towards the hillsides of the active volcano Uturuncu (“jaguar” in Quechua). We follow an old mining road, one of the highest drivable tracks in the world culminating at 5700 meters above sea level. Depending on the snow level, the vehicle can drop us off at about 5000 m.a.s.l. From there, we start our ascent by following the dirt track until it ends. A last effort will take us to the summit.
It takes about 4 hours for the ascent to the summit of the most accessible 6000-meter peak in Bolivia. Count 1 to 2 hours for the descent
Return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging in a shelter (basic comfort).

We drive in the direction of the North through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert before reaching the “Route of the Jewels”: lagoons Ramaditas, Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa, sanctuaries to 3 different types of flamingoes. We pass at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) and traverse Stone Valley (strange volcanic formations) before reaching the village of Alota.
Visit of San Cristóbal and of Rio Grande, an area where vicuñas and ñandus (ostrich family) abound. Arrival in Uyuni at the end of the afternoon (3 hours from Alota).

8:30 a.m. departure from the Hotel for Potosí (5 to 6 hours of dirt road). We cross the Cordillera Frailes before reaching the imperial town in the afternoon. End of day open (visit of the Santa Teresa convent recommended).
Lunch 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.
Afternoon open. 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.