June 4- June 7 (4D3N): We added Bolivia to our itinerary when planning the Chile trip after seeing the photos of the beautiful salt flats. Our journey took us to La Paz, Bolivia, from Santiago, Chile, via LATAM (3 hrs). Our original plan to stay in La Paz during our only night in the hotel room was replaced by a 9-hour overnight bus to Uyuni as our morning flight (1 hr) from La Paz was canceled. We then completed a 3D2N tour with Perla De Bolivia to visit the Salt Flats and other surrounding areas and had a smooth experience. I’d highly recommend spending at least two days in La Paz with some light activities to adjust to the high altitude (12,000ft +).

*Highly Recommended

Day 1 (La Paz)

• Morning arrival in LBP from SCL (via LATAM; access airport lounge via Priority Pass)

• Uber to Hostal Naira*

• 11 am - 1:30 PM “A Wonderful City” Walking Tour:

  • Plaza Murillo

  • Palacio de Gobierno

  • Mercado Lanza (get a fresh juice)

  • Witches Market

  • Sumaya Galery (go inside the courtyard)

  • Sagarnaga (a cute shopping street with umbrellas)

  • San Pedro Prison (outside pic only)

• Lunch @ La Ollada

• A view of the City from the top (take the cable car - mask required as of June 2023; refill the card as you go)

• Feria 16 De Julio

• Iglesia La Recoleta

• Basilica de San Francisco

• Massage @ Massage Naturel

• Apple pie & tea @ Cafe Restaurant Banais * (the pies were great here)

• Overnight bus to Uyuni via TODO Turismo* (9 hr journey with reclining seats)

Day 2 (Uyuni)

• Early morning arrival in Uyuni

• Breakfast/coffee @ Almirato Coffee

• Uyuni Salt Flats & Colored Lagoons 3D2N tour* via Perla De Bolivia:

  • Train Graveyard

  • Colchani

    • Lunch

    • Museo De La Llama Y La Sal

    • Salt making/ Souvienor shop

  • Salar de Uyuni:

    • Dakar Monument

    • Flags of the world

    • Hotel de Sal (currently as a museum /restaurant)

    • Take some fun perspective-and proportion-distorted photos

    • Isla Incahuasi

    • Sunset

  • Dinner & overnight stay @ a hostel in Agencha

Day 3 (Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve)

• Day 2 of Uyuni Salt Flats & Colored Lagoons 3D2N tour*:

  • Breakfast @ hostel

  • Pitstop @ San Juan

  • Chiguana Desert

  • Pit stop @ Mirador Santa Rosa (llama sausage burger* & great view of the volcano)

  • Laguna Canapa (beautiful flamingos)

  • Lunch @ Laguna Hedionda (more flamingos)

  • Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve:

    • Siloli Desert

    • Stone tree

    • Red Lagoon

Day 4 (Sol de Mañana Geyser/SPA)

• Day 3 of Uyuni Salt Flats & Colored Lagoons 3D2N tour*:

  • Breakfast @ hostel

  • Sol de Mañana Geyser

  • Hot Springs

  • Dali Desert

  • Green Lagoon

• 11:30 am: Bus arrives in SPA (follow my SPA itinerary here)

Other points of interest & food:

La Paz:

• Coffee @ The Writer’s Coffee & Hb Bronze Coffeebar

• Lunch @ Los Cantaritos

• Death Road Bike Tour

Tips:

• Americans will need to apply for a 10-year visa to enter Bolivia.

• Take your time to adjust to the high altitude. La Paz is the tallest administrative City in the world, situated at over 12,000 ft. For comparison, Bogota is only 8,000 ft.

• We visited in the winter, where thermal and wool socks were handy to stay warm at night, especially as indoor heating isn’t available at the hostels.

• Bring toilet paper, altitude sickness medications (Sorojchi Pills, aspirin), and drink as much coca tea as possible.