The Chile and Bolivia Tour is a combined trip offering nature, archaeology, adventure, breathtaking scenery, and refined capitals such as Santiago de Chile and La Paz, as well as a tour of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. You'll set off toward the Moon Valley, the Great Salar de Atacama, the Tatio Geysers, to uncover the secrets of the fascinating San Pedro de Atacama. You'll cross into Bolivia for one of the most memorable excursions the entire continent has to offer: the Avaroa Reserve and the incomparable Salar de Uyuni! You'll sail the world's highest navigable lake with the excursion to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, where you'll discover the secrets of the ancient Inca civilization and how Andean peoples live today. Discover two countries in a journey that combines comfort and relaxation, adventure and pure freedom: Chile & Bolivia await you!
Arrival in Santiago de Chile and transfer to the hotel. Your tour begins in the afternoon with a visit to the Chilean capital. Founded in 1541, the visit to Santiago begins with the Cathedral, the Palacio de la Moneda, Cerro Santa Lucia, and Cerro San Cristóbal, from which you can admire a complete view of the metropolis. Next, a visit to Patio Bellavista. End of the tour and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast. We begin with a visit to Valparaiso. Here you'll visit the typical houses that characterize the hills of Valparaiso. View of Pablo Neruda's house in the Sebastiana neighborhood (entrance and visit not included). We set off toward Viña del Mar, where the Chilean jet set spends vacations on beaches famous throughout South America. Viña del Mar is also famous for hosting the International Song and Folklore Festival every year. Return to Santiago, where you'll spend the night.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure toward the airport, where you'll board a flight to Calama. Arrival and transport toward San Pedro de Atacama. Arrival in San Pedro and check-in at the village of San Pedro de Atacama (2,438 m above sea level).
In the afternoon, excursion to the Moon Valley. As the sun sets, an extraordinary sunset awaits you with the lights of the Atacama Desert. Return to San Pedro and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast and departure toward the Great Salar de Atacama. Along the way, visit to the village of Tambillo and the colonial church of Toconao with its ancient orchards. We continue toward the Great Salar, considered the third largest in the world by area. Here one of the most important minerals, lithium, is produced. The tour continues toward the Los Flamencos National Reserve, with a visit to Chaxa Lagoon.
The excursion continues toward the Miscanti and Meniques lagoons, located at over 3,500 m above sea level. These lagoons are the ideal habitat for the endemic Horned Coot, foxes, vicuñas, and pink flamingos.
On the way back, we skirt the border with Argentina, where we visit the Salar de Talar, also known as Piedras Rojas. Lunch included. In the afternoon, return to San Pedro de Atacama. Overnight at the hotel.
Departure at dawn toward the Tatio Geysers. Upon arrival you'll be greeted by fumaroles and natural hot water pools bordered by colorful salt deposits. The plateau shines in all its majesty at this hour. Breakfast and the chance for a thermal bath. On the way back, you'll visit the village of Machuca. The rest of the afternoon is free ahead of your departure toward Bolivia. Overnight in San Pedro.
Breakfast and departure for Bolivia. Border formalities, and you enter the Avaroa National Reserve. One of the most impressive spectacles nature can offer anywhere on the planet awaits you! Along the way, a stop to visit the Colored Lagoons: Laguna Blanca, Laguna Verde, and Laguna Colorada. The latter will leave you breathless. We continue on to Sol de Mañana, a field of boiling mud geysers fed by underground volcanic activity. Lunch will be served along the way, while dinner will be at the (basic) lodge. A lodge service upgrade is available with prior arrangement. Between May and October temperatures are quite cold. We recommend bringing a sleeping bag.
Breakfast early in the morning, and the adventure continues. We cross the fascinating Siloli Desert, famous for the Árbol de Piedra, and the Bosque de Piedras, made up of over 4,000 rock formations. Both are natural wonders shaped by time and wind erosion.
During the day, visit to the Ramaditas, Hedionda, and Canapa lagoons. Some remote Andean villages are also visited. The overnight stay will be at a basic lodge. Lunch during the excursion and dinner at the lodge in the evening.
Breakfast at the lodge and start of the excursion; heading toward the largest Salar in the world: Uyuni!
Located at nearly 3,700 meters altitude, the Salar de Uyuni is the result of the drying up of an enormous prehistoric lake, home today to some of the largest lithium deposits and where large quantities of salt are produced daily.
One of the most important moments will be the visit to Incahuasi Island, an ancient extinct volcano, now home to enormous cacti.
We continue toward the picturesque Train Cemetery. Finally, a stop in Colchani to witness salt processing and extraction.
Arrival in Uyuni and overnight bus toward La Paz. Lunch included – dinner on your own.
Arrival in La Paz in the morning and transfer to the hotel. Check-in included. Breakfast and the rest of the day free to rest.
Overnight in La Paz.
Breakfast and start of the La Paz tour. We begin with a view of the historic center and its markets. A must-see stop is the Witches' Market and the Coca Museum. Excursion on the modern cable car to enjoy countless views of the Andean city. The tour ends with an excursion to the Moon Valley. Rest of the day free. (Optional visit to the Tiwanaku site).
Breakfast and departure by bus for Copacabana. Upon your arrival you'll be transferred to the hotel. Visit to the local market and the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Copacabana. Finally, a walk to Cerro Calvario, where the Way of the Cross of Jesus takes place. Overnight in Copacabana.
After breakfast, the excursion to Isla del Sol begins. The larger of the islands is located in the southern part of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3,800 m above sea level. During the day, several pre-Hispanic ruins are visited. You'll visit the ruins of Pilkokaina, an ancient two-story Inca palace. Pilkokaina is thought to have been built by order of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui. Walk to Yumani. Overnight on the island. Lunch and dinner are included.
Breakfast. Visit to the Inca Staircase to see the sacred spring known as the Fountain of Youth. The tour then continues toward Copacabana. Return by bus to La Paz, where you'll spend the night.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport. End of the tour.
If your flight connects through Santa Cruz, it's possible to customize the itinerary.