Highlights of Bolivia

Arrive in La Paz, where your private journey begins with a personal welcome from your Aracari host and a seamless transfer to your hotel. Set at approximately 3,650 metres above sea level, Bolivia’s extraordinary capital cascades through a vast Andean canyon beneath the snow-capped peak of Illimani. Take the remainder of the day to settle in, acclimatise to the altitude and absorb your first impressions of a city where Indigenous traditions, colonial heritage and contemporary Bolivian culture converge.

Explore the cultural heart of La Paz, beginning among the colourful stalls and traditional remedies of the celebrated Witches’ Market before delving into Bolivia’s heritage at the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore. Then take to the city’s remarkable cable-car network for sweeping views across La Paz and its mountainous surroundings. The afternoon can be tailored to your interests, perhaps visiting the surreal formations of Moon Valley, discovering contemporary creativity at Salar Galería, seeing Freddy Mamani’s exuberant Cholet architecture or sampling Bolivia’s emerging craft-beer scene.

Leave La Paz behind and journey towards the serene waters of Lake Titicaca. En route, choose between visiting a traditional workshop where totora reeds are transformed into boats or exploring the monumental archaeological complex of Tiwanaku. Continue onto the lake and cruise towards Sun Island, regarded in Inca mythology as the birthplace of their civilisation. A leisurely hike through the island’s terraced landscape is followed by a traditional Apthapi lunch before you settle into an ecolodge overlooking the deep blue waters and surrounding Andes.

Begin with a walk through the ancient agricultural terraces of Sun Island, reaching the Inca Grand Stairs and Sacred Fountain as your guide brings the island’s history and mythology to life. Continue by boat to neighbouring Moon Island to visit the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun, another important site within the region’s pre-Inca and Inca heritage. After lunch, cross the lake and return by road to La Paz. The evening concludes with dinner at Gustu, one of the city’s acclaimed restaurants and a showcase for contemporary Bolivian gastronomy.

Fly south to Uyuni and venture by private 4×4 into one of South America’s most surreal landscapes. Begin around Colchani and the haunting train cemetery before travelling onto the Salar itself, where crystalline salt formations stretch towards an almost limitless horizon. Pause for a private picnic surrounded by the vast white expanse before continuing your exploration. Tonight, stay in a distinctive hotel constructed from salt bricks or elevate the experience with a private Airstream camper positioned directly on the flats.

Spend a second full day exploring the extraordinary landscapes surrounding Uyuni, with the route adapted to seasonal conditions. During the dry season, travel north towards Coquesa and the imposing Thunupa Volcano, rising above the immense salt desert. In wetter conditions, exploration can turn south towards vividly coloured lagoons where flamingos gather against a stark Andean backdrop. Enjoy another picnic amid the wilderness before, conditions permitting, remaining after dark for stargazing beneath one of the clearest night skies on Earth.

Leave the otherworldly landscapes of Uyuni behind and transfer to the airport for your return flight to La Paz. On arrival, an Aracari representative will assist with your onward international departure, bringing your Bolivian journey to a close. In just seven days, the route connects the vibrant cultural layers of La Paz with the ancient mythology of Lake Titicaca and the immense natural spectacle of Salar de Uyuni — a concise yet richly varied introduction to Bolivia’s most remarkable landscapes and traditions.