Salt Flats and Silver

Arrive in Bolivia and meet your Aracari host, who will assist with arrival formalities before your private transfer into La Paz. Set dramatically within a vast Andean canyon at approximately 3,650 metres above sea level, the city provides a striking introduction to Bolivia. The remainder of the day is intentionally relaxed, allowing time to settle into your hotel, acclimatise to the altitude and prepare for the cultural and natural discoveries ahead.

Delve into La Paz’s distinctive combination of Indigenous traditions, colonial heritage and contemporary culture. Wander through the colourful Witches’ Market, explore the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore and glide above the city aboard its extensive cable-car network for sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Pause for lunch at Ali Pacha before tailoring the afternoon around your interests, with Aracari leaving the programme flexible for further cultural and creative discoveries across the capital.

Travel overland towards Lake Titicaca, choosing en route between a traditional workshop dedicated to crafting totora-reed boats or the archaeological remains of Tiwanaku. Continue across the deep-blue waters of the lake by boat to Sun Island, revered in Inca mythology as the birthplace of their civilisation. Enjoy a traditional Apthapi lunch before exploring the island’s ancient agricultural terraces and dramatic Andean scenery. Afterwards, settle into your lakeside ecolodge overlooking one of South America’s most storied landscapes.

Walk towards Yumani village before descending the historic Inca Grand Stairs and visiting the Sacred Fountain, surrounded by the terraced landscapes of Sun Island. Following lunch, continue across Lake Titicaca to neighbouring Moon Island, where the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun reveals another chapter of the region’s pre-Inca and Inca heritage. Return by boat and road to La Paz, where the day concludes with dinner at celebrated Gustu, showcasing contemporary Bolivian gastronomy.

Fly south to Sucre, a graceful city characterised by whitewashed colonial buildings, peaceful plazas and a beautifully preserved historic centre. Set out with your private guide to explore landmarks including La Recoleta, Museum Azur and the Church of San Felipe Nery, gaining insight into the cultural and architectural heritage of Bolivia’s constitutional capital. The remainder of the programme can be personalised around your interests, allowing time to discover more of Sucre’s museums, churches, streets and distinctive local character.

Venture beyond Sucre to experience the living traditions of the surrounding Andes. Choose between visiting the vibrant Tarabuco Market and Hacienda Candelaria, or travelling into the Cordillera de los Frailes to discover villages renowned for their traditional weaving. Meet master artisans and gain a deeper appreciation for the techniques, symbolism and cultural identity preserved through local textiles. Those seeking a more active experience can incorporate hiking through the surrounding countryside, where ancient trails and volcanic formations add another dimension to the day.

Travel from Sucre to Potosí, whose extraordinary history was shaped by the immense silver deposits of Cerro Rico. Explore the Royal Mint and miners’ market before visiting a functioning silver mine for a closer understanding of the industry that transformed Potosí into one of the colonial era’s most influential cities. Continue to the Santa Teresa Convent before travelling onwards by road to Uyuni. Tonight, stay either in a distinctive salt-brick hotel or upgrade to a deluxe Airstream camper positioned on the Salar itself.

Set out by private 4×4 across the immense Salar de Uyuni, where the experience changes dramatically with the seasons. During drier months, geometric salt patterns stretch towards the horizon, while rainfall can transform the Salar into an enormous natural mirror reflecting the sky. Depending on conditions, visit cactus-covered Incahuasi Island or see the bubbling salt “eyes” that punctuate the flats. Pause for a private picnic amid the surreal landscape before remaining to watch sunset wash the seemingly infinite horizon in changing light.

Journey south through the remote Bolivian Altiplano, passing San Cristobal and the Alota River as the scenery becomes increasingly otherworldly. Explore the sculpted formations of the Valley of Rocks before continuing towards the Catal and Black Lagoons, where flamingos and other wildlife inhabit an extraordinary high-altitude environment. With ample opportunities for photography throughout the day, continue through this sparsely populated wilderness before arriving at Mallku Cueva for dinner and an overnight stay.

Conclude the adventure deep within the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, one of Bolivia’s most spectacular wilderness regions. Encounter the vivid waters of Laguna Colorada before continuing through an elemental landscape of steaming geysers and the naturally heated waters of Chalviri. Journey onwards through the stark formations of the Dali Desert to Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, whose remarkable colours are shaped by their mineral-rich environment. Following lunch, return to Uyuni for your onward travel, bringing this exploration of Bolivia’s culture, history and extraordinary high-altitude landscapes to a close.