Bolivia Family Itinerary

15 Days 14 Nights

Itinerary Overview

Bolivia is one of the least explored countries in South America. The culture is bright, colorful and festive. It is also home to the highest percentage of indigenous people in South America. This exciting 13 – night family itinerary explores Santa Cruz and the surrounding area with great family activities; discover Sucre and the nearby Cretaceous Park, Cal Orck’o; visit Potosi, a World Heritage Site and an important colonial city; explore Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest salt flats in the world, at night to view the stunning area under the spectacular starlit sky; tour La Paz, the highest capital of the world and Moon Valley, a maze of canyons and giant spires; visit Sun Island off the coast of Copacabana and Cerro Calvario with phenomenal views of Lake Titicaca; and finally return to La Paz for your flight home.

Day 1 Santa Cruz

Arrive Santa Cruz by your international flight. Private transfer to your hotel.

Hotel: Camino Real Suites
Day 2 Santa Cruz

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at Biocentro Guembé that is a natural paradise surrounded by exotic gardens, lush forests, a large enclosed butterfly area and the largest aviary in the country. Swim, kayak, hike on the trails and enjoy delicious food. Visit the Museum of Evolution.

Hotel: Camino Real Suites
Day 3 Santa Cruz - Lomas de Arena - Santa Cruz

After breakfast, visit the beautiful but rarely visited protected area of Arena that is 25 km from Santa Cruz. The main attractions are the never – ending sand dunes (covering over 3000 hectares) which present adventurous travelers Bolivia’s best sand boarding opportunities. In addition, Lomas de Arena offers nature lovers great opportunities for wildlife and bird watching.

In the afternoon, return to Santa Cruz and see the historical sites of the colonial city and Basilica Menor de San Lorenzo.

Hotel: Camino Real Suites
Day 4 Santa Cruz

After breakfast, visit Jardin de las Delicias 70 kilometers from Santa Cruz and about two hours each away. On the way to the waterfalls, enjoy spectacular landscapes and nature.

Upon arrival, enjoy the walk to the waterfalls and on the way see a variety of birds and monkeys. Enjoy a swim in the natural pools from the waterfall.

Hotel: Camino Real Suites
Day 5 Santa Cruz - Sucre

After breakfast, private transfer to Viru Viru International Airport for your flight to Sucre and then transfer to your hotel upon arrival.

Enjoy a half day Sucre city tour. Sucre, the first capital of Bolivia, was founded by the Spanish in the first half of the 16th century. During the tour, you will visit many of the well-preserved 16th century religious buildings. It is an excellent portrayal of colonial architecture, for which it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is surrounded by mountains and is a beautiful way to explore the city with its many squares and plazas, local markets, parks and gardens.

Hotel: Parador Santa Maria Real
Day 6 Sucre

After breakfast, visit Cretaceous Park Cal Orck’o, the world´s largest deposit of dinosaur footprints. The imposing cliff of Cal Orck’o (Hill of Lime) reveals secrets of various species of these fabulous animals that disappeared 68 million years ago. This Cretaceous Park is a unique complex that offers some of the best natural scenarios showing three important factors in paleontology: the migration of animals, extinction of these dinosaurs and the limit between the Mesozoic and Tertiary era.

In this park, you can find replicas of flora and fauna of the last period of the dinosaurs that existed in South America. There is the impressive Titanosaurus that is 36 meters long and 18 meters high. There is also a replica of an Ankylosaurus whose footprints have been discovered for the first time in South America in the Fachallon of Cal Orck’o. Other impressive replicas are the famous Tiranosaurio Rex, Carnotauro, Ceratopsio and other species of herbivores, carnivores, reptiles and amphibians of the Cretaceous period.

Hotel: Parador Santa Maria Real
Day 7 Sucre - Potosi - Cayara

Breakfast is at the hotel.

Private transfer from Sucre to Potosi to Cayara. The journey takes around 3 hours.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Hotel: Cayara Museo
Day 8 Cayara - Potosi - Colchanai

After breakfast, private transfer (about 5 hours) to Potosi for a half day tour. Explore this beautiful town rich in historical events involving the nearby mines that once made this city one of the richest in all of South America. When you visit the museum, which was the former mint for pressing silver into coins, named Casa Nacional de la Moneda, you will see the Bolivian art and history that’s been dedicated to the displays. Near the mint, you can also find the Plaza 10 de Noviembre. It is a square lined with ornate colonial buildings, including the important cathedral with many statues and gardens that adorn the location.

Afterwards, transfer to the hotel.

Hotel: Luna Salada
Day 9 Colchanai - Uyuni - Colchani

After breakfast, visit the one of the most remarkable places on earth: Uyuni Salt Flats. The first place in your itinerary will be the Train Cemetery where you will be able to see the remains of very old wagons and trains from the early 90`s and the beginning of the 20th century. You will also have the opportunity to visit the hand-made salt factories and traditional handicrafts made exclusively of salt.

Uyuni´s Salar is the world’s largest salt flat stretching more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano. The site offers one of the most incredible views that you can imagine. At midday, visit Incahuasi Island. This island is in the middle of the salt flats covered with ancient cactus and a rare ecosystem that has survived time pass. In the afternoon, contemplate the sunset in the middle of the salt flat. Afterwards, return to your hotel.

Hotel: Luna Salada
Day 10 Colchani – Uyuni - Colchani

Early in the morning after breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel. Drive down to Tunupa Volcano to trek uphill to this volcano to the viewpoint to observe the magnificent “Salar de Uyuni”.

Afterwards, visit the Chantani community where a number of “Chullpares” which are pre – Hispanic mummies are located. End the day looking at the sunset in the middle of the salt flat. Drive back to the hotel.

At night, take a night tour at Uyuni Salt. Your guide will take you to the flats, so you can take in the stunning views of the area under the spectacular starlit sky.

Hotel: Luna Salada
Day 11 Uyuni - La Paz

After breakfast, take a private transfer from your hotel to Joya Andina Airport. Fly from Uyuni to La Paz.

Upon arrival at El Alto International Airport, you will have a private transfer to your selected hotel in La Paz. This is the highest international airport in the world with an altitude of 4060 meters above sea level. The airport is located in the city of El Alto just 30 minutes from La Paz.

Upon arrival, look for a sign with your name for a transfer to La Paz. Enjoy a guided tour of La Paz and Moon Valley. When you visit the highest capital city of the world, La Paz, you are welcomed by extreme geography, fragrant markets, chaotic streets and colorfully dressed Bolivians roaming the city. La Paz is known as “Nuestra Señora de La Paz” and is located in western Bolivia. Compared to the countryside, La Paz is an urban jungle where you will be totally blown away by this bustling city and all its character. During the city tour, visit the Plaza Murillo where the Bolivian government is based, as well as an important and immense cathedral and Presidential Palace. See various museums of importance to the city.

There are also very interesting markets to visit such as the “Mercado de las Brujas” where community healers offer an array of medicinal plants as well as potions, powders, incense, amulets and talismans that ensure good health, luck, beauty and fertility. You will also see locals practicing traditional rituals such as reading the fortune in coca leaves.

Additionally, you will be driven to a special location where you will have a 360 degree view of the city and visit Moon Valley. Aptly named, this site is unique for its features of lunar-like landscapes and bizarre geological formations. The Moon Valley is not actually a valley but a maze of canyons and giant spires. The clay and sandstone formations were formed by the erosion of mountains because of strong winds and rains. One of the most breathtaking features of the place is its varied colors ranging from clear beige tones to sections of red and dark purple due to the different mineral content between each individual mountain. Several species of cactus grow among the stalagmites, including the hallucinogenic Choma, or San Pedro cactus.

Hotel: Casa Grande
Day 12 La Paz – Tiwanaku - Copacabana

After breakfast, private transfer from La Paz to Copacabana with your guide.

A stop is made at Tiwanaku, where you will visit the archaeological site of the ancient city Your guide will show you the remains and explain the history of this mysterious place.

Founded around 1500 BC, Tiwanaku became the capital of a massive empire that lasted almost a thousand years. It developed into a sophisticated urban ceremonial complex that at its peak was home to some fifty thousand people whose great pyramids and opulent palaces were painted in bright colors and inlaid with gold. The city was in many ways the cradle of Andean civilization, making an enormous cultural impact throughout the region and providing the fundamental inspiration for the better-known Inca empire.

Hotel: Rosario del Lago
Day 13 Copacabana – Sun Island

Early in the morning, take a private boat go to to Sun Island and do their tour, have lunch there, and finally overnight in Sun Island. The small but enchanting town of Copacabana is considered to be a long-time religious mecca for both locals and indigenous people. Visit the Island of the Sun home to what is believed to be the fountain of youth. The fountain represents the 3 pillars of the Aymara Culture: Ama Sua, Ama Llulla and Ama Quella, which means, you shall not steal, you shall not lie and shall not be lazy. There is an incredible amount of treasured and ancient history here.

Hotel: Estancia Ecolodge
Day 14 Sun Island – Copacabana – La Paz

After breakfast, depart Sun Island and return to Copacabana on the Bolivian mainland. You will visit the Cerro Calvario, a popular tourist attraction throughout the year, with phenomenal views of Lake Titicaca.

Private transfer from Copacabana to La Paz.

Hotel: Casa Grande
Day 15 Departure

Private transfer from your hotel to La Paz International Airport.