Essentials of Bolivia Andean High Plateau

Reception at La Paz airport and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a private welcome dinner at La Popular restaurant, led by chef Diego Rodas, specialized in Bolivian cuisine with a contemporary perspective and vision, who respects and takes care of taste, applying traditional dish techniques. This city is a fascinating mix of old and new, indigenous and colonial, all under the watch of the snow-covered peaks of the Illimani Mountain.
Lunch will be reserved at Ali Pacha, a vegan food fine dining restaurant in the heart of the city. In the afternoon venture 25 minutes outside of the city, to a spiritual healing center in the Valley of the Souls, where you will experience a traditional Aymara ritual lead by a Yatiri shaman. In the evening, dine at Bolivia’s best restaurant, Gustu. Its founder, Claus Meyer, is the Danish chef behind Denmark’s acclaimed two-Michelin-star restaurant, NOMA.

In the morning of day 3, we will drive for about 3 and half hours to Copacabana, a popular religious pilgrimage site and home to a 16th-century Cathedral on the shores of Lake Titicaca. There you will embark on your speedboat ride across the deep blue waters of the lake to Sun Island. Hike to the village of Yumani passing typical agricultural terraces along the way. Once we arrive in Yumani village, we will have the opportunity to visit the house of one of the community members, where we will learn about their architecture, ways and customs, agriculture, and the process of textile elaboration, finishing this cultural encounter with an “Apthapi”, traditional Andean buffet. The next morning we will explore the island and descend the “Grand Stairs” – over 200 steps built by the Incas – to taste the waters of the Sacred Fountain, believed to provide eternal youth and happiness.

Afterwards, we will take a boat ride back to Copacabana and return to La Paz by road. Dinner is suggested at Ona Restaurant, which presents an innovative menu designed to create a fine-dining experience with fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. ONA is led by young Bolivian chefs who are passionate about Bolivian food and gastronomic traditions.On the morning of day 5, depart to Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca civilization site located in the highlands of Bolivia over 4,000 masl, near the southern west shore of Lake Titicaca and 72 kms from La Paz. Upon arrival in Tiwanaku, you will visit the Ceramic Museum and the Lytic Museum. Then, we will visit the ruins and temples of the Tiwanaku archaeological complex. Among these are Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) – which captures the first rays of the sun on the Summer Solstice -, Puerta de la Luna (Moon Gate), the Kalasasaya Temple used as ceremonial ground during the Aymara New Year, and the Akapana Pyramids. After lunch, return to La Paz.

On Day 6, board a flight to Sucre for a historic & cultural tour of the White City. Walk along the French-style colonial and republican streets visiting the most important architectural and urban monuments such as the convent of Recoleta, the museum of textile art of ASUR, 25 de Mayo main square, the famous Casa de la Libertad museum and the Bolívar Park, once reserved only for aristocracy. Enjoy a delicious snack of Salteñas, a Bolivian pastry that everyone loves and visit the famous local chocolate factory. On Sunday morning we will visit the colorful Indigenous Market of Tarabuco (open only on Sundays). We will stroll along this traditional Quechua market, which has remained the same for centuries, offering an extraordinary range of products (a variety of fruits, vegetables, Andean cereals, and of course, ethnic textiles). Finally, located approximately 65 km southeast of Sucre, lies a great opportunity to witness the Yampara people in their beautiful traditional costumes and learn about this local indigenous community.

The next morning, you will take a transfer to Uyuni airport and a commercial flight to La Paz. In the afternoon, you will go on a shopping tour into the most stylish shops in town, to let your imagination run wild in the land of textiles.

On day 12, you will take an early morning private transfer to El Alto airport for your international departure