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Bolivia Sampler
| Day | Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive La Paz. City tour this afternoon if time allows. |
| 2 | Morning visit to Tiwanaku ruins. Afternoon city tour of La Paz or free time. |
| 3 | Full day excursion to Island of the Sun. Return to La Paz in the evening. |
| 4-7 | Amazon rainforest lodge. Return to La Paz evening of day 7. |
| 8 | Departure Day – city tour of La Paz if not on day 1. |
8 days: US$2100 per person
Domestic flights included
Sample Bolivia from Lake Titicaca to the Amazon rainforest on this exciting eight-day tour. We’ll visit the capital city of La Paz, the ruins of Tiwanaku, the Island of the Sun on Lake Titicaca, and then round out our adventure with an exciting stay at an Amazon rainforest lodge. And as on all Southern Crossings tours, airport transfers are included!
Depart any day and customize your tour at no extra charge!
BOLIVIA SAMPLER ITINERARY
| Day | Activity/Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in La Paz and transfer to our hotel. We’ll take a city tour in the afternoon if there is time, visiting the Witches’ Market, downtown La Paz, the presidential plaza and the eerie Valley of the Moon. If there is not time for a city tour today, we will include one before your departing flight on day 8. |
| 2 | This morning we head out of La Paz to the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku. The Tiwanaku culture thrived from around 200 to 800 AD and controlled a large area of Bolivia and southern Peru. The ruins are fascinating, with strange, sculpted faces set in the walls of a sunken temple, and a huge carved archway called the Gate of the Sun. Return to La Paz in the afternoon. |
| 3 | An early morning departure to Lake Titicaca by private transport, where we’ll board a boat to the Island of the Sun. The Island of the Sun is the mythical, and perhaps actual, origin place of the Incas. This morning we visit some fascinating maze-like proto-Inca ruins and then head by boat to the south side of the island for more sightseeing and a lunch with spectacular views of the lake. Afternoon return by boat to Copacabana then by private vehicle to La Paz. |
| 4-7 | The Amazon rainforest is this morning’s destination as we take a short flight over the Andes to Rurrenabaque, a bustling Amazonian outpost, where we will spend the first night. We’ll transfer to a motorized dugout canoe for our six-hour journey into the rainforest to Chalalan Rainforest Lodge, where we’ll spend the next three nights. Our cabins at the lodge have modern bathrooms and comfortable beds with mosquito nets, and the food here is great. Take an afternoon walk through the rainforest with an experienced naturalist guide, come back for dinner, then set off again for a nocturnal jungle canoe ride to spot caiman! The next day’s activities will include a visit to an oxbow lake to look for giant river otters, monkeys, macaws and other wildlife as well as jungle walks led by an experienced, English speaking guide. You’ll witness an array of medicinal and otherwise interesting flora and fauna, as well as gain some insight into native Amazonian peoples and traditions. We return to La Paz on day 7. |
| 8 | Departure Day. City tour today if there wasn’t time on day 1. |
TRIP DETAILS
8 days: US$2100 per person
Domestic flights included
(What’s Included)
Is this trip for me?
Bolivia Sampler is an eight-day tour which includes walking in various ruins, on city tours and in the rainforest. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and delays of developing-world travel.
Please note: Southern Crossings has many relaxed tours, this tour however is for the more adventurous traveler. Please ask your client services assistant for more information on transport and accommodation for your specific tour.
Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being ripped off by airport taxis!
- Airport pickup – at the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip
- Southern Crossings bilingual guides
- Domestic Flights La Paz-Rurrenabaque-La Paz
- All other internal transport – (excluding transport to optional restaurants, bars, sights and excursions)
- Four nights of hotel accommodation, three nights jungle lodge
- Breakfast – included each morning
- All food at jungle lodge
- Full-day Island of the Sun/Lake Titicaca excursion, including bilingual guide, round-trip boat to/from the island, all entrances, guided tour of Inca ruins and south side of island, round-trip private transport from La Paz
- Half-day Tiwanaku excursion
- Four-day, three night jungle lodge excursion
- La Paz city tour
- 24 hour customer support line while on tour
What’s not included
International flight to/from La Paz, airport taxes (approx. US$32), pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while on optional excursions and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel insurance is not included through Southern Crossings though we do require that you have a policy, cancellation insurance is advisable. Any medical insurance is acceptable, we recommend Travel Guard. Click on the logo below for a quote:
Extra Accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip in: La Paz for $110 double/$90 single.
Single Person Supplement: $1250
Please add this amount to the payment if you will be traveling alone or wish to have private accommodation.
PRE-TRIP PLANNER
Required documents
All travelers to Bolivia are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. A visa is required for U.S. citizens, which costs $135.00 and can be obtained at point of entry. Please visit the U.S. state department website for what you will need to present to obtain your visa. A visa can also be obtained in advance through any Bolivian consulate. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Bolivian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
The rainforest area of Bolivia (approx. 3500 ft. and below, east of the Andes) is a malarial and yellow fever zone. The yellow fever vaccination with the official certificate is required, and travelers may wish to take malarial prophylaxis. Travelers may also wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.
Things to bring
One should come well prepared for outdoor activity at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for extremes of sun and the possibility of rain. A list of things to bring would include:
· Passport and, if necessary, visa
· Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
· Airline ticket and Travel Insurance Policy
· Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
· Wearable pouch for documents and money
· Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
· Smaller, comfortable day pack
· Trekking/walking boots or shoes, comfortable and worn-in
· Sandals or flip-flops
· Rain poncho or jacket
· Waterproof pants
· Sun hat
· Hat for cold weather
· Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
· Scarf and gloves
· T-shirts
· Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
· Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
· Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
· Sunscreen
· Lip balm
· Earplugs
· Alarm clock or watch
· Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
· Camera and film/digital memory cards
· Camera batteries
· Playing cards, games, reading material
· Prescription medications
· Toiletries
Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as
toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene items are
available in Bolivia.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, extra
large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also note that most digital
camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in
La Paz.
Climate
Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and on the Bolivian altiplano, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:
La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku: days are warm if sunny, chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in La Paz and can be extremely cold in Uyuni and Potosi.
Amazon basin: hot and humid year-round. We recommend light clothing (in weight and in color) that fully cover arms and legs to avoid mosquito bites.
Money guide
The unit of currency in Bolivia is the boliviano. Automatic cash points are available in La Paz. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, andCirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler’s checks (American Express is best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring Money Grams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in La Paz, and exchange houses are available in Copacabana. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older-looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country.
Expect to spend about US$3-10 on a meal, US$1 on a beer, water or soft drink in Bolivia. Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters, for example, run between $5 and $30. Currency Converter
“The Bolivia Blitz tour is special in many ways. The great thing about Southern crossings is that the holiday is personal, there is an itinerary but it can be adapted to suit your special interests.We had two excellent guides, Ivan was our attentive guide throughout; we had some great conversations and many laughs, and Pepe our local guide came with us on the trips to Lake Titicaca, Isla del Sol and Tiwanaku, providing lots of interesting insights into Bolivian life past and present. We even had a gift of a CD with some photos of our trip courtesy of Ivan and Southern crossings – some wonderful memories of an incredible experience!
The Bolivia Blitz tour is not to be missed. Bolivia is a special place:
the people, the colours, the amazing scenery make it unique; the trip came up to our expectations and more. This was our second trip with Southern Crossings, we went to Peru a few years ago which was equally great. You see things as they are but you have the help and support of excellent guides who make it personal for you – a good combination whatever age you are. If you love South America and the Andes and want to see more take this trip we recommend it.”
-Helen and Michael Gorman, UK – Bolivia Blitz!
“Once Enrique, our driver, met us at the airport in Lima, I never had any doubt that we would be well taken care of. All of the Southern Crossings guides were knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend this company to my friends without hesitation. A big thank you to Chris, Renee and Jorge for making this a memorable experience.”
-Diann Bowen, USA – Inca Heartland
“Southern Crossings arranged for us to see so many wonderful things, to enjoy so many activities and to meet so many interesting and wonderful people. There is no way that we could have organized such a complex and interesting itinerary ourselves and no way that we would have known which of the many sites to visits. On top of this, the local guides are all impressively knowledgeable and present this information so clearly – it makes the locations come alive.”
Bishop Family, UK – Belize and Guatemala Custom Tour