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Highlights of this 12 day adventure to Bolivia and Chile include Sucre, Tarabuco Market, Potosi, Uyuni Salt Flats to San Pedro de Atacama
2019 DEPARTURE DATES & COST
Departures: Each Friday based on minimum of 2 people
Cost: $ 3,685 USD per person
DAY 1 ARRIVE LA PAZ
La Paz – the highest capital city in the world at 3700 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level – is in a valley surrounded by snow capped Andean volcanoes. You will be plunged into a unique and colourful cultural environment. La Paz is a giant street market, beautiful textile crafts, and a place for fascinating people watching. Allow time to acclimate today by taking it slow and drinking local coca tea. Hotel Ritz
DAY 2 LA PAZ – SUCRE
A short flight to Sucre, the "White Jewel" with beautiful restored 16-18th century colonial architecture, churches and convents, a fantastic textile museum and the opportunity to purchase highest quality local textiles. Balance of day and evening at leisure. Overnight 3 nights Samary mi Pueblo.
DAY 3 TARABUCO MARKET
Full day guided excursion to the famous weekly market where the indigenous peoples of the surrounding villages meet to buy, sell and trade their wares. Only once a week on Sundays.
DAY 4 SUCRE – Cultural tour and weaving villages
Visit the mountain area around Sucre. See weaving villages and the Jatum Yampara Community, a project that aims to preserve and protect the identity and the cultural & artistic values of the Yampara culture (J'alqas and Tarabucos). Observation and participation in the process of the making of ceramic and textiles.
DAY 5 SUCRE – POTOSI
Drive to Potosi, approx. 2 hour. Half day city tour in Potosi visiting The Mint Museum, The Cathedral (Exterior), The Tower of the Company, The Historic Arch of Cobija, The Church of San Lorenzo, The Church of San Francisco (Exterior). Visit to a craft market. Hotel Patrimonio.
DAY 6 MINES & UYUNI'S SALT FLATS (Potosí – Tahua)
A 5-hour drive on an unpaved road from Potosí to Uyuni, travelling in the comfort of 4X4 vehicles. On route, visit the famous colonial mines of Porco, or the mines of Pulacayo, before arriving at Uyuni. This is the cradle of one of the most important workers movements in Latin America during the XX century. Arrival to the city of Uyuni for lunch. Enter the salt flats through Colchani and observe how the salt is processed manually. This is the last stop before arriving to the skirt of Tunupa Volcano. Many travellers are overwhelmed by the grandeur and remote beauty when they first see the white salt flats. Arrive Tahua. Overnight at the comfortable Salt Hotel constructed of, you guessed it, salt! Takya del Sel
DAY 7 TAHUA - SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ
Caves, fossils and islands are today's attractions during an unforgettable trip through 12,000 km² of fantastic landscapes of salt. The blinding white geology of Uyuni's salt flats resembles an immense glacier. In winter (dry season, from May to October), when the surface hardens, otherworldly geometric figures are formed by the salt particles. Continue toward Chillguilla with a stop at the pucara (Pre-Columbian ruins) – visit a cave of the "fossil whale" and the Mummies of Coquesa. Observe stromatolites (mineral silts that are testimony to the activity of the first unicellular inhabitants of the planet). Enjoy an outdoor lunch break at the Fish Island, located in the middle of the salt flats. Heading south through the salt flats, we encounter Bell Islands enroute to San Pedro de Quemez. Overnight Hotel Takya de Piedro.
DAY 8 SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ - OJO DE PERDIZ
Crimson lakes, flamingos, and multi-coloured deserts make for an unforgettable day. After an early start, visit the Burnt Town and Refuge Town, both towns built with stones. On the way back, pass near the still-active Ollagüe Volcano. Visit several lagoons: Honda, Cañapa, Hedionda and Chiarkhota, where three species of flamingos, and well as other birds can be observed. The minerals make for multicolored hues surrounding the lakes. Enter the enormous desert surfaces of sand and stone, leaving behind any sense of defined routes and set directions – you are surrounded by red, orange, ochre, bronze, brown and beige. Enter the Protected Area of Eduardo Alvaroa Reserve (REA), a protected area for rare Andean flora and fauna such as the untamable vicuñas. These cameloids, rare relatives of the llama, endangered due to the demand for their ultra fine wool, travel in small groups. Overnight Hotel Takya de Desierto
DAY 9 OJO DE PERDIZ – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA, CHILE
Very early start with one more visit to the reserve to spot the nesting grounds of three species of red and pink flamingos. On our way to Chalviri, see the famous Geysers of the Morning Sun. The Chalviri's Desert and salt flat is another area of extraordinary beauty, which combines the white of the snow and the borax, the ochre of the desert and the blue of the water. Take a bath in the thermal waters and enjoy a field breakfast. After leaving, another great extension of land opens up: The Ladies of the Desert with rocks that have resisted the wind for millennia. And almost as an excess for the senses, when leaving this desert valley, come across the Green Lagoon at the base of the Licancabur Volcano. In the distance, in the Soniquera region, Stone City is often recognizable. Whimsical and sometimes artistic shapes have been sculpted by the wind through time. Continue to the Chile border through the border town of Hito Cajón, about 45 minutes drive, have border formalities and drive 2 hours to the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Overnight 3 nights Casa de Don Thomas.
DAY 10 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Day at leisure. Options for tours include a visit to the Valley of the Moon, the cultural archeological museum with incredibly preserved local mummies from ancient cultures, exceptionally preserved due to the dryness of the climate. Atacama boasts the 2nd driest climate in the world. An exciting expedition goes to see the geoglyphs in the Hiervas Buena Gorge in the direction of Calama. Here an impressive collection of rock designs tells the ancient history of life in the Atacama. Walks in and around San Pedro take you to the little villages and ancient fortresses that remain. San Pedro itself is full of history and charm, with a church dating from the 1540s, one of the earliest Spanish buildings in Chile. You can also rent mountain bikes and see local sites around the town.
DAY 11 DESERT GEYSERS & HOT SPRINGS
An exciting journey into the Atacama region to visit the cordillera of the Andes to El Tatio geysers where the planet's geothermal energy is visible to man. The geysers burst dramatically forth at sunrise, in a plain surrounded by volcanoes. Visit Puritama Hot Springs.
DAY 12 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Trip ends in San Pedro de Atacama. OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS IN CHILE can be arranged and added.
Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Sucre and Madidi rainforest are included on our best of Bolivia tour - designed for those with a sense of adventure and a desire for unique discoveries with past and present day cultures of the Andes and Amazon.
Santa Cruz to La Paz to Uyuni and Lake Titicaca are features on this best of Bolivia program. Enjoy incredible value and stunning beauty as you traverse the Andean countryside. Includes nature travel & cultural exploration - off road 4WD expedition - community projects - photography.
The Madidi National park of Northwest Bolivia was created in 1995 and protects a full array of tropical ecosystems.
Explore new flavors in the heart of South America for distinctively unique Amazonian & Andean cuisine.
Salar de Uyuni is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Bolivia. t is isolated, well-preserved and intensely beautiful.
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This exceptional program encompasses Lima, The Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and the bird and wildlife rich regions of the cloud and Amazon forests of Southern Peru.
Manu Cloud Forest Lodge is idyllically located at 5,000 feet above sea level & Manu Amazon Lodge in the heart of the rainforest.
Departures are every Wednesday and Saturday from Cusco during March to December
Tour cost: $ 2,635 USD per person based on twin share including one way airfare out of Puerto Maldonado to Cusco or Lima and Park entrance fee
Single Supplement $ 850 USD
Private departures for groups of 4 or more!
Day 1 Cusco/ Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
We will depart our hotel at 6:00 am for this journey to the new Manu Cloud Forest Lodge which is idyllically located at 5,000 feet above sea level between cloud forest-covered slopes and adjacent to a narrow 400-foot-high waterfall. Rushing streams next to the site are two of the small water courses that descend from the mountains to the Qosñipata River.
Some of the attractions of the lodge include one "lek" or dancing ground of Andean Cock-of-the Rock, which are nearly crow-sized, bright red birds in the Cotinga family. Troops of acrobatic Woolly Monkeys are also frequently sighted. An ornithological census by John Arvin, a renowned tropical ornithologist, shows a list that exceeds 700 species of birds in the transect from the grasslands to the lowlands of the Upper Madre de Dios River port of Atalaya. Some of the amenities of the lodge include private bathrooms with hot water, private verandas overlooking the pristine Union creek, and a sauna to relax after the daily activities.
The journey from Cusco takes visitors on an 8 - 9 hour hour trip over two Andean Mountain chains of 13,100 feet elevation through a habitat of wildlife such as the rare Huemal Deer, vizcachas, and Mountain Caracara. CORL lies past patches of elfin forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes in the mist of the Cloud Forest. Troops of muscular-limbed Woolly Monkeys and comical Brown Capuchin Monkeys forage through the reserve. Rare sightings of the endangered Spectacled Bear, South America's only species of bear, have been recorded near the lodge.
The small lodge is ideal for the avid wildlife photographer and nature lover. There are four two-story bungalows. Each bungalow is divided in two levels for two to three guests each in single-bed accommodations. Every level provides private toilet facilities, which include hot-water shower, wash stand and flushing toilet. The lodge rooms offer private verandas overlooking the pristine Union creek. There is a restaurant and bar for up to 60 people, reading room and a sauna to relax after the daily activities. ($10 per person for each use).
The lodge has electricity. However, our small generator, due to a number of factors can fail or stop working at any moment, without the possibility of repairs for several days. The electricity output is about 220 volts. A stabilizer is strongly recommended if you will use our electricity output to recharge sensitive electronic equipment. Lights are turned on from 8:00 to 21:00, and briefly prior to early morning excursions.
Day 2 Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
The lush and misty cloud forest is perhaps the most fragile and threatened type of rainforest. This forest starts at 11,000 feet, and continues down to about 5,000 feet of elevation, covering the eastern slopes of the Andes, before yielding to the vast lowland forest of the Amazon. This is a kingdom of moss, lichens, ferns, and orchids.
Early excursion to a nearby platform and blind strategically located to see a "lek" where the brightly red-colored Cock-of-the Rock displays daily for the females. We return to our lodge for a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, a hiking excursion to the Waterfall Trail, walking through dense and exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams, which originate in the peaks high above the forest. At noon, weather allowing, a delicious barbecue awaits beside a natural pond. Surrounded by massive rocks, hanging vines and bromeliads, we will enjoy a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear waters.
Day 3 Cloud Forest Lodge/Manu Amazon Lodge (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we head towards Atalaya, the first navigable port on the Upper Madre de Dios River. The ride will take us through small villages of Andean colonists and indigenous people whose main economic activities are rudimentary farming and low-scale logging. Once at Atalaya we board our motorized dugout canoes, equipped with individual cushioned seats, and long tarps to provide shelter from the baking sun, or the sudden tropical downpour. River journeys are long in Manu and visitors have rated our boats as the most comfortable in the entire region. We will boat down the fast-flowing, braided, clear water, upper Madre de Dios River for about five hours to the confluence with the meandering, Manu River. As soon as we enter the great Manu wilderness, every river bend will bring us a vista of unspoiled beauty. We may see Black Caiman, White Caiman, toucans, parrots, scores of wild macaws, several species of raptors, and maybe even a magnificent Jaguar. The best proof of the presence of Jaguars and the possibility of many of our tour groups to see these great cats, are the many wonderful amateur photographs that our customers have sent back to our company.
After about four hours, we arrive at the Juarez Lake sandbar, then we hike 600 meters along a flat trail to the Juarez oxbow lake, where guides paddle us in a catamaran to the secluded Manu Lodge, the only full Lodge in the entire protected wilderness of Manu. If during the dry season the catamaran cannot be used due to the low water level in the lake, we will walk a one kilometer trail (about twenty minutes) only taking our hand-bags with us while the main luggage is carried by the Lodge personnel. 4 nights Manu Lodge.
Day 4/5 Manu Amazon Lodge (B,L,D)
We rise to the loud call of Howler Monkeys, and to the option of a dawn paddle on the lake. During breakfast from the dining room, you may be able to see entire troops of Squirrel Monkeys, Brown Capuchins, and White-Fronted Capuchins that may be visiting the lodge clearing in search of palm fruits. Without any doubt, one of the highlights of Manu Lodge is the family of four Giant Otters who usually breed there. Manu Lodge visitors have been able to see these playful and gregarious carnivores from a 15-meter distance without causing any disturbance of their daily activities. This group of Giant Otters visits the Manu Lodge every now and then, and when at Juarez, they can be seen at different times of the day. Surprisingly, a few dead logs in front of our dining room are their favorite spot to eat fish, preen, and play.
Manu Lodge offers the largest and most complete trail system available in Manu (over 20 km of marked trails), and the result of standardized trail walks completed by groups of researchers over the course of several years, show that "it is actually those sections closest to the lodge and most heavily visited, which were the most productive in terms of mammal sighting. This suggests that the presence of tourists and researchers is not having a disturbing effect on the local mammal population." (1995, Durham University Expedition Report.)
Attractions: Two miradors, Macaw rooosting sites, canopy climb, ox-bos lake exploration, 500 bird species recorded in the vicinity
Day 06: Manu Amazon to Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
At 06:00 o’clock we start our three-hour river journey back to the confluence of the Manu and the Upper Madre de Dios. This journey is our last chance to spot a Capybara, the world's largest rodent, or a Tapir, a relative of horses and the rainforest's largest mammal. After about three hours we will reach Boca Manu for a brief stop and to refuel our boat. From Boca Manu we will explore the lower portion of the Madre de Dios River where we may have a chance to see large Red-and-Green Macaws perched on the trees or making short and long flights to the rain forest canopy. We will also see several lowland native settlements. About five hours from Boca Manu, we will arrive to Atalaya to start our overland journey to Manu Cloud Forest. Overnight: Manu Cloud Forest Lodge.
Day 07: Cloud Forest Lodge/Cusco (B,L,D)
This morning after breakfast we offer you an additional hiking excursion to walk through dense and exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams, which originate in the mountain peaks high above the forest. Surrounded by massive rocks, hanging vines and bromeliads, we may enjoy a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear waters. Before noon we start our journey back to Cusco.
Inclusions: Ground and boat transport from Cusco to Manu & back, naturalist English-speaking guide, all meals at the lodges, accommodations at Cloud Forest Lodge and Manu Amazon Lodge. Manu National Park entrance fee (currently $60 per person)
Not included: alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature and tips.
Please contact us for more details: 1 (800) 690.7887
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