Price: $2,500 per person (double occupancy, mid-range)
Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
Best Time to Go: May to November, for dry weather and optimal festival timing
Starting Point: La Paz, Bolivia
What’s Included: Mid-range hotels and guesthouses, shared 4x4 transport, local guides, Aymara festival access, digital map of hidden lagoons and quinoa fields
What’s Not Included: International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses
Get ready for a 10-day journey across Bolivia’s Altiplano, a high plateau where the earth feels closer to the sky. This mid-range tour takes you to forgotten villages like Sabaya, the otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flats, and a quirky train graveyard museum that’s a photographer’s dream. You’ll dive into Aymara culture at a vibrant festival in a remote community, trek to hidden lagoons, and wander ancient quinoa fields. The digital map’s your guide to secret spots that make this trip unforgettable. Here’s the plan, jotted down like I’m sharing it over a mate tea in a dusty Altiplano village, a bit raw but packed with heart.
Day 1: Arrival in La Paz & Acclimatization
You land in La Paz, Bolivia’s sky-high capital at 3,650 meters. We’ll pick you up and check into a comfy mid-range hotel—think warm beds and hot showers. Spend the day acclimatizing to the altitude with a gentle walk through the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market), where Aymara vendors sell coca leaves and talismans. Dinner’s local: salteñas and api, a warm corn drink. Your digital map arrives tonight, highlighting hidden lagoons, quinoa fields, and trails across the Altiplano. Rest up—altitude’s no joke.
Day 2: Journey to Sabaya
We hop a shared 4x4 for a 6-hour drive to Sabaya, a remote Aymara village on the Altiplano’s edge. The road’s bumpy, but views of snow-capped peaks make it worth it. Sabaya’s quiet, with adobe houses and llama herds. You’ll meet an Aymara family, learning how they farm quinoa and herd livestock. Lunch is with them: quinoa stew and chuño (freeze-dried potatoes). The map points to a nearby ancient quinoa field; we’ll walk there to see terraces dating back centuries. Check into a simple guesthouse for the night—cozy, with alpaca blankets.
Day 3: Aymara Festival Immersion
Today’s the heart of the trip: a vibrant Aymara festival in a nearby village (name’s kept under wraps to keep it real). Expect colorful ponchos, Andean flutes, and dances honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth). You’ll join the celebration, maybe trying a few dance steps or sipping chicha (fermented corn drink). The feast is hearty: roasted llama, quinoa, and potatoes. The map guides us to a sacred hill for a post-festival hike, where locals leave offerings. Back to the Sabaya guesthouse for dinner and stories with your guide about Aymara traditions.
Day 4: Uyuni & Train Graveyard Museum
We drive 4 hours to Uyuni, the gateway to the salt flats. First stop: the train graveyard, a surreal “museum” of rusted locomotives from the 1940s, abandoned when mining crashed. Climb the trains for photos or just soak in the eerie vibe. Lunch is in Colchani, a salt-processing village: think llama steaks and quinoa salad. Afternoon’s free to wander Uyuni’s dusty streets or shop for alpaca scarves. Check into a mid-range salt hotel—walls and beds made of salt blocks, but with hot showers. The map highlights a nearby lagoon for tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 5: Uyuni Salt Flats & Incahuasi Island
We hit the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, stretching over 10,000 square kilometers. It’s blinding white, with hexagonal salt tiles crunching underfoot. We’ll stop for fun perspective photos—think tiny you next to a giant dinosaur prop (bring one if you want!). Head to Incahuasi Island, a cactus-covered outcrop in the salt sea, for a short hike and 360° views. Lunch is a picnic on the flats: empanadas and fruit. The map points to a hidden lagoon nearby; we’ll check it out for flamingo sightings. Back to the salt hotel for a cozy night.
Day 6: Colored Lagoons & Eduardo Avaroa Reserve
A 4x4 takes us into the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, home to surreal landscapes. First stop: Laguna Colorada, a red-hued lake packed with flamingos, colored by algae and minerals. Next, Laguna Verde, a turquoise gem at the foot of Licancabur Volcano. Lunch is outdoors: sandwiches and coca tea to fight altitude. The map leads to a hidden lagoon, less visited but just as stunning, with vicuñas grazing nearby. We overnight in a basic guesthouse in Villa Mar—think shared baths but warm beds. Expect epic starry skies.
Day 7: Quinoa Fields & Village Life
Morning’s a visit to ancient quinoa fields near Coquesa, mapped out for their terraced beauty. You’ll meet Aymara farmers who’ll show you how quinoa’s planted and harvested—maybe try your hand at it. Lunch is with them: quinoa porridge and grilled meat. Afternoon’s a walk to a nearby mummy cave, where Aymara ancestors are preserved with their belongings. It’s humbling. The map suggests a trail to a hidden viewpoint of the salt flats; we’ll hike it for sunset. Back to a Uyuni salt hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 8: Siloli Desert & Stone Tree
We venture into the Siloli Desert, where the map guides us to the Stone Tree, a wind-carved rock formation that looks like it’s from another planet. The desert’s colors—reds, browns, oranges—are unreal. Stop at Laguna Hedionda, another flamingo-filled lake, for photos. Lunch is a picnic: local bread and cheese. Afternoon’s a map-guided drive to a lesser-known rock formation, perfect for quiet reflection. Overnight in a Tayka Stone Hotel, built from volcanic rock—simple but with hot showers and epic views.
Day 9: Free Day & Stargazing
Your call today. Use the map to revisit a favorite spot, like a hidden lagoon or quinoa field, or chill at the salt hotel with a book. Optional activities include a guided llama herding session or a visit to Colchani’s salt cooperative to see how they process 5,000kg of salt daily. Lunch is in Uyuni: maybe pizza made with quinoa flour. At night, we head to a map-marked stargazing spot—the Altiplano’s clear skies are unreal, with the Milky Way blazing. Back to the salt hotel for a farewell dinner: roasted meats and wine.
Day 10: Farewell & Back to La Paz
Last day’s easy. After breakfast, we visit one final map spot—a secluded lagoon with a view of Tunupa Volcano. Snap photos or just breathe in the vastness. Then we drive back to Uyuni for a noon bus to La Paz (8 hours, comfy cama seats). Grab souvenirs (salt carvings or Aymara textiles?) or sip coffee in Uyuni before departure. We’ll drop you at a La Paz hotel or the airport if you’re flying out.
The Altiplano’s like nowhere else—Uyuni’s salt flats are a blinding dream, Sabaya’s Aymara life is raw and real, and the festival’s a burst of color and soul. The train graveyard’s a rusty wonder, and those hidden lagoons and quinoa fields? Pure magic. The digital map’s your key to spots most miss, from flamingo lakes to ancient terraces. Mid-range means comfy salt hotels and shared 4x4s without breaking the bank. This is for travelers who want Bolivia’s wild, high-altitude heart.
Practical Stuff
Accommodation: Mid-range salt hotels and guesthouses—hot showers, private rooms, some shared baths in remote spots.
Transport: Shared 4x4s for tours, overnight cama bus to/from La Paz.
Group Size: Max 10 people, for a tight-knit vibe.
Weather Note: May-November’s dry, with 60-75°F days and freezing nights (20-40°F). Pack layers, sunscreen, and sturdy boots.
Language: Guides speak English and Spanish; Aymara locals may not, but we’ll translate.
Heads-Up
Altitude (3,650-4,500 meters) can hit hard—acclimatize in La Paz, chew coca leaves, or ask for oxygen if dizzy. Salt flats are sharp; wear shoes, not sandals. The festival’s lively but can be chaotic—keep an eye on your stuff. Roads are rough, and Wi-Fi’s rare—embrace the disconnect. The train graveyard’s crowded at peak times, so we’ll time it for quieter moments.
For more Altiplano inspiration, check Journey Latin America’s site. This tour’s for those craving Bolivia’s stark beauty—salts, festivals, and quinoa fields. Ready to roam the high plateau?