Highlights of Bolivia

­­Discover immense landscapes, ancient history and colonial cities

Landlocked Bolivia is a quintessential South American country, with immense landscapes and a strong indigenous culture. Discover its many highlights on this wide-ranging adventure.

We visit Amboró National Park, which has almost unparalleled biodiversity, and the charming (albeit rustic) gateway town of Samaipata, which provides access to the pre-Columbian Unesco site of El Fuerte. Nowhere else can you find salt flats of comparable scale to Salar de Uyuni: our comprehensive three-day 4×4 trip reveals multi-coloured lagoons, cacti islands and spouting geysers.

In contrast to these natural wonders are the cities of Sucre, Potosi and La Paz, whose heritage was shaped by the Incas and Spanish Conquistadores. Finally, we wind down with a night in an ecolodge on Isla del Sol, overlooking the deep, tranquil waters of Lake Titicaca, which are fringed by the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. A number of the hotels used are family owned.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income, which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
• We visit ASUR, an indigenous art museum that supports communities close to Sucre by helping to keep traditional weaving techniques alive.
• We visit Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve and fees collected fund conservation initiatives.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• A number of the hotels we use are ecofriendly and use solar panels: Tayka de Piedra, Refugio de los Volcanes and La Estancia.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Bolivia is less developed than many of its South American counterparts and things do not always happen as planned; expect the unexpected and approach travel here with an adventurous spirit.

Fitness and altitude: There is a walk through the jungle of Amboró National Park and a walk to our lodge at the top of Isla del Sol. The sightseeing around archaeological sites and tours of some of the cities may involve walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps/ground. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness.

The activity for this trip is graded at level 3 (Moderate), high altitudes can make even leisurely physical activities feel more tiring than at sea level.  As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness. The tour allows for gradual acclimatisation, spending two days in Sucre (9,185ft/2,800m) before continuing to Potosí (13,320ft/4,060m), Salar de Uyuni (ranging between 11,975ft/3,650m and 15,910ft/4,850m), La Paz (11,940ft/3,640m) and Isla del Sol (13,120ft/4,000m). The maximum altitude on this trip is 15,910ft (4,850m) at Sol de Mañana – please ensure your insurance covers you up to this altitude.  Note – Oxigen is carried on the bus rides in Sucre, Potosi and Uyuni (salar).

Temperatures: Due to the altitude, you should expect some low temperatures, particularly during the Salar de Uyuni adventure when it regularly falls well below freezing at night.

Drives: There are some long drives and in Uyuni you will spend considerable time in the 4×4 vehicle (four people in each vehicle), although there will be plenty of stops to enjoy the landscape, take photos and explore on foot.

Facilities: Samaipata is little-visited and accommodation and facilities here, and also in Uyuni town, are basic.

Strikes: Strikes are not uncommon in Bolivia; while these are generally peaceful protests, they can result in roadblocks and disruption to travel. In this event, your leader will amend your itinerary if necessary to minimise any impact on the itinerary.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Bolivia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Please confirm which vaccinations you will need with your doctor or travel clinic. A yellow fever certificate is required for travellers over one year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Additionally, there is a low risk of malaria in some areas of the country. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic whether you need antimalarials.

You should also be aware that dengue and zika are known risks in some areas of Bolivia. There are no vaccines or prophylaxes available; therefore, we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Visa

Bolivia

British Citizens, most Western European nationals, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities do not require visas. US citizens who are not of Bolivian origin need a visa of which full details are available on www.boliviawdc.org. If you are in any doubt, please contact the nearest Bolivian Embassy.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/bolivia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/bolivia
• United Kingdom: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/bolivia
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bolivia.html

Please note: You also need to fill out the Bolivian customs declaration form (formulario 250) before arriving in Bolivia and before leaving.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners are included.

Some of the lunches are box lunches while others are restaurant meals. Where meals are not included, your leader can recommend a variety of local restaurants.

Drinking water will be provided in large containers to minimise the amount of single-use plastic bottles; please bring a refillable bottle with you.

Bolivian cuisine is a fusion between Spanish and Andean traditions and varies from one region to another. In the lowlands, fruit, vegetables, yucca and fish are abundant whereas in the altiplano these are less readily available and there are more spiced dishes to combat the cold. Bolivian cuisine has a reputation for its meat dishes but corn (maize), quinoa and potatoes are also part of the staple diet.

Common street food and snacks include salteñas (baked pastries filled with spiced meat or vegetables), buñuelos (sweet or savoury bread, often stuffed with cheese) and papas rellenas (deep-fried battered stuffed potatoes).

Popular main dishes include pique a lo macho (a kind of beef stir-fry, served with chunky chips), picante de pollo (spicy chicken) and tucumanas (a sort of pasty). In Sucre, try mondongo (crispy fried pork called chicharron, which is usually accompanied by corn, potatoes and a rich chilli sauce) and in La Paz sample a sandwich de chola (pork sandwich).

Weather

Differences in topography and climate separate the lowlands and highlands of Bolivia into distinct areas. Weather conditions vary significantly from region to region.

Lowlands, including Santa Cruz: A humid tropical climate with clear-cut wet and dry seasons and an average temperature of 30C (86F). The rainy season (extending from late September to May) has an annual rainfall average of 40in-150in (1,000mm-4,000mm). The heavy rainfall is caused by winds blowing in from the Amazon rainforest. From May, there is less rain and more blue sky due to drier winds.

Altiplano (highlands), including Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Sucre, Potosí and Uyuni: Climate varies from cool and humid to semi-arid. The average annual temperature ranges from 15C to 27C (60F to 80F) but in the dry season it’s more likely to be 10C-15C (50F-59F) with the coldest temperatures occurring in the southwestern portion of the Altiplano during June and July. Nights can drop to around freezing point. In Salar de Uyuni, night-time temperatures in the dry season may fall as low as -15C (5F), particularly from May to August. Between April and September, there is a chance of snow, especially to the north of the highlands, but it is not very common. The unrelenting rainy season occurs between December and March, but we do not run any departures at that time as getting around can be difficult and treacherous.