South Lipez Salar and Sajama Private Tour

Day 1: UYUNI - SAN CRISTOBAL - VILLAMAR
Day 2: VILLAMAR - LAGUNA VERDE - LAGUNA COLORADA
Day 3: LAGUNA COLORADA - "ROUTE OF THE JEWELS" - SAN JUAN
Day 4: SAN JUAN - SALAR DE UYUNI - JIRIRA
Day 5: JIRIRA / visit of Alacaya- SALAR DE COIPASA - SABAYA
Day 6: SABAYA - CHULLPAS OF RÍO LAUCA - SAJAMA
Day 7: SAJAMA - GEYSERS -TREK TO THE LAGUNAS - TOMARAPI
Day 8: TOMARAPI - CURAHUARA DE CARANGAS - LA PAZ

Day 1: UYUNI - SAN CRISTOBAL - VILLAMAR

We depart at 9:30 AM to visit the train cemetery on the outskirt of town. We then head south. On the way, we visit various villages, including the modern urbanization of Culpina K. We will have lunch in San Cristobal, where we can visit the beautiful colonial church if it is open. We then traverse Rio Grande, which is an area home to numerous vicuñas and ñandus (of the ostrich family) and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Lodging with local host in Villamar (basic comfort).

Day 2: VILLAMAR - LAGUNA VERDE - LAGUNA COLORADA

We head south for Laguna Colorada. This Laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the light sensitive phytoplankton present in its water. We keep heading south for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.), which is a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach the lagunas Blanca and Verde, which are located at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) at the end of the afternoon. There is a curious phenomenon: when the wind picks up, the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color. We will return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the afternoon.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Night in shelter (basic comfort).

Day 3: LAGUNA COLORADA - "ROUTE OF THE JEWELS" - SAN JUAN

We head north through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert and its famous "Arbol de Piedra" (Stone Tree), where we may be able to spot some viscachas. We then skirt the Chilean border by following the "Route of the Jewels": lagunas Honda, Ch'arkota, Hedionda and Canapa, a sanctuary to 3 different types of flamingoes. We stop at the viewpoint of volcano Ollague.  This active volcano hosts the world's highest sulfur mine.

The track then drops from around 4200 meters above sea level to 3600. We will cross the small Salar de Chiguana at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) before arriving in the village of San Juan, where the spectacular mummies of the "Lipez Lords" (1200 A.D.) are located.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Night with local host (basic comfort).

Day 4: SAN JUAN - SALAR DE UYUNI - JIRIRA

A 2-hour trip from San Juan will take us to the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.), the largest salt desert in the world. The atmosphere is special: the horizon seems to not have any limits and the immensity is overwhelming. We then head north to the Island of Incahuasi. This Island is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites (fossilized bacteria representing the first traces of life on earth) and giant cacti.

In the afternoon we will cross the Salar to reach its Northern extremity, at the foot of volcano Tunupa. We stop in Coquesa, a small village on the shores of the salar, which is known for its Chipaya mummies, before arriving at Jirira.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Night at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos in the Aymara village of Jirira (basic comfort).

Day 5: JIRIRA / visit of Alacaya- SALAR DE COIPASA - SABAYA

We circumnavigate around volcano Tunupa to reach the impressive pre-Inca site of Alcaya. There we will see the most preserved mummies of the area as well as a city perched high above the salar, which secrets have not been revealed yet...

After lunch we drive to the Salar of Coipasa. We will find ourselves in the heart of the wild and arid altiplano, which are surrounded by volcanoes that punctuate the nearby Chilean border. We will spend the night in Sabaya, a very small village.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Lodging in refuge (basic comfort).

Day 6: SABAYA - CHULLPAS OF RÍO LAUCA - SAJAMA

We cross the Urus country on sandy and treacherous dirt roads. Before crossing Río Lauca, there will be an appeal of the most beautiful polychromatic chullpas of Bolivia (the chullpas are the ancient tombs of Aymara lords; pre-Inca times). We will reach Sajama National Park in the afternoon after a 5 to 6-hour journey.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·         Night at Isabel and Marcelo's (basic comfort).

Day 7: SAJAMA - GEYSERS -TREK TO THE LAGUNAS - TOMARAPI

In the morning, we head to the geysers in our 4WD. This particularly active area offers a unique display of bubbling baths spread over hundreds of square meters.

From there we follow the valley upriver until we reach, 2½-hour later, Laguna Khasiri Kota (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.). There, we are able to observe different aquatic bird species, notably the Andean geese (Huallata in Aymara) that never go very far from their characteristic nest (large floating platforms made out of algae and grass.)

One more hour is necessary to reach the plateau where is nestled the beautiful Laguna Sorapata (el. 4960 m.a.s.l.). This magical place, which is surrounded by impressive copper colored mountains, is suitable for our lunch break. We then go down to the geysers while enjoying the magnificent view of volcano Pomerape (el. 6280 m.a.s.l.). We will return to our 4WD and head for the natural hot springs, which are located at the base of volcano Sajama to enjoy a relaxing bath.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Night at Tomarapi's new "Albergue" (comfort of a Hotel).

Hiking time: 6/7h.

Elevation gain: +600m/-600m

Day 8: TOMARAPI - CURAHUARA DE CARANGAS - LA PAZ

In the morning, we get back on the dirt road and head to the nearly abandoned village of Oxany. There are only two inhabitants left in this village, prosperous before the construction of the new asphalted road to Chile. It is now a ghost town. You will have an option to do a short hike in the rocky chaos surrounding it, before returning to the international road.

We will head back to La Paz. On the way, we stop in the village of Curahuara de Carangas, which is well known for its well-adorned colonial church (perfectly preserved frescoes). Further on, we will discover the chullpas (carangas sepultures) empty today after their systematic pillaging.

·         Cold lunch (included).

·         Dinner open.

·         No hotel booked.