Out-of-this-World Bolivia

Explore Bolivia’s many contrasts, deeply experience the local culture, and traverse this country’s unforgettable scenery.

A Sensory Experience Awaits

La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, is where you will find world-class design, gastronomy, and textiles alongside some of the most beautiful landscapes and thriving ancient traditions.

About your trip

Welcome to our most adventurous itinerary! If you dream of going off the beaten path to experience something entirely unique, this trip is for you. While most other travel companies see La Paz as merely a place to fly into, that’s just not our style. We’re spending multiple days in this burgeoning city to deeply explore the fascinating mix of old and new. Indulge in La Paz’s ground-breaking culinary and design scenes while learning about the indigenous cultures and traditions that are so integral to Bolivia’s culture. All this and more before embarking upon the world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, for some unforgettable experiences in the land of many contrasts.

What’s included

  • Transportation to and from the airport

  • Transportation between La Paz and Uyuni

  • All activities mentioned on the itinerary

  • Boutique hotel accommodations in twin rooms

  • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, and more

  • El Camino’s exclusive Eat, Play, Shop Guide

  • Experienced local host with you throughout the trip

Not included

  • Airfare in and out of the country

  • Tourist visa to Bolivia which can be purchased upon entry into the country. The cost is $160 and it’s valid for ten years (for when you decide to return… because you will!)

  • Mandatory travel insurance

  • Incidental expenses

  • Alcohol except where noted

  • Tips

Travelers must provide evidence that they have purchased travel insurance for the duration of their journey. If you’d like to upgrade to a single room, you can add this during the booking process. If you need assistance please contact our Customer Success team.

Itinerary

Flight

☞ Please remember to book separately

Day 1

☞ Arrival in La Paz (LPB) | Welcome dinner

Day 2

☞ La Paz walking tour | Local textile market visit

Day 3

☞ Yatiri ceremony and blessing | The Cholita Luchadoras wrestling show.

Day 4

☞ Arrival in Salar de Uyuni | Stargazing spectacle

Day 5

☞ Salar de Uyuni exploration | Private gourmet picnic

Day 6

☞ Return to La Paz | Bolivian snacks time

Day 7

☞ La Paz on your terms | Farewell dinner

Day 8

☞ Depart from La Paz

Your Itinerary

  • Welcome to Bolivia

    Touch down in La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, standing eye to eye and toe to toe with the Great Illimani, the Pearl of the Andes. Head to the Atix Hotel where you’ll have the chance to acclimate and meet the rest of your group for a welcome dinner. On tonight’s menu is a multiple-course, vegetable-based feast that uses colorful Bolivian ingredients to craft an award-winning gastronomic experience.

  • Backstreets of La Paz

    Fuel up at breakfast as today you’ll be navigating the backstreets of La Paz on foot. This immersive city tour will be your La Paz cultural crash course. You’ll get to visit one of the city's most famous watering holes for food and coffee, explore the striking colors of Bolivia with a venture to a local textile market, and maybe even discover a remedy or two from the witch's market. You’ll have a few hours of free time in the evening, so take the time to explore La Paz as you see fit. Tap your Eat, Play, Shop guide for our favorite recs.

  • Visit to El Alto

    Today you’ll be visiting El Alto, the sister city to La Paz. You’ll start your day with a special lunch at a local school, before marveling at some of Bolivia’s most creative contributions to the international architecture scene; Cholets, designed by the one and only, Freddy Mamani. In the afternoon, you’ll get to know the deeply spiritual side of Bolivia with a traditional Yatiri ceremony and blessing. The day will be capped off with an unforgettable performance by Bolivia’s indigenous female wrestlers, the Cholita Luchadoras who work to elevate the status of indigenous women through ultimate showmanship, featuring high-flying acrobatics and feats of strength.

  • Journey to Salar de Uyuni

    After breakfast, you’ll journey to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat where blue sky meets snow-white salt crystals in all directions. Take in the views during your journey and enjoy a boxed lunch en route. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by views of the stark white ground and ever-changing colors in the sky as the sun approaches the horizon. Enjoy Bolivian cheeses and wines as the sun gives way to the night sky.We'll pop into our new hotel for dinner before heading back out for an awe-inducing stargazing spectacle unlike anything you’ve seen before.

  • Salar de Uyuni Picnic

    Today you’ll be discovering the full diversity of the Salar’s various areas and terrains. For lunch, the group will experience a gourmet picnic with no other tourists around, making it feel like we have the whole world to ourselves! Once finished, we’ll move on to our seasonal activity exploring one of the many wonders of the Salar. Afterward, we’ll head back to the hotel, where you can indulge in the spa before reconvening for dinner.

  • Return to La Paz

    Say farewell to Bolivia's timeless landscapes as you return to La Paz where tasty treats will await you at the Atix Hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy. Head out for a delicious meal at any of La Paz's innovative restaurants, or unwind at the hotel's pool. Your Eat, Play, Shop guide will lead you no matter your mood.

  • Free Time and Farewell Dinner

    Today you take the reins! Design your own itinerary and spend today experiencing La Paz on your own terms. Options include joining your local host to visit an artisan workshop, art gallery, or some local stores. Head back in the evening to say farewell over a mouth-watering gastronomical experience at an internationally acclaimed restaurant that’s known for its indigenous-inspired flavors. Toast to the end of a brilliant week with the new friends you’ve made on the trip.

  • Farewell Bolivia

    It’s time to say goodbye. Enjoy one last breakfast with the group before saying farewell and departing from La Paz. You’ll return home with new-found energy and insight from your days bridging the gap between modernity, and ancient tradition.

Important Notes

  • While many other travel companies don't spend much time in La Paz, it was important for us to dedicate about 50% of our trip to exploring this incredible city. La Paz is a force to be reckoned with and we wanted to honor that. Take a deep dive into the many aspects of the culture and indulge in the beauty of urban La Paz and the stunning landscapes of Uyuni.

    Bolivia offers tantalizing sensory experiences in a land of contrast—where old meets modern through creative and playful experimentation—paving the way for the future while paying homage to its roots.

    Join El Camino Travel on an adventure that explores the city at the base of the Pearl of the Andes, La Paz, and landscapes that are completely out of this world. This adventure includes whimsical architecture and art, A Yatiri blessing ceremony, a show put on by the world-renowned Cholita Luchadoras, backstreet markets of La Paz, the world’s largest salt flat, an iconic happy hour experience on the salt flat, the clearest night skies you’ve seen, an unforgettable gourmet picnic experience, and indulging in the diverse cuisine of Bolivia.

  • Fly into El Alto International Airport (LPB).

  • We encourage travelers to aim for an arrival no later than 3 pm. This should allow you time to settle in ahead of any welcome activities.

    Please note that arrival times at 2 or 3 am are completely normal. If you are on this flight, be sure to book your ticket to arrive at 2 or 3 am on the first day of the trip (and not the morning after the first night). We have the hotels booked for a night in advance so that you can head straight to your room to rest before the activities officially begin later that evening. (The extra night at the hotel is already built into the cost of the trip). Please email us at info@elcamino.travel if you have any questions.

  • We want our travelers to be aware that this is an active and adventurous trip exploring areas at high altitudes (14,000+). If you have pre-existing conditions where this could be a factor, consider arriving early to help acclimate. Have questions? Call us so we can provide insight on this trip's details to help meet your needs.

  • This trip is for the traveler who has an adventurous spirit, is looking to squeeze the most out of their time in Bolivia, and cares about making the world a better place through responsible tourism. The trip is filled with experiences that allow you to be immersed in the varied cultures of Bolivia. This traveler is open minded, inherently curious, and enjoys indulging in the moment. This trip is for the traveler who finds joy in stepping outside of their comfort zone, loves trying new things, and is excited to explore a culture completely different from their own. This trip is available to travelers from all walks of life who are over the age of 18.

    While El Camino Travel provides a high level of customer service, our traveler is someone who is easy-going and amenable to change in the diverse and unpredictable landscape of travel in Latin America.

    This trip is also for a solo traveler who does not want to travel solo, but instead with an interesting group of people and for those who do not want to spend countless hours planning a trip of a lifetime.

    Our adventurous style of group travel is not for everyone. Please read carefully through the itinerary and the above description to ensure that you are booking a trip that fits your comfort level.

    Please review our Traveler’s Values here prior to booking.

  • We are not a luxury travel company, but we're not budget either. So what exactly does that mean? At El Camino Travel, we're all about the high-low. We enjoy fine dining but we also love street food. We fly coach but you can find us in the airport lounge. We'll splurge on something special like handmade pottery or a one-of-a-kind hand-sewn dress, but we also love searching online for a good deal. We love great style and design, but we also get excited about off-the-beaten-path experiences that are a little rough around the edges. We pride ourselves on designing trips that are authentic and real, understanding that any country is comprised of many lenses and lived experiences and that we can't possibly showcase them all.

    This duality can be seen in our trips. Our trips represent boutique travel—not luxury, not budget. We won't be staying at hostels but we won't be at luxury hotels either. We choose boutique hotels where we can prioritize things like location, character, charm, safety, and customer service.

    Sometimes we do experiences that feel more high-end. Sometimes we're going *way* off the beaten path to do something entirely unique, and sometimes that means it's a little unpolished. Our traveler is someone who enjoys both ends of the spectrum and understands that one isn't more authentic than the other.

    Luxury travel usually means a lot more hand-holding. While we provide a high level of customer service, our traveler is a little more adventurous and self-sufficient. We provide blocks of free time so you have the flexibility to explore the destination your way because we understand that everyone is different. Don’t worry though, we will make sure you are equipped with a curated list of all our favorite places to eat, play, and shop for when you are out on your own with your new travel friends.

    For some additional context, a luxury-travel version of our trips would start anywhere from $7,000-12,000. We mix the high-low versions of a destination to keep our trips more accessible.

  • Please note that our standard pricing is based on shared double rooms. This allows us, among many things, to keep the cost of the trip accessible to as many travelers as possible. If you’re booking this trip with a friend, family member, or significant other, let us know and we’ll place you together.

    Traveling solo? No problem—the majority of our travelers choose to fly solo. We’ll be in touch before the trip to learn a bit about you and find the best fit for a roommate. We will make it a priority to best situate you and we’re happy to chat more in-depth if you have any questions or concerns about this.

    Single room upgrades are available! A limited number of single rooms have been reserved. Please select this option at checkout if you’d prefer your own space. If all the single rooms have already been filled, please email us at info@elcamino.travel and we'll let you know if we can secure additional rooms to accommodate a single.

    We'll have more details regarding hotels prior to your trip, but we promise we chose these locations because they pass the El Camino standard of customer service and are clean, safe, and well-maintained.

    It's important to note that our accommodations are not luxury or high-end. We seek more boutique accommodations that are well-situated and allow us to make the most of our itinerary.

    In La Paz, we’ve carefully selected Atix Hotel for its chic and award-winning design.

    We’re calling this stunning hotel home during our time in La Paz. A member of Design Hotels, named “one of the best new hotels in the world” in 2017 by Travel & Leisure, Atix offers boutique accommodations with scenic views of La Paz, and a full panoramic view from the beautiful rooftop Bar 591, complete with glass-enclosed infinity pool. If you’re feeling like a snack, Ona restaurant celebrates Bolivia’s biodiversity with its cuisine and can serve up a variety of delicious treats. Or, simply walk around and admire the art as Atix is home to many of Gaston Ugalde's masterpieces, one of Bolivia’s most famous contemporary artists.

    We book enough rooms to accommodate the entire group at our preferred hotels well in advance, however, please be aware that emergencies with the hotel or other unforeseen events could result in last-minute changes.

  • We have a roster of well qualified hosts that we work with. Prior to your trip, you will receive a welcome packet that will inform you on who will be guiding your adventure. We proudly work with local hosts because no one is better equipped to provide layer upon layer of context than someone who is actually from there

  • For bookings made prior to November 20, 2022: A non-refundable 40% deposit is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than 35 days prior to departure.

    For bookings made after November 20, 2022: A non-refundable $500 deposit is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure.

    Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions for more information about our cancellation policy.

    Payment plans are now available using Affirm. Apply now to make monthly payments.

  • Our trips are very active, and involve a lot of walking, standing, and moving around—sometimes, in very high temperatures, with high humidity, on uneven roads and terrains, in busy cities. While we work to accommodate all travelers, other modes of transportation are not always available, due to infrastructure, making walking the only option. Travelers should be willing and able to walk anywhere up to 4 miles each day, up and down stairs and hills, and be able to stand for extended periods of time. If you have any concerns or questions about the activity level of this trip, have recently had surgery, or have any history of mobility issues, please reach out to us at info@elcamino.travel before booking—we want to ensure that everyone on our trips is safe, and will able to keep up with the active itinerary. By signing up for any of our trips, you agree to and understand that a certain level of physical fitness is required to safely participate in this itinerary.

What our travelers say

"I went on the Bolivia trip with
El Camino Travel, and from the first moment I connected with them online, it was an elevated experience. From the online transition to arrival in-country, the experience was seamless. I usually travel solo and have been on one or two group trips, but I will definitely be going wherever El Camino deems worthy. The attention to detail with local experiences and meals and appreciation of culture and community shines through, and I can't wait to book my next trip. I highly recommend this company and team."

— Lacy Wilholt