EL CAMINO SMALL GROUP TRIP
Out-of-this-World Bolivia Itinerary
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.
Day 1
Arrive: Touch down in the world’s highest capital city, La Paz, standing eye to eye and toe to toe with the Great Illimani, the Pearl of the Andes. Take a few deep breaths, acclimate and relax at the rooftop bar and pool at the Atix Hotel, your boutique-style home for the next few days.
Evening: On tonight’s menu is a multiple-course, vegetable-based, gastronomic experience that takes sustainability to international award-winning style and taste, matched by the colorful beauty that only Bolivian ingredients can offer.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Morning: Mysteries and a stunning array of cultural contrasts await as we navigate our way through the backstreets of La Paz on foot during an immersive city tour.
Afternoon: We’ll be stopping for lunch at one of the city's most famous watering holes for food and coffee. Bolivia, thanks to its altitude, is becoming a fast learner in producing high-quality coffee. Continue your La Paz cultural crash course as we indulge all of our senses with food, textiles, and yes, maybe even a remedy or two from the witch's market. We’ll venture to a local textile market to continue exploring the striking colors of Bolivia. This will be your chance to pick up the famed frazadas or mantas.
Evening: Take the rest of the evening to explore La Paz as you see fit. Tap your Eat, Play, Shop guide with the rest of your group to discover some of our favorite cocktail bars, which includes a beautifully designed spot that has the largest singani collection in the country. What better place to get familiar with Bolivia’s national spirit?
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3
Morning: Take in the views of the city skyline below, stretched over the glacier-capped mountains. When we arrive in El Alto, the sister city to La Paz, we’ll experience a special lunch at a local school that offers gastronomic training for young people from the rural area, endorsed by the Ministry of Education. During this 5 and a half month training, the students learn the technical aspects of cooking and handling local food as they develop skills for customer service and managing their own business while gaining a deeper understanding of the diversity of ingredients that can be found in this area.
Afternoon: Visit some of Bolivia’s newest and most creative contributions to the international architecture scene; Cholets, designed by the one and only, Freddy Mamani. With a Cholet as our backdrop, we’ll explore the deeply spiritual side of Bolivia with a traditional Yatiri ceremony and blessing. Yatiris are medical practitioners and community healers among the Aymara people of Bolivia.
Evening: Bowler hats, decorative skirts, colorful shawls, and wrestling. Will cap off the afternoon with the ladies of Bolivia known as, “Cholita Luchadoras”. The Cholita Luchadoras work to elevate the status of indigenous women through ultimate showmanship, featuring high-flying acrobatics and feats of strength.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 4
Morning: The next leg of our journey begins as we depart late morning from La Paz for Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat. In all directions, blue sky meets glistening, snow-white salt crystals. (You'll arrive around 5 pm and there will be a boxed lunch provided mid-journey. Please note that this is a full day in vehicles.)
Afternoon: Venture into the Salar for an unparalleled happy hour experience with unobstructed 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 full of countless, twinkling stars.
Evening: We'll pop into our new hotel—made entirely of salt—for dinner before heading back out for an awe-inducing stargazing experience. Prepare to be wowed—with no city lights or buildings for miles, the views of the night sky are unparalleled. Take in the otherworldly expanse as the Milky Way shines brightly above.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5
Morning: Head out to discover the diversity of the Salar, which includes a variety of terrains, areas, and activities that you’ll be privy to. What lies ahead today will depend on the season and current conditions in the salt flats, but in true El Camino style, it’s guaranteed to impress. From volcanoes to art installations to giant cacti, the Salar never fails to amaze and surprise.
Afternoon: In the middle of the blue and white canvas, our group will enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch with no other tourists around. It will 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.
Evening: Head back to the hotel to indulge in the spa before reconvening for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6
Morning: Say farewell to Bolivia's timeless landscapes as we return to La Paz. Departing from Uyuni airport, we'll return to La Paz in the afternoon.
Afternoon: As we arrive back at Atix Hotel a tasty snack awaits us! Enjoy some fresh salteñas, or Bolivian-style empanadas. What’s the difference, you might ask? Bolivian salteñas have a crispy exterior and an almost soupy or stew-like interior. It’s a cross between a deep-fried chicken pot pie and a Chinese soup dumpling.
Evening: The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy. Unwind at the hotel’s pool or grab some of your new travel mates and head out to enjoy a delicious meal at one of the innovative restaurants recommended in your Eat, Play, Shop guide. We suggest going to see what all the fuss is about at the World 50 restaurant that serves wood-fired Bolivian flavors—note that you’ll likely need to make a reservation ahead of time. Find all the details in your guide.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 7
Morning and Afternoon: Today you take the reins! This is your chance to design your own itinerary and experience La Paz your way. Should you wish, you have the option of joining your local host to visit a traditional artisan workshop, explore an art gallery, or hit some local stores to shop for textiles and jewelry. Alternatively, spend the day at your own leisure.Check out the funky Chualluma neighborhood, go shopping or peruse one of La Paz's many markets, or head just outside the city for a vigorous hike. We've got you covered with our favorite ways to spend the day with our Eat, Play Shop guide, packed full of curated picks around town.
Evening: For our last meal together, we’ve arranged a real treat at an internationally-acclaimed restaurant. Known for its creativity, modern experimentation, and incredible melding of indigenous-inspired flavors, the brand is lauded for its educational facets and sustainable practices that positively impact the communities it interacts with. Delight in the gastronomical experience and toast to the end of a brilliant week.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Day 8
Depart from La Paz, returning home with new-found energy and insight from your days bridging the gap between modernity, and ancient, flourishing tradition.
Meals included: Breakfast