Trekking in Bolivia. Highlights & Madidi
| country: | Bolivia |
| trip type: | High altitude, strenuous / very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 23 May, 20 Jun, 5 Sep |
| price: | From £1056 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This adventure tour of Bolivia starts in the highland city of La Paz (3630m). This is one of the world's most dramatically located cities with a high proportion of indigenous Aymara Indians. It is a fascinating commercial city with plenty to see and good opportunities for shopping for traditional crafts.
From La Paz we travel by bus and train across the altiplano to Uyuni, gateway to the Salar de Uyuni. The next four days are spent on a four-wheel-drive expedition through this southern altiplano desert, featuring vividly coloured lagoons, conical volcanoes, geysers and mudpools, hot springs and a unique flora and fauna.
Returning to La Paz we then head northwest to Lake Titicaca and the lakeshore town of Copacabana. The great chain of Cordillera Real snowpeaks dominates the landscape on this scenic drive. A small boat takes us out to the Island of the Sun, an island rich in history and tradition. We spend two days exploring the island and its pre-Inca and Inca temples, and also visit the enigmatic Island of the Moon.
Our tour culminates in a four day trek through the heart of the Condoriri National Park, with 3 high mountain passes, remote highland communities, herds of grazing llamas, awe-inspiring mountain scenery and soaring condors. After the trek we return to la Paz.
From La Paz we travel by bus and train across the altiplano to Uyuni, gateway to the Salar de Uyuni. The next four days are spent on a four-wheel-drive expedition through this southern altiplano desert, featuring vividly coloured lagoons, conical volcanoes, geysers and mudpools, hot springs and a unique flora and fauna.
Returning to La Paz we then head northwest to Lake Titicaca and the lakeshore town of Copacabana. The great chain of Cordillera Real snowpeaks dominates the landscape on this scenic drive. A small boat takes us out to the Island of the Sun, an island rich in history and tradition. We spend two days exploring the island and its pre-Inca and Inca temples, and also visit the enigmatic Island of the Moon.
Our tour culminates in a four day trek through the heart of the Condoriri National Park, with 3 high mountain passes, remote highland communities, herds of grazing llamas, awe-inspiring mountain scenery and soaring condors. After the trek we return to la Paz.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive La Paz. |
| Day 2: | To Uyuni by bus and train. |
| Day 3-6: | Four wheel drive tour of Salar de Uyuni, volcanoes, lagoons, final day return to Uyuni and La Paz. |
| Day 7: | Free day in La Paz. |
| Day 8: | Bus to Copacabana, boat to Island of the Sun. |
| Day 9: | Day walk on Island of the Sun. |
| Day 10: | Visit Island of the Moon, return to La Paz. |
| Day 11-14: | Llama trek, Cordillera Real |
| Day 14: | Return to La Paz. |
| Day 15: | Tour ends La Paz. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We visit the Madidi National Park staying at the Chalalán Eco-Lodge, a project, designed to benefit the local community of Quetchua-Tacana Indians by creating a sustainable and viable alternative economic activity while preserving the resources of the park, thus preventing destructive logging and hunting. Chalalan is now completely administered by the local community and all of the personnel, from cooks and boatmen to guides and office personnel are fully trained local community members
The community of a few hundred Quetchua-Tacana Indians living in San José is the only settlement within the park. They have lived here for over 200 years in harmony with the jungle around them surviving from subsistence farming. The lodge is built with the almost exclusive use of materials that could be sustainably harvested in the surrounding forest, solar panels were set up throughout the complex to provide adequate electricity and an ecological sewage disposal system was created. All profits go straight back into the community. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |