 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flight Santiago - Antofagasta. We will see a variation of desert landscapes, ranging from the lonely salt falts, called "salares," in the high mountain ranges, to the splendid "flowering desert" which blooms during the months of September and October.
|
We will travel to to Ollague, 3.500 m.s.n.m. 210km. pavement and 200 gravel road. We will sleep in a very simple place that beyond to the quechuas.
|
|
We will
travel to Uyuni, 250 gravel road. 3.560 m.s.n.m. South East
of Bolivia is the location of the biggest Salt Flat in the
world, "Uyuni Salt Flat". The crust of salt covers a surface
of 10.582 Km2. of extension, at an altittude of 3.653 meters
above sea level, like a static sea touched by by the
southern winds.
|
Like
any other desert, the weather conditions in Uyuni
Bolivia are extreme, from freezing night temperatures to
fierce desert sun. In the Salar itself, you can find
several hotels which have been made from salt bricks,
including beds, chairs and cocktail bars. All is made
from salt!
|
|
We will travel to Potosí, 4.070 m.s.n.m., 250 km. In 1553, the city of Potosi -capital of the department of the same name in the Southwest of Bolivia- received the title of imperial city on behalf of Carlos V, King of Spain. At that moment of the history it was difficult to foresee the decline of the splendid village that at the present time, preserve only a few gleams of its splendid past. Silent and solitary streets in Potosi (4,070 m.a.s.l.). Old houses, narrow sidewalks. At the end, the image of the Cerro Rico dominates the highland; even now dozens of miners get lost in its tunnels and mine entrances, but nothing is as bad as it used to be. There are no longer deliriums of silver in this old Imperial Village, that in 1987, was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity by UNESCO
|
During the colonial time, the silver extraction in the Cerro Rico of Potosi, transformed this city into the biggest in America with more than 160,000 inhabitants; then, everything was opulence and exquisite churches and elegant mansions were built and conspicuous architects and celebrated artists arrived. People say that with the silver extracted from the bowel of the Cerro Rico or Sumaj Orcko (majestic mountain), it could have been possible to build a gigantic bridge to connect Potosi with Madrid; but, they also say that this fabulous work could have been made with the bodies of the enslaved indians that died in the tunnels.
|
|
We will travel to Cochabamba. 2.560 m.s.n.m., 420 km. pavement and 100 gravel road. Considered as the capital of the valleys of Bolivia, Cochabamba is in a fertile and productive area at 2,500 ma.s.l. The city, surrounded by fields of cultivations and valuable pre-incas vestiges, conserves its colonial semblance and the customs inherited from its Quechua and Aymara ancestors. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the valley of Cochabamba (from the Quechua term, cocha: lagoon and pampas: plain), was inhabited by primitive cultures that, later on, fell under the domain of the Collas. Then, the sons of the Sun extended their golden empire until these rich lands that were part of the Collasuyo region.
|
Today we will travel to Santa Cruz, 420 m.s.n.m. in the beginning of the jungle. 420 km. pavement.
|
|
In
Santa Cruz de la Sierra you will not
loose your time. If one decides to stay in the urban
area, then has more than one choice to have a great
time: the old helmet offers an idea of how the old city
was, the Cabins of Piraí are ideal for relaxING.
If one wishes to discover some of the mysteries of the forest or of the ancient cultures, then can visit some of the Jesuit missions located close to the city or the sanctuary of Cotoca, to which thousands of crucinos arrive in pilgrimage; another interesting option is to visit the pre-incas ruins of Saimapata.
|
We
will go to Cochabamba. Visit Cochabamba, capital of the
flowers. And enjoy the hotels and lodgings service,
besides the varied gastronomy of the place. The heart of
Bolivia! This is city which holds the same name is
located in the warm valley, is very near the tour
interest places with cultural and natural of
extraordinary beauty, besides having a variety of places
of cultural interest, most of which are near to the city. |
|
We
will cross to Bolivia to the main city La Paz. 3.660.
440 km. pavement. There are
many tourist attractions in the city of La Paz, wich was
founded in 1548, like churches, museums and open air
markets. The colonial architecture (late 1500's) is
preserved in buildings like the church of San
Francisco, and in the many building on Jaen Street.
Among the museums is the home of Pedro Murillo; a hero
of Bolivian independence, and the Gold Museum, which
contains gold items from the pre-Columbian cultures.
|
THE
WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS ROAD, the death road |
|
We will leave to the lake Titicaca, 250 km. of pavement. Source of life, myths and legends, the lake is located in the highland of Bolivia and Peru, becoming a natural border between both countries. In the Bolivian area, the islands of El Sol, Suriki and Kalahuta, are rural but fascinating places, in which the features of the old Andean cultures can still be perceived. But the islands of weavers of rafts and expert fishermen are not the only attractions. In the lake proximities is located the bucolic town of Copacabana (department of La Paz), home of the miraculous Virgen Morena. The image -venerated by the whole highland- was carved by a descendant of the Inca.
|
We will
go to our end city, Arica, 500 km.
Due
to its geographic location, Arica is the first or the
last city in Chile, depending on the point of view. This
is the northernmost city in the country a few kilometers
away from neighboring Peru. In addition to being a
typical city of the border, it is one of the most
beautiful cities in the I Region.
Flight to Santiago de Chile.
|
|
Price with all included on the right in double room:
|
Includes:
|
|
|
