Bolivia - La Paz, Lake Titicaca, and Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) Itinerary

I have to warn you that this itinerary is very hectic.

But this was also one of the most fulfilling trips we've had..

With only 7 full days to spare and lots to see..
We could not have explored Bolivia any other way..

Sunset at the Salar de Uyuni (Salt Flats)

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Flight - Singapore to Sao Paulo - Singapore Airlines
Flight - Sao Paulo to La Paz - Boliviana de Aviación

Day 1 - La Paz

Land Transfer - Airport to Hotel - Taxi

Accommodation - Rendezvous Hotel - 1 Night

Mi Teleferico Cable Car System (Public Transportation), La Paz

Day 2 - La Paz to Lake Titicaca - Isla del Sol

Tour - 2 Days / 1 Night - Late Bolivia Tours

Land Transfer - La Paz to Copacabana - 4 Hours
Boat Transfers - Copacabana to Isla del Sol to Copacabana 
Land Transfer - Copacabana to Puno, Peru - 2 Hours

Accommodation - Casona Plaza Hotel c/o Tour (Puno, Peru) - 1 Night

We engaged a travel agency for our Lake Titicaca tours just because it was our first time in South America, and we did not know what to expect yet. But do it on your own if you can because we realised it would have been really easy, and so much cheaper!

Baby Llama, Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca

Day 3 - Lake Titicaca - Floating Islands of Uros to La Paz

Tour - 2 Days / 1 Night - Late Bolivia Tours
Boat Transfers - Puno to Uros Islands to Puno
Land Transfer - Puno to La Paz - 5 Hours

Accommodation - Rendezvous Hotel - 1 Night

Totora Boat, Floating Islands of Uros, Lake Titicaca

Day 4 - La Paz to Uyuni Salt Flats

Land Transfer - Overnight Bus from La Paz to Uyuni - 8 hours - 9pm to 5am - Todo Turismo

No Accommodation - Slept in the Bus - 1 Night

Witches' Market, La Paz

Day 5 - Uyuni Salt Flats or Salar de Uyuni

Tour - 3 Days / 2 Nights - Red Planet Expedition
Accommodation - Salt Hotel c/o Tour - 1 Night

Salar de Uyuni

Day 6 - Uyuni Salt Flats or Salar de Uyuni

Tour - 3 Days / 2 Nights - Red Planet Expedition
Accommodation - Economic Hotel c/o Tour - 1 Night

Pink Flamingos, Laguna Hedionda, Uyuni

Day 7 - Uyuni Salt Flats to La Paz

Tour - 3 Days / 2 Nights - Red Planet Expedition

Land Transfer - Overnight Bus from Uyuni to La Paz - 8 hours - 8pm to 4am - Todo Turismo

No Accommodation - Slept in the Bus - 1 Night

Laguna Colorada, Uyuni

Day 8 - La Paz

Accommodation - Casa de Piedra Boutique Hotel - 1 Night

Casa de Piedra Boutique Hotel, La Paz

Day 9 - La Paz to Sao Paulo

Land Transfer - Hotel to Airport - Taxi

Flight - La Paz to Sao Paulo - Boliviana de Aviación

I hope this is helpful! :)

Also check out: Peru - Lima (Nazca Lines) and Cusco (Machu Picchu) Itinerary

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References:

Our Budget for 9 Days Per Person with shared rooms - November 2014
(EXCLUDING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS to and from La Paz)

Accommodations - USD 85

Taxis and Cable Car Rides - USD 25
Food - USD 30
Todo Turismo Overnight Bus Round Trip - 74

Lake Titicaca Tour Inclusive of Food, Transport, and Accommodation - USD 220

Uyuni Salt Flats Tour Inclusive of Food, Transport, and Accommodation - USD 190

Total Per Person = USD 624

(Could be way cheaper if you go to Lake Titicaca on your own, without the tour)

Snapshots of La Paz, Bolivia

How is La Paz, Bolivia in your imagination?

A shop selling dried Llama foetuses and potions at the Witches' Market

I had no idea until we got there..

Skyline of La Paz

Some parts of the city looked modern..

Women wearing their traditional Aymara dresses with pride

Some parts did not..

Public Transportation - Mi Teleferico Cable Car System

Some things were advanced..

Public Transportation - Old Traditional Bus

Some things were not.

A Cafe in La Paz

Notice the Cholita outside the cafe..

Interesting culture.. isn't it?

A street at the Witches' Market

So do you think I liked La Paz? :)


Check out the following:

The Bolivia I Didn't Know Existed
My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni
Where I'd Stay in La Paz.. Again
Island of the Sun.. Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca

THE Bolivia I Didn't Know Existed! :)

While known for the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats and mirror in the world..

Bolivia has more on its palette than just white!

Laguna Colorada or Red Lagoon

A splash of red and green lagoons..

Specks of wild pink flamingos..

Strokes of seven colors on a mountain..

Oh.. I just loved discovering them! :)

3 days in the wilderness in this ride..

On to our first stop at the train cemetery..

Nothing spectacular.. just a graveyard for trains abandoned by mining companies..

But this.. why did I walk too slow?!

A mama Llama just gave birth seconds before I arrived..

And this.. what you always see on postcards..

Harvested salt.. mounds.. hard as rocks..

We stepped on them but I promise they will be cleaned ;)

Dakar Rally.. husband had to explain to me what this was! :P

The off-road endurance race apparently went (or still goes?) through these salt flats..

No.. I could not find the Philippine flag here, and wish we brought one..

So guys, when it's your turn to visit this original and abandoned salt hotel..

Don't forget to bring your country's flag! ;)

If you're wondering.. this beautiful salt hotel was closed down due to waste disposal and sewage problems.. 

It was the only salt hotel ever built in the middle of the salt flats.. and sadly, there was no proper infrastructure to support it..

Just a kid playing on a truck.. and life.. of the Bolivianos in the area..

Behind the scenes: Lunch break with tour mates.. 

Roasted chickens were huge and good!

Walls, dining chairs, and tables.. made of salt blocks..

The only part of Bolivia I knew existed! ;)

The Salt Flats.. Our playground for the afternoon!

Click here for more: My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni

So they kept saying we were going to Incahuasi or Fish Island..

And I thought there would be water and fishes..

But no.. only giant Cacti!

Amazing how an island full of giant Cacti sprouted in the middle of the salt flats!

So why Fish Island? 

Because the island is shaped like a fish!! haha! :))

Remember those salt blocks made into walls and chairs?

Yes, this is where they came from..

They are really hard.. unlike the salt in our kitchen! ;)

Behind the scenes: Salt hotel accommodation for the night..

And room assignment..

Bed frame, and side table also made of salt blocks..

Had to be careful with our things because the salt blocks were rough!

Good morning!

From somewhere close to the border of Chile..

On to see the Ollague Volcano..

Behind the scenes: Our car broke down, lunch ended up being served by the roadside, and I was glad..

It took them more than an hour to fix the problem.. but it was at that moment I saw how the Bolivianos really cared for each other.. with all the approaching vehicles stopping and helping.. until we could go..

Finally met the wild pink Flamingos at the Laguna Canapa..

And by the Laguna Hedionda.. or should I say, in the middle of nowhere.. this fascinating Hotel!

Just when I thought I was the only one mesmerised.. 

This wild Vicuña also loved the Flamingos ;)

Already freezing..

But had to take this shot with their most photographed rock.. the Arbol de Piedra or Stone Tree.. 

Now as the French in our group exclaimed as we arrived.. "Magnifique!"

The gorgeous Laguna Colorada or Red Lagoon.. turns red every time the wind blows.. caused by the movement of the microorganisms in the water..

And like the other lakes we've just seen.. the white patches are Borax mineral deposits..

And the pink dots? Flamingos!

Last stop for the day.. 

Had to be careful not to fall into the boiling mud pools..

At the crater of a volcano.. Sol de Mañana..

Our home last night.. Where I learned what the Bolivianos meant by Economical Toilet..

No shower.. No electricity after 10 pm.. No water.. No flush.. and No breathing for me!

Just this hot spring..

..and I survived!

To see the Seven Colors Mountain..

Bid farewell to our fellows..

At the Laguna Verde or Green Lagoon.. which shares the same story as the Red Lagoon.. 

But just Green!

Climb a few rocks at the Valley of Rocks..

And savour the beauty of the Bolivian wilderness one last time..

I hope you enjoyed this adventure as much as I did! :)

Related Posts: My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni; Where I'd Stay in La Paz

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References:

Cost Per Person as of November 2014

10-Hour Overnight Bus from La Paz to Uyuni - Round Trip - Todo Turismo Bus - USD 80
3-Day Salt Flats Tour Inclusive of Food, Lodging, and English Speaking Guide - Red Planet Expedition - USD 180

Bring your own water and tissue paper! :)