An in-depth exploration of an introverted, landlocked and isolationist culture

Start your day and explore Sucre, historical capital of Bolivia, declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This colonial city founded on 1538, is a living witness of the fights for Independence. Colonial churches and valuable paintings of the time, furniture and religious sculptures, adorn at the present time the museums and colonial houses. Decide yourself your special interests and visit the Museo de Tesoro filled with many precious stones of Bolivia and metal works arts and the architecture throughout the house.

Today enjoy a full day trip to Tarabuco - a real highlight of the trip - where local Quechua people still wear traditional costume of multi-coloured ponchos, chuspas (woven bags for carrying coca leaves), elaborate axsu (overskirts) for the women, and helmet-like headgear (apparently derived from conquistadors helmets) for the married men and women. Sunday is the best market day in Tarabuco and is full of colour and ambience. We visit the Main Square and marketplace.

We continue to Candelaria Farm, a typical Spanish country property which keeps the structure of colonial agricultural production. Candelaria and its surroundings have been, until today, important centres for the production of handmade textiles with their own special characteristics, where weavers and people can be seen in their own environment. The Hacienda displays in its native museum, one of the more valuable collections of old textiles in Bolivia, where it is possible to admire the different techniques, combinations of colours and ornamental designs that characterise the work of various indigenous communities of the country. If time allows it, we take a short walk to the Inca Bridge and return to Sucre in the evening.

Lunch is included at Hacienda Candelaria.

Today, we travel through Bolivian countryside to Potosi, a wonderful city and was once the richest in South America due the wealth that was extracted from the silver mine in the nearby Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain). By the early 17th Century Potosi was the largest city in the Americas. Although now the wealth that the city once had is no longer apparent, the legacy of its past remains by way of its beautiful colonial buildings. At 4,070 metres one must explore very much at leisure and there are plenty of places to stop and watch the locals go about their daily lives.

On arrival, check into your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Enjoy a full day tour of Potosi today. We will visit the old Mint, a fascinating insight into life as it was years ago. The massive wooden press remains, where donkeys and slaves laboured to rotate the wheel. A large collection of paintings can also be seen, which show an interesting blend of Catholicism and traditional beliefs. The indigenous people have managed to weave their Gods of nature into the catholic images, where the Virgin Mary is depicted as being their own God, Mother Earth or 'Pachamama'. Lunch is included today.

Today we travel overland by 4 x 4 vehicle to Uyuni, via the Great Salt Flats. On the way you’ll see the village of Colchani, where we visit an artisanal salt processing plant and watch the salt extraction methods. We explore the great Uyuni salt flats at “Isla Incahuasi” (2 hours), a special habitat of volcanic rocks and giant cactus. We then continue north to see the pre-Columbian Pucara de Ayque Fort and nearby Chullpares, with a final stop at Colchani where we enjoy the sunset. A picnic lunch in the middle of the salt flats and dinner is included today. We transfer to our hotel, the Palacio de Sal Hotel (actually constructed with salt) for an overnight night stay.

A long, but rewarding day today. We are up early to visit La Rea reserve where we visit Laguna Colourada, a protected site due to the nesting of over 30,000 Andean flamingos, the geysers at “Sol de Mañana”, Chalviri lagoon and the natural hot springs of Polques. We continue through the high desert of Pampas de Dali arriving at “Laguna Verde”, a beautiful green lagoon at the foothills of the Licancabur Mountain. From here, we drive to the Uyuni Airport for an internal flight to La Paz, where we transfer to your chosen hotel for a 3 night stay. Picnic lunch is included today.

We depart La Paz and travel overland to Copacabana, a pleasant town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Here, we visit the church and famous "Virgen Morena". We then travel by boat crossing the Lake to the Island of the Sun where we enjoy an included local lunch in the highlands of this island in the centre of the Lake. After lunch, we explore the ruins of Pilkokaina Inca temple and hike to the scenic Ecolodge La Estancia where we stay for 3 nights on a full board basis.

Up early for the amazing sunrise. We then take a hike through Yumani visiting the Inca stairs and the Water of the Eternal Youth. We take a boat trp on the lake to the Island of the Moon visiting the ruins of Iñak Uyu Inca temple and continue by boat to the Chincana ruins and the Sacred Rock. Here, we enjoy a short hike to Challapampa, returning to Ecolodge La Estancia for lunch and an afternoon at leisure enjoying the peace and beauty of this mystical place.

Today we visit “La Viejita”, a 98 year old lady, who has lived her life on Sun Island. She will tell great stories about her and the people on the island as well as the history itself from this mystical place. There is a visit also to this lady’s house, her courtyard and experience how she and her animals live. And also, it will be possible to see how to use different farming techniques for sowing and harvesting and try your hand at cooking a typical Sun Island dish. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the amazing views and your surroundings.