Bolivia 12-day tour: La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni & climb

Salt flats, sacred islands, and a high-altitude climb across Bolivia's Altiplano

This 12-day shared tour strings together La Paz's markets and colonial streets, the Inca ruins and sunrise hike on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca, the mirror-like expanses and geysers of Salar de Uyuni, and a two-day ascent of Huayna Potosí at 6,088 meters. A UIAGM-certified mountain guide leads groups of up to three climbers, and all meals, lodging, transport and mountaineering gear are included from airport pickup through the final descent.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and La Paz city stroll

• Arrive at El Alto International Airport
• Transfer to hotel in La Paz
• Leisurely city stroll in La Paz
• Dinner at local restaurant
• Rest at hotel

Day 2: La Paz cultural city tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Private transport hotel pick-up
• City tour in La Paz
• Visit San Francisco and Witch Market
• Visit Coca Museum
• Evening music at Canto venue
• Return to hotel

Day 3: Travel to Isla del Sol via Copacabana

• Drive to Tikina on Altiplano
• Boat crossing to Copacabana
• Explore Copacabana cathedral
• Boat to Isla del Sol
• Visit Pilco Kaín ruins and Inca Steps
• Overnight at guesthouse on Isla del Sol

Day 4: Sunrise hike and return to La Paz

• Sunrise hike across Isla del Sol
• Boat to Copacabana
• Visit Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
• Return to La Paz
• Rest at hotel

Day 5: Uyuni Salt Flats exploration begins

• Depart Uyuni at 10:30 a.m.
• Visit Train Graveyard
• Explore Colchani Village crafts
• Enter Salar de Uyuni
• Visit Salt Eyes and Salt Hotel museum
• See Flags of the World and Dakar Monument
• View Hand of God sculpture
• Explore Salt Staircase and Pyramid
• Witness sunset on Salar
• Overnight at lodge

Day 6: Lagunas and Siloli Desert tour

• Depart at 7:00 a.m.
• Explore Salar de Uyuni mirror effect
• Visit Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde
• Explore Siloli Desert and Stone Tree
• Visit Sol de Mañana Geysers
• Relax at Polques Hot Springs
• Visit Dali Desert and Valley of Rocks
• Visit San Cristóbal mining town
• Return to Uyuni lodge

Day 7: Geysers, lagoons, and return to Uyuni

• Depart early morning
• Visit Sol de Mañana Geysers
• Relax at Polques Hot Springs
• Visit Dali Desert and Laguna Verde
• Visit Laguna Blanca and Valley of Rocks
• Visit San Cristóbal mining town
• Return to Uyuni
• Transfer to hotel or overnight bus

Day 8: Return to La Paz and preparation

• Early breakfast
• Transfer to Uyuni airport
• Flight to La Paz
• Transfer to hotel in La Paz
• Briefing and gear preparation

Day 9: Huayna Potosí base and high camp

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to Huayna Potosí base camp
• Lunch at base camp
• Hike to High Camp Las Rocas
• Set up shelter and rest
• Equipment check and dinner
• Overnight at high camp hut

Day 10: Summit Huayna Potosí and descend

• Breakfast at high camp
• Approach glacier and put on crampons
• Climb to summit (6088 m)
• Enjoy summit views
• Descend to high camp
• Rest and have soup
• Descend to base camp
• Drive back to La Paz
• Overnight at hotel

Day 11: Downhill mountain bike tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Prepare equipment
• Mountain bike tour on Death Road
• Return to La Paz
• Overnight at hotel

Day 12: Transfer to airport and trip end

• Breakfast at hotel
• Private transfer to El Alto airport
• End of trip

The experience

The tour opens in La Paz at 3,400 meters, where you'll spend two days walking the Old City's narrow alleys lined with colonial architecture, browsing the Witch Market for healing herbs and ritual objects, and visiting the Coca Museum to understand the leaf's role in Andean life. A cable car ride (Teleférico) crosses the city, and in the evening you'll hear traditional reed flutes and drums at a local music venue. The altitude here is real (the airport sits at 4,000 meters), so the first days are paced to let your body adjust before heading higher.

From La Paz, a private boat carries you across Lake Titicaca to Isla del Sol, the legendary birthplace of Inca civilization. You'll explore the ancient ruins of Pilco Kaín and climb the Inca Steps at Yumani for views across the water, then spend the night on the island. The next morning, a 15-kilometer sunrise hike takes you from the southern village to the northern tip, where you board a boat back to Copacabana to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana: a 16th-century church built on a former Inca temple site, its Baroque towers blending Catholic and indigenous traditions.

The Salar de Uyuni portion runs three days. A 4WD Jeep takes you across the world's largest salt flat, where you'll visit Isla Incahuasi (Cactus Island) with its giant cacti rising from white expanses, explore the Salt House made entirely of salt bricks, and watch the sunset reflect off the flats like a mirror. A second day ventures into the Siloli Desert to see the Stone Tree rock formations, the Sol de Mañana Geysers with their geothermal vents, and the Polques Hot Springs. You'll stay in basic lodges near Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde, set against the Licancabur Volcano.

The climb itself takes two days. After a 2-hour drive from La Paz, you'll reach Huayna Potosí base camp at 4,700 meters, have lunch, then hike two hours to high camp at 5,000 meters in a basic shelter. The summit push starts before dawn: an hour to the glacier, crampons on, then an 8-hour climb to the 6,088-meter peak. The descent returns you to La Paz the same day. An experienced cook prepares all meals at base camp and high camp. Porters carry gear, and the guide maintains a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio with climbers. Mountaineering equipment (boots, ice axe, crampons) is provided, along with a first aid kit and supplemental oxygen.

What’s included

• Entry to Valle de la Luna.
• tourist bus transport to and from Uyuni.
• all meals on Isla del Sol and at Huayna Potosí base camps.
• lodging in basic shelters near Laguna Colorada.
• cable car ride in La Paz.
• camping tents and shelter at high camp.
• dining and kitchen tents for expedition meals.
• porters for the climb.
• 3-star hotel accommodation in La Paz.
• accommodation on Isla del Sol.
• private boat for Lake Titicaca crossing.
• experienced cook for the expedition.
• private 4WD Jeep transport.
• UIAGM-certified mountain guide at a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio.
• first aid kit and supplemental oxygen.
• pickup and drop-off from El Alto International Airport.
• mountaineering equipment including boots, ice axe, and crampons.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Peru Expeditions Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to climb Huayna Potosí as part of a multi-destination tour rather than a standalone mountaineering trip, with 12 days to acclimatize across La Paz, Isla del Sol, and Salar de Uyuni before the summit push.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Witch Market in La Paz actually for?

The Witch Market (Mercado de las Brujas) sells healing herbs, ritual amulets, and spiritual objects used in Andean traditions. It's a working market where locals shop for remedies and ceremonial items, not a tourist display. The tour includes a guided visit to explain the cultural significance of what you see there.

How hard is the hike on Isla del Sol?

The sunrise hike covers 15 kilometers from the southern village to the northern tip of the island and is described as moderate. It's a trek across terrain rather than a technical climb, and you'll be rewarded with views of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding Andes as the sun rises.

What happens if I can't reach the summit of Huayna Potosí?

The climb is supported by a UIAGM-certified guide who assesses fitness and acclimatization throughout. If you cannot continue safely, you'll descend with support and return to La Paz. The guide prioritizes safety over the summit. Porters carry most gear, and supplemental oxygen is available if needed.

Are meals included in cities, or just on the trail?

Meals are included on Isla del Sol, at the Salar de Uyuni lodges, and at the Huayna Potosí base camps and high camp. Meals in La Paz and Uyuni town are not included, so you'll eat at local restaurants on those evenings and choose where to dine.

What's the difference between flying and taking the night bus from Uyuni back to La Paz?

You can fly from Uyuni to La Paz (arriving mid-morning with a hotel transfer) or take an overnight bus. Both options are offered. The bus is longer but saves the flight cost, while flying gives you more rest before the final preparation day for the Huayna Potosí climb.

Do I need mountaineering experience to climb Huayna Potosí?

No prior climbing experience is required, but you need at least moderate physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. The guide will assess your fitness during the preparation day in La Paz and during the climb itself.