10 Days Itinerary Santa Cruz Essential And Natural Bolivia: From Santa Cruz To The Salar De Uyuni Samaipata
About this tour
This 10-day trip takes you to some of Bolivia's most fascinating destinations, combining colonial cities, lush nature, and extreme landscapes of the altiplano. It begins in Santa Cruz de la Sierra with a cultural city tour and a nature experience in Samaipata and the Los Volcanes Refuge, among ecological trails, waterfalls, and high-altitude coffee plantations. It continues to Sucre and Potosí, World Heritage cities that reveal the country's colonial history.
The adventure culminates with an unforgettable journey through the Salar de Uyuni and the Southern Altiplano, visiting colorful lagoons, deserts, geysers, and volcanoes, ending in La Paz, the highest city in the world. An ideal itinerary for those seeking culture, adventure, and unique landscapes in a single trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Upon arrival at Viru Viru Airport in Santa Cruz, we will transfer you from the airport to the hotel. At the agreed time, we will tour the Old Town. We will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, Manzana 1, La Recova craft center, or Arte Campo, and stroll along the different avenues known as Anillos, which divide the city, passing by beautiful squares and historical monuments. Continuing with our program, we will visit the Equipetrol business district and cross the Urubó Bridge, a residential area of Santa Cruz. We will enjoy a typical coffee accompanied by pastries from our region. *Museums are open Monday through Friday. Accommodation: Hotel By Armonia 3*or similar.
Day 2: Samaipata, Bolivia
We will leave the hotel and head to the Volcanes refuge, where we will begin a hike along the “Los Loros” or “Cóndores” ecological trail. We have lunch and continue our hike along the trails, where we will come into direct contact with nature as we explore the surroundings of the Volcanes Refuge and pass by the Cristalinas Waterfalls, where you can take a refreshing dip if you wish. The rest of the afternoon is free. Accommodation: Refugio los Volcanes or similar. Meals included: Box breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Samaipata, Bolivia
After breakfast, we set off for Samaipata. We arrived at the archaeological ruins of the iconic Samaipata Fortress. We had lunch and visited the town of Samaipata, touring the Craft Center, Archaeological Museum, Plaza, and surrounding areas. In the afternoon, we visited the Cuevas Coffee plantation, where we saw the coffee seedlings, the beans in their different stages, the roasting process, and tasted high-altitude coffee. Finally, we return to Santa Cruz. Accommodation: Hotel By Armonía 3* or similar. Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 4: Sucre, Bolivia
We take our flight to Sucre. We will explore the colonial city of Sucre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We will visit some of the city's most emblematic museums: the ASUR Textile Museum, which exhibits traditional and original textiles; San Felipe de Neri, a former convent that now offers impressive panoramic views; the Monastery of La Recoleta, also a panoramic viewpoint; and the House of Liberty, where Bolivia's Declaration of Independence was signed. It is a day to connect with Bolivia's fascinating past and cultural heritage. Accommodation: Hotel de su Merced 3*or similar.
Day 5: Sucre, Bolivia to Villa Imperial de Potosí, Bolivia
We depart in private transportation for the city of Potosí, located at the foot of the great Cerro Rico mountain, also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We will visit the Casa de la Moneda, one of the most important museums in the country, as it was here that the coins used during the colonial era were minted. We continue directly to Uyuni, where we will arrive in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Jardines de Uyuni or similar. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Uyuni, Bolivia
We depart from Uyuni to the salt flats in a 4×4 vehicle. We begin our adventure with a stop at the Train Cemetery, an unusual landscape of disused locomotives. We continue to the town of Colchani, where salt is processed using traditional methods, and visit a salt processing plant. We enter the Uyuni salt flats and stop at Incahuasi Island. From its summit, surrounded by giant cacti, we can appreciate the surprising expanse of the salt sea and see the majestic Tunupa volcano. We then enjoy lunch in the middle of the salt flats. We will visit the Playa Blanca hotel-museum, the Dakar monument, and the Plaza de las Banderas. Then we will watch the sunset in the middle of the salt flat while enjoying an aperitif. Finally, we will leave the salt flat and head to the town of San Juan to spend the night. Accommodation: Hostal Los Lípez or similar. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 7: San Juan, Bolivia
We will venture into the desert areas to visit the high-altitude lakes: Laguna Honda, Laguna Ramadita, and Laguna Hedionda. Each one is incredibly beautiful. We will also visit the Siloli Desert, one of the driest in the world, where we will find the stone tree and other large eroded rocks. Our last stop will be Laguna Colorada, named for its reddish color, where numerous Andean flamingos live. It will be a journey where the desert and the lagoons will convey their peace and tranquility, finding ourselves in the middle of nowhere. Accommodation: Hostel in Huayllajara or similar. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 8: San Julian, Bolivia to Uyuni, Bolivia
Early in the morning, we will visit the geysers, wells of water that boil underground, giving us the feeling of being on another planet. Next, we will head to the hot springs, where we will enjoy a relaxing bath surrounded by beautiful scenery. Then we will continue to Laguna Verde, located at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano, whose waters have a magical appearance. Afterwards, we will stop at the iconic Dalí Desert, named for the interesting colors of its mountains that resemble the paintings of the master. Finally, we will return to Uyuni. Accommodation: Jardines de Uyuni Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 9: Uyuni, Bolivia
Transfer to the airport to catch the flight to La Paz. Arrival in La Paz and free day. Accommodation: Hostal Naira 3* or similar. Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10: La Paz, Bolivia
It’s time to say goodbye to La Paz. After breakfast at your hotel, and depending on your flight schedule, you’ll be transferred to the international airport for your flight connection. ¡Buen viaje, hasta pronto!
What's included
-Professional bilingual English/Spanish guide. -Accommodation mentioned in the itinerary. -Meals mentioned in the itinerary. -Entrance fees to the attractions we will visit. -Private transportation for the tours. -Transfers from the hotel to the airport and vice versa as mentioned in the program. -Flights from Santa Cruz to Sucre and from Uyuni to La Paz.
-Drinks. -Entrance fees to public restrooms. -Services and meals not mentioned in the itinerary. -Travel insurance.
Languages spoken
What to know
PAYMENT To confirm the agreed travel contract, a non-refundable prepayment of 30% of the costs per person must be paid. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 90 days before departure for the travel. If the client concludes his travel arrangements with RT less than 60 days before the departure, the tour must be paid in full immediately. RESIGNATION BY THE CUSTOMER Customers can withdraw from the contract at any time before the tour begins, but this must be done in writing. Refunds are subject to specific cancellation guidelines due to pre-tour costs incurred by Responsible Travel (RT). Cancellation fees for custom itinerary tours may vary and will be specified by a Responsible Travel Specialist consultant before reservation. Specific Refund Policies for Cancelled Tours: For mainland tours in a South American destination: • 90 days or more before departure: Full Refund, excluding a nonrefundable prepayment of 30%. • From 89 to 60 days before departure: Refund of 50% of the travel price. • From 59 to 40 days before departure: Refund of 40% of the travel price. • From 39 to 31 days before departure: Refund of 30% of the travel price. • From 30 days until departure date: 0% will be refunded. Please provide the following info for all passengers: - Traveler's Passport Information & Birthdate (required) - Meal restrictions/requirements (if any) - Medical/health conditions (if any) - Arrival Flight Number and Arrival Time
Route & locations
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia