Bolivia might just be South America‘s newest hit wonder. This magnificent country features everything from the largest salt flats in the world to the highest city in the world to the biggest navigable lake in the… well, world!
Tourism here is only just burgeoning, but with everything this charming country has to offer, Bolivia will inevitably become a massive tourist hotspot in the coming years.
That means now is the perfect time to visit. The tourism industry is at a sweet spot; enough infrastructure to make it easy to get around, but not so much that it becomes overcrowded and expensive.
While exploring Bolivia last month, I met dozens of other travelers, each with different but equally fascinating routes. By listening to their stories and adventures, I discovered the most efficient and fun way to explore the country in just 8 days – all while capturing the spirit and ethos of the local culture. This is perfect for those with just one week to travel to Bolivia from almost anywhere in the world.
Another awesome 8-day itinerary: Croatia in 2023: The Ultimate 8 Day Road Trip Itinerary
Summary of the 8-Day Bolivia Itinerary
There’s no better way to maximize your trip to Bolivia than this:
Day 1: Arrive in Bolivia, then soak in the beauty of Sucre after a short domestic flight
Day 2: Explore a historical mine in Potosi, then stay in a unique Salt Hotel in Uyuni
Day 3: Start an epic adventure across the largest salt flats in the world (Salar de Uyuni)
Day 4: Visit protected flamingo-filled lagunas, massive geysers, and enjoy the sunset from hot springs
Day 5: Savor the beautiful desert traversing endless sandstone forests and admiring ancient volcanos, then hop on a luxury night bus to La Paz
Day 6: Negotiate the diverse, enchanting neighborhoods and markets of La Paz on walking tour, watch traditional Cholitas wrestle, and ride cable cars around the whole city
Day 7: An incredible day trip to the world’s largest navigable lake – Titicaca. Take a speedboat to Isla del Sol, an Inca legend, and enjoy the magic of the island.
Day 8: Partake in an exhilarating downhill bike tour of Bolivia’s famous “Death Road” before taking your redeye flight home
Plan to book your departing flight from La Paz/El Alto for 3-4AM on Day 9.
Flying into Bolivia
For this trip, you can fly either into:
- VVI – Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- LPB – La Paz/El Alto International
We recommend you fly into VVI and fly out of LPB, if possible. You will read why below.
Flying into and out of Santa Cruz/Viru Viru(VVI) from Europe
From Europe, there is a direct flight from MAD to VVI on Air Europa arriving at 545AM, and some days on BOA (Bolivia de Aviacion Airlines) arriving at 4AM.
There are also connecting flights via LIM, GRU, BOG, PTY, and MIA. Some of these involve booking 2 separate flights, so I recommend using Google Flights to find the best itineraries. Most, if not all connecting flights arrive in the late night or early morning.
For Europeans, you may also consider returning on the direct Air Europa flight from VVI-MAD on Day 9 (departs around 1250PM) as long as you find a flight from LPB-VVI early enough in the morning that day.
That being said, it is possible to fly into La Paz/El Alto (LPB) on day 1 if you can find a connecting domestic flight onwards to Sucre (SRE) on your arrival date (as early as possible to maximize your time in Sucre).
Flying into Santa Cruz/Viru Viru(VVI) from the US
From the US, you can fly direct from Miami arriving at 6AM. Alternately, there are connecting flights via LIM, GRU, BOG, and PTY. Most, if not all connecting flights arrive in the late night or early morning.
We recommend starting your trip in VVI. This is because most days, you’ll have more flight options from VVI into the rest of the country, which simplifies this itinerary. It’s also at a lower altitude than La Paz (LPB), thus offsetting some pressure of acclimatizing to high altitude.
That being said, it is possible to fly into La Paz/El Alto (LPB) on day 1 if you can find a connecting domestic flight onwards to Sucre (SRE) on your arrival date (as early as possible to maximize your time in Sucre).
Flying into and out of La Paz/El Alto (LPB)
Because of its high altitude (El Alto is actually the 5th highest commercial airport in the world), there are no direct flights from the US or Europe.
You can find connecting flights via LIM and BOG from both the US and Europe.
This 8-day Bolivia itinerary ends in La Paz/El Alto (LPB), so we recommend you book your exit flight from Bolivia from LPB. Plan to fly out from La Paz/El Alto at 3-4AM on Day 9, with connecting flights arriving the same day relatively early in the US.
However, feel free to fly out of VVI if you can find an early enough flight from LPB-VVI on day 9.
That brings me to my next point – domestic flights.
Related: Traveling To The Galapagos in 2023: The Ultimate Guide
Booking Domestic Flights in Bolivia
In Bolivia, internal/domestic flights are served by three airlines, notably:
- Boliviana de Aviación (Boeing 737s)
- Amaszonas (Embraer E190s)
- Ecojet (Avro RJ95s)
Typically, these fares will not show up on tradition search websites.
It’s best to book directly on the websites. In my experience over several flights, the airlines in Bolivia are punctual, offer good service, and do not charge extras unless your bag is over 20kg (again, in general). Most importantly, they meet high safety standards (and I’m saying that as a US based airline pilot!)
The Ultimate 8-Day Bolivia Itinerary – Expanded
Day 1: The Bolivia Adventure Begins
- Arrival into Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI – Viru Viru International), most likely very early
- Discover the center of Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia, in the morning
- Hop on a domestic flight to Sucre around noon and explore this incredible city in the afternoon
Arrival into Viru Viru International – time for a nap and a walk!
On arrival, Americans can expect to pay about $160 for a Visa on Arrival in Bolivia. At the time of writing, Europeans did not need to pay this fee for tourism. Find out more for your particular case here.
Chances are you’ll arrive very early in the morning. This is the perfect opportunity to head to the hotel and get a nap before catching a domestic flight to Sucre (SRE) in the late morning/early afternoon.
At the time of writing, there is a flight on BOA departing at 1345, and an Amaszonas flight departing at 11AM. Make sure to book one of those.
If you arrive early, we highly recommend heading to the TRYP by Wyndham for a nap. This brand new hotel features great guest ratings, an available airport transfer, a very convenient location, and excellent pricing.
If you have time before your domestic flight, why not join a walking tour? Make sure not to miss the Cathedral Metropolitana or the Plazeula Blacutt in the center of town.
Keep in mind that travel time by taxi to the airport (VVI) is 35-60 minutes. For domestic flights, it’s advisable to arrive an hour and a half before departure. BOA and Amaszonas both offer online checkin to expedite the process.
Sucre: Bolivia’s most picturesque city (plus: a dinosaur footprint!)
Welcome to Bolivia’s most picturesque city, Sucre. With a colonial history dating back to the 1400s and the best climate in all of Bolivia, Sucre is a highly popular city – for both tourists and locals!
In fact, it’s known as the ‘de facto’ capital of Bolivia – even over the much larger La Paz.
There’s so much to do and see here. To make the most of your time, I highly recommend you join an exclusive half-day private walking tour to see about as much in 2 and a half hours as you could ever imagine. They can even arrange pickup from the airport!
While in the quintessential colonial and magnificent city of Sucre, you should test out your bargaining skills at the artsy Mercado Campesino, visit the stupefyingly beautiful Cementerio General, climb to the top of San Felipe de Neri Convent, and treat yourself with ice cream from Sucré Heladería Artesanal in the Central Square (Plaza de Armas). This is all covered in the walking tour, and more!
After you’re done with all that exploring, why not try out your cooking skills with a Bolivian cooking class at La Boca del Sapo? It’s a fantastic way to finish your day – and fully immerse yourself in Bolivian culture.
Our recommended hotel is the Parador Santa Maria La Real, the BEST Hotel in Sucre (and relatively inexpensive!)
I stayed at the Parador Santa Maria La Real in January and loved its boutique feel, warm reception, rooftop bar/restaurant with epic views, and super comfortable rooms with all the amenities. And importantly, fast wifi!
Day 2: An epic mining tour before heading to the world’s largest salt flats
- 2.5 hour early (6AM) bus to Potosi to arrive by 9
- Epic half-day tour inside the mines of the world’s highest city
- Take a bus to Uyuni as late as 2100 if you wish to stay and explore Potosi, the world’s highest city
- Stay at a wonderful Salt hotel (literally built out of salt)
After an eventful first day, it’s time for an early start for a more relaxed, but equally ravishing day.
You’ll take a Trans Emperador bus departing at 6AM from Sucre arriving in Potosi at 9AM, for an epic tour deep into the historic mines of Cerro Rico. Here, you’ll learn about the conditions and listen to the fascinating stories from the miners that work here day in and day out.
In the afternoon, you can explore Potosi, the world’s highest inhabited city, and visit one of the world’s first coin mints, preserved colonial buildings like Torre de la Compañía de Jesús, hot springs, and try amazing local Bolivian dishes such as Cazuela or Aji de Pataskha.
Sometime in the late afternoon, you’ll take another bus to Uyuni – the hometown of the largest Salt Flats in the world. The last bus departs at 9PM.
Once in Uyuni, you should stay in the epic Hotel Casa de Sal – a hotel built entirely out of Salt. Everything from the walls to the bed to the couches are made out of salt. Luckily, the mattresses are not.
Day 3: The Largest & Most Epic Salt Flats in the World
- Start a 3 day tour around 10-11AM
- Explore the largest Salt Flats in the world, an island of ancient cacti, and the local train cemetary
- If you’re lucky and it’s dry, you can bike across the Salt Flats around the “Dakar Rally 2020” area
After catching some beauty sleep and enjoying complimentary breakfast from the top floor of Casa de Sal (hopefully the food is not too salty!), you’ll start your Salt Flats adventure around 11AM.
The Place Where Trains Come to their Final Stop
The first stop is the Train Cemetery, a place where both passenger and cargo trains have come to their final stop. The history dates back to when this area was a gem for mining, and the reason why Uyuni itself exists here in the middle of nowhere.
Next, you’ll head deep into the Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni), until all you can see is just pure white. Here, if you’re lucky and it’s dry, you’ll grab some bikes and explore the endlessness of this magical place. And if you’re lucky and it’s wet, you’ll get to take ‘infinity pool’ style infinite reflection pictures – the kind you’d see on National Geographic.
Whether you bike there or not, the next stop is the home of the Dakar Rally 2020 – a race across the desert that was supposed to take place here in Bolivia – and did back in 2014 – but was cancelled this time. There’s still a massive gathering area dedicated to the race that never happened.
Here is where you’ll be served fresh, delicious lunch under the shade of umbrellas, still gawking at this place that feels like it’s not supposed to exist.
Ancient Cacti and Bolivian Wine
The late afternoon entails more exploring, taking hilarious pictures and videos for instagram (perfect reel opportunity!), and exploring an island of ancient cacti.
This island, named ‘Incawassi’ (home of the Inca), features 400-600 year old cacti that grow at only 1 centimeter per year! It’s a surreal feeling being in this mysterious place jutting out of nowhere surrounded by these ancient beings.
And lastly, it’s time to enjoy the sunset with ‘high tea’ – some local red wine (yes it exists!) and Bolivian snacks. Amazing.
Day 4: Flamingo watching at the Eduardo Abaroa Reserve & totally clear-sky stargazing from a hot spring
- Witness 3 different species of flamingos across massive lagoons at altitudes as high as 4600m
- Visit the Stone Tree at over 16,000 feet
- Walk around the active geysers of Sol de Mañana
- Stargaze from the middle of the desert with no light pollution
The day starts with breakfast at the hotel and a gorgeous sunrise greeting you over ancient volcanos. On the journey today through the Salvador Dali Desert, you’ll stop by local Bolivian llama farms and quinoa plantations, and learn about the dozens of species of quinoa and just how significant they are to the local population.
Lagunas in every color
The first of three flamingo-filled lagunas you’ll visit today is the Laguna Cañapa, an insanely gorgeous and delightfully deep blue laguna covered by pink and white. This pink and white consists of not one, but three species of flamingos painted by the carotenoids in the algae and shrimp they eat.
Lunch is served next to ‘Stinky Lake’, which thankfully isn’t half as bad as the name implies. The stickiness supposedly comes from the algae, which is a good thing! This same algae attracts flocks and flocks of flamingos, and this lake is probably the closest you can get to these majestic creatures.
Next up at over 16,000 feet is the ‘Stone Tree’, an area of windswept giant rocks carved out by nature over millennia. Shortly thereafter, you’ll visit the nicest laguna of all: the Laguna Colorada. It’s in the protected area of the Eduardo Abaroa Reserve, and you’ll see why when you get here.
The beauty of volcanic activity: hot springs and hotter springs
And of course, you can’t miss the active geysers of Sol de Mañana, which are constantly throwing up sulfur-filled steam as high as 50m/150ft! This is the best place in the whole area to get up close and personal with 300C/600F sulfuric bubble baths – not recommended to swim.
To top off a day full of adventure, you’ll stay in a hostel located right off hot springs! After dinner, grab your swimsuit and head to the water with some wine and watch the sunset from the warmth and comfort of this natural hot pool. As it gets dark, you’ll be able to appreciate the Milky Way right above your head, and truly absorb the remarkable beauty of this place.
Day 5: Hares, Laguna Verde and Licancabur Volcano
- Explore magnificent a green lagoon next to an ancient volcano
- Admire the incredible sandstone rock forest around the Laguna Negra
- Finish in Uyuni in the evening, take the night bus directly to La Paz
After an epic fun night at the hot springs, it’s time to start making your way back to Uyuni. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to end here.
The first stop is the wonderful green lagoon, next to an ancient 19000ft volcano, the Licancabur. This is the place where others will depart to San Pedro in Chile.
The road back to Uyuni is a long one (7-8 hours), but it’s wonderful sights all along. You’ll stop at a giant sandstone forest next to Laguna Negra. I can’t emphasize enough that this is a magical place, a sanctuary of canyons and valleys and lakes and wildlife. Here is where you’ll witness hares interacting with endemic birds and llamas. It’s a fascinating place for a walk.
When you get back to Uyuni, you’ll have time for a shower ($5 at most hotels) before taking a luxurious, sleeper-style night bus up to La Paz.
Day 6: Walking tour of La Paz, Bolivia’s Political Capital
- Learn about the llama fetuses sold at the Witches Market
- Spend the afternoon exploring the city by Cable Car
- Watch cholitas (traditional Bolivian women) wresting in El Alto
When you arrive in La Paz, try to arrange for early check-in at your hotel. After trying out several hotels in La Paz, we recommend staying at Hotel El Museo for its excellent location, great customer service, awesome rooms, and budget-friendly prices.
After a short nap and delicious breakfast, it’s time to explore this riveting city. At over 3650m above sea level, be prepared for a bit of a wind chill. But the cold isn’t going to be the most shocking thing today.
Exploring La Paz in a Day
From fascinating markets (like the witch market with its llama fetuses for sale) to colonial churches and cathedrals, incredible viewpoints, beautiful plazas, and great restaurants, there’s so much to do and see in La Paz. It’s a great way to get a taste Bolivia in its true essence.
In the afternoon, head to the nearest cable car station (Teleferico) for astounding views over the entire city. At only 11 bolivianos (like $1.50), it’s a deal that’s too good to pass up on. You can literally ride around the entire city with incredible views. You’ll appreciate views on the nearby Valle de la Luna, the snowcapped 21000+ft Mt. Illimani, and of course all the vast areas the city reaches.
At the top of the ridge, you reach El Alto (near where the airport is). Up here, there are more incredible markets to visit and even a little local tradition: a cholita wrestling ceremony! (Cholitas are Bolivian women that self-identify as indigenous and celebrate their heritage)
After an incredible day getting to know the ins-and-outs of La Paz, head to one of the top-rated restaurants in town. I particularly loved YATI restaurant, but Cafe del Mundo was also very good. Nearby, there’s Bolivian Popular Food, but it wasn’t open on the days I was there.
Day 7: Day Trip to Lake Titicaca and Isla Del Sol
- Ride on a BoliviaHop bus directly to the incredible city of Copacabana
- Includes a ferry ride to Isla Del Sol for a true Inca experience
- Return to La Paz for the night
I did this whole excursion to Lake Titicaca from La Paz on my own, without a tour. But when I added up all the costs (taxis, microbus, bus, crossings, boat ride), I actually didn’t end up saving any money over the BoliviaHop tour.
That’s why I’m recommending them for this amazing day trip.
You’ll see the most picturesque city in Bolivia: Copacabana – the closest thing I’ve ever seen to Positano in South America.
Inca del Sol: An Inca Legend
From Copacabana, you take a speedboat to Isla del Sol, known as the home of some Inca legends. Here you can join a historic walking tour of the sun temple Pilkokaina and the coast of Yumani.
It’s also possible to spend more time and fully explore the island by spending the night here at a homestay with locals – a true Inca experience. Only if you’re willing to extend your trip by a day or skip tomorrow’s incredible Death Road downhill biking tour.
Otherwise, enjoy the thrilling ride back to La Paz. It’s filled with nonstop wonderful views and a super fun river crossing (across the Strait of Tiquina). This is where you get to watch your multi-ton bus bus cross on a homemade raft. Quite an adventure!
Day 8: Bolivia’s Death Road
- Downhill biking through some of Bolivia’s most enchanting scenery
- Learn about the tragic history of this road and why it’s no longer deadly
- Finish with delicious local food and a shower before heading back to La Paz for a redeye flight back home
Welcome to the most dangerous road on the planet, as covered by the BBC, Discovery, Reuters, and more: the North Yungas Road – otherwise known as “Death Road”. Until a new, safer road was built in the early 2000s, it was known to kill 200-300 people each year – since its inception over 50 years prior.
Now, it’s become Bolivia’s most sensational tourist attraction. Rent some mountain bikes, head up to the summit at 4,700 m (15,420 feet) out of the city of La Paz, and start your way down over 60 kilometers of paved and dirt road.
Why the Death Road tour makes the entire trip to Bolivia worth it
The views along the way are mind-blowing. Hugging the road alongside hundred-meter drops beside the road, you’ll have incredibly diverse views in just 4-5 hours of biking. Starting from high mountain sparse vegetation (and usually in the clouds), you’ll make your way to increasingly lush, green, and eventually even tropical vegetation. Along the way, make sure not to get too distracted by the sweeping vistas of magnificent snow-topped Andean mountains.
Inevitably, you’ll pass under several waterfalls – probably my favorite part of the trip. Refreshing, fun, and just plain awesome.
It’s exhilarating, it’s exciting, and it’s wondrous.
You finish the day at a wonderful Eco-Resort for a much-needed meal, maybe some beers, and of course a shower. This is the best way I could think of to finish up your epic 8-day Bolivia adventure before heading back to La Paz for your redeye flight home.
Enjoy your epic trip to Bolivia! Stay tuned for a special opportunity.
We will soon be announcing our premier group trip opportunity to Bolivia. You can expect this incredible 8-day itinerary, with every detail taken care of – so you can just sit back, relax, and have a whole lot of fun. No stressing worrying about booking domestic flights, hotels, tours, aligning the schedules. All you gotta do is show up.
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