How long is the Bolivian Traverse Amazon to Altiplano tour and what does it cost?

The Bolivian Traverse is a 25-day expedition that costs $5,880 per person. This comprehensive tour takes you from Bolivia's Amazon basin through five distinct regions including the Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, and the remote Apolobamba range. The tour has a maximum of 12 guests and uses deliberately low-impact transportation throughout.

What is the best time to visit Bolivia for the Amazon to Altiplano traverse?

The best time for the Bolivian Traverse tour is from May to October. This period offers optimal weather conditions for crossing Bolivia's diverse regions from the Amazon basin to the high-altitude Altiplano. The tour is rated as moderate difficulty during these months.

What wildlife can I expect to see on the Bolivia Amazon tour portion?

During the Rio Ichilo segment of the tour, you'll have opportunities to spot herons, capybaras, caimans during evening excursions, and jaguar tracks on mud banks. The three-day slow boat journey includes wildlife watching from open observation decks with Yucaré guides. You'll also encounter vicuñas along the roads leading to the Altiplano region.

What unique experiences are included in the Salar de Uyuni portion of the tour?

The Salar de Uyuni experience includes llama trekking for two days with working caravan animals, followed by cycling across the salt flat to Isla Pia Pia. You'll camp overnight on the salt flat under one of the darkest skies in the southern hemisphere and climb the sacred Thunupa volcano with 850 meters of elevation gain. The tour also visits quinoa-farming communities and pre-Hispanic archaeological sites.

How do you cross Lake Titicaca on this Bolivia tour?

Lake Titicaca is crossed by sail rather than motor as part of the tour's low-impact approach. You'll use kayaks for some crossings, including the journey to Isla del Sol, and travel by sailing catamaran operated by young people from local communities. The tour also includes visits to sacred Inca sites on both Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna.

What accommodations are provided during the 25-day Bolivia traverse?

Accommodations range from boutique hotels like Hotel Aranjuez in Cochabamba to unique stays like the Catamaran Karumbe on the Rio Ichilo and traditional adobe family homes with local families. You'll also experience ecolodges on Lake Titicaca, community-owned hostels at the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, and camping under the stars on the salt flat. All accommodations are selected to enhance the authentic cultural experience.

What cultural interactions are included in the Bolivian Traverse tour?

The tour includes stays with local families, learning from Kallawaya healers in the Apolobamba range, and experiencing chicha fermentation with a local expert in Cochabamba. You'll work with Yucaré guides in the Amazon, learn totora reed boat construction from traditional craftspeople, and participate in conservation research with local biologists. These community connections are not available on mainstream platforms.

What physical activities and difficulty level should I expect on this Bolivia tour?

The tour is rated as moderate difficulty and includes llama trekking with 6-7 hours of walking daily, mountain biking, kayaking across Lake Titicaca, and hiking to archaeological sites. You'll climb the Thunupa volcano with 850 meters of elevation gain and cycle across the Salar de Uyuni. The varied activities require a reasonable fitness level but are accessible to most travelers.

What makes the transportation low-impact on this Bolivia Amazon to Altiplano tour?

The tour uses deliberately low-impact transportation including a three-day slow boat journey on the Rio Ichilo, sailing catamarans instead of motorboats on Lake Titicaca, and traditional llama caravans for trekking. You'll also travel by bicycle across the Salar de Uyuni and use kayaks for lake crossings. This approach minimizes environmental impact while providing authentic travel experiences.

What unique archaeological and historical sites will I visit in Bolivia?

The tour includes visits to Tiwanaku, a pre-Columbian ceremonial center dating to at least the 4th century BC, and the pre-Inca ruins of Iskanwaya accessed on foot. You'll explore sacred Inca sites at Chinkana on Isla del Sol, Pilkokaina ruins, and Inac Uyu on Isla de la Luna. The tour also includes visits to pre-Hispanic sites like Laqaya near quinoa-farming communities.

Bolivia

The Great Bolivian Traverse: Amazon to Altiplano

Duration

25 Days

From

$5,880

Group Size

Max 12 Guests

A 25-day expedition from the Amazon basin to the Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, and the remote Apolobamba range

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Ecovoyager Experiences

Tour Highlights

The moments that make this journey unforgettable.

Three-Day Amazon Expedition on the Catamaran Karumbe

Two-Day Llama Trek Across the Nor Lipez Altiplano

Cycle the Full Width of the Salar de Uyuni and Camp on Isla Pia Pia

Snorkel for Endangered Titicaca Water Frogs with Biologist Jaime

Two Days with the Kallawaya Healers of the Apolobamba Range

Walk to Iskanwaya: Bolivia's Most Isolated Pre-Inca Ruin

La Paz Explored with Guides from El Hormigon Armado

Sail Across Lake Titicaca

Bolivia Tour Overview

The Great Bolivian Traverse: Amazon to Altiplano

A 25-day expedition from the Amazon basin to the Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, and the remote Apolobamba range

Duration

25 Days

Price

$5,880

Difficulty

Moderate

Best Time

May – October

This 25-day expedition crosses Bolivia from the Amazon basin to the high Altiplano, moving through five distinct regions on a route held together by the communities who guide it. It opens with a three-day slow-boat journey down the Rio Ichilo with Yuracare guides, then climbs into the valleys around Cochabamba before reaching the southern Altiplano for a two-day llama trek along old trade routes and a full day cycling the width of the Salar de Uyuni, with a night camped on a cactus island under some of the darkest skies in the southern hemisphere. From Lake Titicaca, crossed by kayak and under sail, the route pushes on to two days with the Kallawaya healers of the Apolobamba and a final walk to the pre-Inca ruins of Iskanwaya, reached on foot above a gorge where condors circle.

The Great Bolivian Traverse: Amazon to Altiplano

Your Bolivia Tour Itinerary

Route Overview 25 Days · Bolivia

Day 1

Santa Cruz to Puerto Villarroel

The journey begins in Santa Cruz before heading northwest across Bolivia's fertile eastern plains. A stop in Buena Vista, one of the country's main coffee-producing areas, offers a chance to walk the village square and visit a working plantation. From there the road narrows into forest until it meets the Rio Ichilo, more than 50 meters wide and already carrying the weight of the Amazon basin. The first night is spent at Hotel Puerto Amazonas, a simple guesthouse close to the port. Meals: L

Lush coffee plantations on terraced hillsides in Bolivia's cloud forest transition zone from Amazon to Altiplano

Aerial view of winding muddy river meandering through lush Amazon rainforest canopy in Bolivia

Villa Tunari valley view with lush Amazon rainforest, winding river, and dramatic sunset clouds in Cochabamba Bolivia

Day 2

Puerto Villarroel to Rio Ichilo

At the port of Puerto Villarroel, the Catamaran Karumbe is waiting. This purpose-built river vessel has three cabins, a dining room, and open decks that put you at eye level with the forest canopy. As the boat moves upstream, herons and capybaras work the riverbanks and peque peques, the narrow propeller canoes that carry everything from livestock to construction materials, pass in both directions. In the evening, a short boat excursion after dark offers a chance to spot caimans by the reflection of their eyes. Meals: L / D

Capybara family relaxing on muddy riverbank during Amazon wildlife photography tour in Bolivia

Solar-powered boat navigating muddy river through pristine Amazon rainforest canopy in Bolivia eco-tourism adventure

Caiman eyes glowing at night during Pantanal wildlife spotting excursion in Bolivia

Day 3

Rio Ichilo: Full Day on the River

A full day on and along the river, guided by a member of the Yuracare people, the main indigenous group of the Chapare region. The forest here is dense and vocal. Jaguar tracks appear on mud banks, cocoa plants grow wild along the trail, and a lagoon known for piranhas and electric eels marks the deeper interior. The afternoon brings time to try navigating a peque peque, the famously unstable river canoe that locals use to transport people and cargo across some of the most remote waterways in South America. Meals: B / L / D

Jaguar resting in muddy river waters surrounded by lush Amazon rainforest vegetation during wildlife expedition

Travelers exploring Bolivia Amazon rainforest by traditional green canoe on muddy river surrounded by lush jungle vegetation

Pristine Amazon rainforest canopy overlooking muddy river bend at Chalalan Eco Lodge Bolivia during golden hour

Day 4

Rio Ichilo to Cochabamba

The final morning on the river is shaped by the season. Depending on the time of year, the guide may suggest fishing, wildlife observation, or simply watching the river move. After a last meal on the boat, the group returns to Puerto Villarroel and takes the road toward Cochabamba, crossing the Chapare, Bolivia's primary coca-growing region, before climbing a winding mountain road into the central valleys. The shift in landscape from lowland forest to high agricultural plains is swift and dramatic. Meals: B / L

Terraced hillside coffee plantation with traditional thatched roof buildings surrounded by lush Bolivian forest

Cochabamba Bolivia cityscape with Andes mountains and lush valley for sustainable Amazon to Altiplano eco-tours

Eco-luxury hotel courtyard with terraced gardens and colonial architecture in Bolivia

Day 5

Cochabamba

Cochabamba is Bolivia's gastronomic center, and the city takes that seriously. The morning covers the 14 de Septiembre square and the surrounding colonial district before the group meets Suni, a young woman from Tiquipaya who has won regional recognition for her chicha. This fermented corn beer predates the Incas and remains central to Bolivian food culture. Suni has spent years researching its traditional preparation and also produces mead using ancestral techniques. The visit is part tasting, part conversation about what it means to preserve a living food tradition. Meals: B

Indigenous Bolivian woman pouring traditional chicha beverage during cultural ceremony with clay vessels and ritual offerings

Vibrant La Cancha market in Cochabamba Bolivia with fresh produce, vegetables and fruits displayed in colorful sacks and baskets

Day 6

Cochabamba to Uyuni

A long driving day crosses into a different Bolivia entirely. The valley roads give way to mountain switchbacks and then open onto the Altiplano, a high plateau where the horizon extends in every direction and the air carries a different weight. A stop in Oruro, a mining city with deep devotion to the Virgen del Socavon, breaks the journey. Vicunas are common along the final stretch of road into Uyuni, the small town that serves as the gateway to the salt flat region and the southwest. Meals: L

Vicuña standing in shallow salt lake with seagulls and snow-capped mountains in Bolivian Altiplano

Yellow colonial church with stone bell tower and baroque facade in Oruro, Bolivia

Dirt road leading through arid Bolivian altiplano with mountains and salt flat in distance

Day 7

Uyuni to Santiago de Agencha

The day begins at Uyuni's train cemetery, where rusted locomotives from the mining era lie abandoned in the desert. From there, the route heads west into Nor Lipez, a high-altitude region of volcanic rock formations, empty salt pans, and isolated quinoa-farming communities. The destination is Santiago de Agencha, where Justino and Eva Calcina welcome guests into their adobe home. The entire village lives from royal quinoa, a variety native to this landscape. Justino also participated in archaeological excavations at the nearby pre-Hispanic site of Laqaya, which the group visits in the afternoon. Meals: L / D

Abandoned rusted train locomotive in desert landscape with person standing on top, mountains in background

Red quinoa field in foreground with mountain peak in background under blue sky in Bolivia

Ancient stone ruins with rectangular foundations spread across arid mountainous landscape in Bolivia

Day 8

Santiago de Agencha to Sutullcha: Llama Trek Day 1

Early morning begins with loading the llamas. These are working caravan animals, and getting the loads balanced and the herd moving requires patience, a shepherd's whistle, and occasional use of the waraka, the traditional slingshot used to redirect stragglers. The route follows old trade paths that once connected the Salar to the Pacific coast and the Argentinian valleys. Walking time is six to seven hours at the pace the llamas set, with 350 meters of elevation gain. The night is spent at a high-altitude bivouac under clear skies. Meals: B / L / D

Llama caravan with colorful decorations trekking through Andean mountains on sustainable Bolivia adventure tour

Pack llamas carrying supplies along mountain trail with herder in traditional Bolivian clothing

Green tent pitched in arid landscape at dusk with snow-capped mountain peak and moon in cloudy sky

Day 9

Sutullcha to Agencha: Llama Trek Day 2

The second day with the llama caravan covers similar terrain but delivers one of the defining moments of the trip. After a long climb, the landscape opens suddenly onto a view of the Salar de Uyuni, its white surface stretching to the edge of sight. The walking continues for another six to seven hours with 500 meters of combined elevation gain and loss before arriving at Agencha, a small community at the edge of the salt flat where the group sleeps in proper beds while the llamas rest in an outdoor enclosure. Meals: B / L / D

Vast white salt flat with distant mountains under blue sky and small figures crossing the landscape

Traditional thatched roof adobe houses in Bolivian altiplano with mountains in background

Day 10

Agencha to Isla Pia Pia: Cycling the Salar

The llamas are left behind and the group switches to bicycles for the crossing of the Salar. Cycling across salt is disorienting. There are no roads, no edges, and no clear sense of distance. The guide navigates by landmarks and compass while the group crosses between the flat's many islands. The destination is Isla Pia Pia, one of the larger islands, covered in towering cacti. Camping equipment is included. A fire, total silence, and one of the darkest skies in the southern hemisphere close out the day. Meals: L / D

Day 11

Isla Pia Pia to La Paz via Thunupa Volcano

Sunrise on the Salar is worth the cold. A 4x4 vehicle arrives to take the group west to the Thunupa volcano, the dominant sacred mountain of the salt flat region. The ascent takes four to five hours with 850 meters of elevation gain, passing through mineral-stained rock to reach a cave containing mummies, guardians of the mountain in local tradition. The descent crosses the full width of the Salar before reaching Uyuni, where a private driver transfers the group to the bus station for an overnight coach to La Paz. Meals: L

Day 12

La Paz

La Paz rewards slow, curious movement. The morning is led by a guide from El Hormigon Armado, an organization that works with shoeshine boys and uses city walks as a tool for social visibility. The route covers the general cemetery, the surrounding market streets, the Calle de Los Andes where carnival costume makers work year-round, and the Mercado de Las Brujas. Lunch is at a communal market table. The afternoon continues into the colonial district before a cable car ascent to El Alto, where the city's scale becomes fully visible. Meals: B / L

Day 13

La Paz to Quewaya via Tiwanaku

The day begins at Tiwanaku, a pre-Columbian ceremonial center whose origins date to at least the 4th century BC and whose influence shaped cultures across the central Andes. After a guided walk through the semi-subterranean temple and past the Sun Gate, the group picks up mountain bikes and rides into the countryside surrounding Lake Titicaca. The route covers 25 kilometers on dirt roads, climbs 300 meters to a ridge with clear views of the lake, and finishes with a descent to the shore, a boat crossing, and arrival at the Quewaya peninsula ecolodge. Meals: L / D

Day 14

Quewaya to Copacabana

The morning starts on the water with Don Roberto, a local fisherman and guide who has spent decades working this part of the lake. The first destination is Kala Uta, a cluster of Aymara funerary towers at least five centuries old. From there, the boat threads through totora reed beds to Pariti Island, home to a small community museum with a remarkable collection of Tiwanaku-era ceramics. The afternoon continues to Huatajata for a practical session in totora reed boat construction with Juan Carlos, whose family has built these vessels for generations. Meals: L

Day 15

Copacabana to Yumani via Kayak

The crossing to Isla del Sol is made by kayak, departing from the sheltered bay of Sicuani. The lake has its own character and conditions change without warning. The first stop on the island is Pilkokaina, a set of Inca ruins on the southern shore. After visiting the site, the group paddles to the lodge before heading out on foot to Chinkana in the afternoon, a large ceremonial complex considered one of the most sacred sites in the Inca Empire. The island has no vehicles and very little light at night. Meals: L / D

Day 16

Yumani to Isla de la Luna

The morning takes the group by boat to Isla de la Luna, a small island with minimal population and significant Inca religious history. The main activity is a snorkeling survey with Jaime, a biologist working on the conservation of the Titicaca water frog. These endangered animals are largely unknown outside scientific circles, can exceed the size of a human hand, and have developed loose, folded skin as an adaptation to the low-oxygen environment. The survey data contributes directly to Jaime's conservation research. The afternoon covers the Inac Uyu site and a walk across the island. Meals: L / D

Day 17

Yumani to Santiago de Okola by Catamaran

The crossing of Lake Titicaca is made by sailing catamaran, built and operated by young people from the community of Santiago de Huata who trained specifically in lake navigation. The crossing takes five to six hours under sail with no motor. Guests can help handle the boat. The destination, Santiago de Okola, is a small Aymara fishing and farming community on the eastern shore. The evening is spent with host families who share food and, in the local tradition, pour a first sip to the ground before drinking in acknowledgment of Pachamama. Meals: L / D

Day 18

Santiago de Okola to Canizaya

After breakfast with the community, the route climbs away from the lake into the mountains. The road passes through a series of remote valleys before descending into Charazani, a small town in a deep canyon that marks the entrance to Kallawaya territory. The final destination is Canizaya, a community at high altitude in the heart of the Apolobamba range. The Kallawaya are an Andean healing society whose itinerant medicine practice was recognized by UNESCO. Their way of life is endangered and the communities that maintain it are among the least visited in Bolivia. Meals: B / L / D

Day 19

Canizaya to Curva and Back: Kallawaya Walking Day

A full walking day through Kallawaya country, guided by a local host. The route descends into the valley toward Curva before climbing to a hilltop ceremonial site used by community authorities for annual rituals. The group participates in a brief ceremony in which the guide invokes Andean deities. The landscape is alpine and largely unaltered. Llama herds graze on the slopes and isolated hamlets appear at long intervals. The Kallawaya share practical knowledge of medicinal plants throughout the walk, including preparation of remedies that guests can take home. Four hours of walking total. Meals: B / L / D

Day 20

Curva to Aucapata via the Apolobamba Pass

Before leaving the Kallawaya valley, a local weaver demonstrates the textile traditions of the community. Kallawaya fabric is dense with symbolic meaning and recognized beyond Bolivia's borders as a distinct visual language. The drive out crosses the Apolobamba range, passing over a 4,700-meter pass with lagoons and llamas on both sides. The destination is Aucapata, a town with a long and layered history that includes the Mollo people, Spanish gold mining that made the region wealthy, and a contemporary gold rush that resumed in the early 2000s. Meals: B / L / D

Day 21

Aucapata to Iskanwaya

A short drive is followed by a four-hour walk to reach one of the most significant and least-visited archaeological sites in Bolivia. Iskanwaya was built by the Mollo people, likely descendants of Tiwanaku, and features more than a hundred multi-story structures with an architectural style distinct from Inca or Tiwanaku sites. The path follows goat trails and crosses a pre-Inca aqueduct suspended above a gorge. Condors frequently circle the site. The night is spent camping in the garden of Dona Adela, the only permanent resident near Iskanwaya. Meals: B / L / D

Day 22

Iskanwaya to Sorata

The road out of the Apolobamba descends past active artisanal gold mining operations before climbing back toward the high range. A stop at the San Pedro cave, nearly 500 meters deep and containing an underground lake, breaks the drive and offers a sharp contrast in temperature after hours in the sun. The destination is Sorata, a colonial market town at the base of Illampu, one of the highest peaks in the Cordillera Real. The Altai Oasis ecolodge sits on the edge of town with gardens, a natural swimming pool, and direct views of the summit. Meals: B / L

Day 23

Sorata

A rest day with loose structure and genuine options. Sorata has a warm climate by Bolivian standards, a colonial center, and a weekly market where local producers sell orchard fruit and vegetables. A visit to Dona Eugenia, who produces fruit liqueurs from her garden, is the one organized activity. Otherwise the day is open: walking along the river, reading in the garden, or exploring town at whatever pace makes sense. In the evening the group prepares a parrillada together. The combination of altitude, food, and the presence of Illampu overhead makes for an easy, restorative day. Meals: B / L / D

Day 24

Sorata to La Paz

The return to La Paz follows a mountain road that climbs back to the Altiplano and passes within sight of Lake Titicaca before dropping into El Alto and the city below. Arriving from this direction, the scale of La Paz becomes clear in a way it does not on the first visit. The afternoon is free for any remaining errands, markets, or meals. The guide provides a list of restaurant recommendations across different price points and styles. This is the last night of the trip and there is time to use it well. Meals: B / L / D

Day 25

Departure

A private transfer takes the group from the hotel to El Alto International Airport, which sits at 4,061 meters above sea level, one of the highest commercial airports in the world. Departure times vary by flight. The guide accompanies the group to the airport and handles logistics through check-in. No activities are scheduled. The transfer time from central La Paz is approximately 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Meals: B

Bolivia Tour Details

What's Included

Everything included in the tour, and what to budget separately.

What's Included

All accommodation: 25 nights based on double occupancy (Hotel Puerto Amazonas, Catamaran Karumbe x2, Hotel Aranjuez x2, Hotel Los Jardines de Uyuni, Casa Calcina, bivouac tent camp, Jukil Lodge, tent camp Isla Pia Pia, Hotel Boutique Rosario Sur x3, Ecolodge Quewaya, Hotel Las Olas, Palla Khasa Lodge, Hotel Luna Titicaca, community homestay Santiago de Okola, Albergue Canizaya x2, Don Edgar's inn, tent camp Iskanwaya, Altai Oasis Ecolodge x2)
All meals as indicated in the itinerary
Airport arrival and departure transfers
Private transport with driver for all overland legs throughout the 25-day expedition
English-speaking guide for the full 25-day expedition
All local guides as indicated in the itinerary, including Yuracare river guide on the Rio Ichilo, Kallawaya hosts in Canizaya, La Paz lustrabotas guide from El Hormigon Armado, conservation biologist Jaime on Isla de la Luna, and community guides throughout
Three-day Catamaran Karumbe boat charter on the Rio Ichilo (Days 2-4)
All boat transfers as indicated in the itinerary, including Lake Titicaca crossings and kayak rental for Isla del Sol (Day 15)
Sailing catamaran crossing of Lake Titicaca from Isla del Sol to Santiago de Okola (Day 17)
Bicycle rental for Tiwanaku to Titicaca riding day (Day 13) and Salar de Uyuni cycling day (Day 10)
Llama caravan logistics for two-day Nor Lipez trek including all animal handlers (Days 8-9)
Camping equipment for all nights in the field: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat (Sutullcha Day 8, Isla Pia Pia Day 10, Iskanwaya Day 21)
Coach transfer Uyuni to La Paz on Day 11
Snorkeling equipment for Titicaca water frog conservation survey on Isla de la Luna (Day 16)
All entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
Chicha and mead tasting in Cochabamba (Day 5)
Assistance 24/7 during your stay

Not Included

International airfare (return)
Travel insurance (required: must cover high-altitude trekking, horseback riding, and water activities to 4,700m)
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary (approximately $8 per person for a local lunch, $12 for an international restaurant lunch, $20 per person for dinner)
Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beyond those included)
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and local hosts (recommended)
Personal expenses and personal laundry
Bank charges and currency exchange fees
Visa fees (if applicable)
Single room supplement ($840)
Medical evacuation costs

Bolivia Tour Details

Tour Pricing

Transparent pricing, comprehensive inclusions, and exactly what to expect.

Per Person

$5,880

From, based on group of 10

Single Supplement$840

Deposit$1,500

CurrencyUSD

Group Rates

Group Size	Per Person	Notes
2 travelers	$12,720	Per personDouble occupancy
3 travelers	$9,660	Per personGroup rate
4 travelers	$8,160	Per personGroup rate
5 travelers	$7,440	Per personGroup rate
6 travelers	$7,380	Per personGroup rate
7 travelers	$6,900	Per personGroup rate
8 travelers	$6,450	Per personGroup rate
9 travelers	$6,120	Per personGroup rate
10 travelers	$5,880	Per personBest value
11 travelers	$6,600	Per person2nd vehicle required

Deposit & Payment: A 25% deposit secures your place (credit card accepted). 50% balance due 90 days before departure. Final balance due 60 days prior. ACH bank transfer available at reduced fees. Bookings within 60 days require full payment.

Cancellation: 90+ days: full refund minus $500 admin fee. 60-89 days: 50% refund. Under 60 days: no refund. Comprehensive travel insurance covering emergency evacuation is required for all participants.

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Explore the Places You'll Visit

Each stop on this journey through Bolivia, and the country that ties them together.

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From the world's largest salt flat to endless reflections that mirror the sky, discover South America's most extraordinary landscapes where ancient cultures thrive in impossible places

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Red brick cathedral with twin bell towers and clock surrounded by palm trees in Santa Cruz Bolivia

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before your journey. Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch and we'll help.

Booking, Dates & Group Size

How departures, pricing, and group size work on this 25-day traverse.

It runs in the dry season, May to October, which gives navigable rivers in the Amazon, a firm surface on the Salar, open passes in the Apolobamba, and the clearest weather on Lake Titicaca. Dates are set with you when you book, and the trip can also run as a private departure.

The headline rate of $5,880 per person is the best-value price at the full group of ten. The per-person cost is higher for smaller parties, since twenty-five days of boats, guides, vehicles, and camps are shared across fewer people; the full scale of rates is shown on the page.

A deposit of $1,500 per person secures your place, with the balance due before departure. You can pay by whichever method suits you, whether card, bank transfer, or wire.

The expedition is capped at twelve guests. The river vessel, the remote camps, and the community stays all have limited capacity, and small numbers keep the logistics workable and the footprint light across some very sensitive places.

Fitness & Pacing Over 25 Days

What a long, varied traverse asks of you.

Any single day is moderate rather than extreme, but the real test is sustained stamina across twenty-five days of varied, active travel. The most demanding stretches are the two-day llama trek, the full day cycling across the Salar, the walk into Iskanwaya on goat trails, and the Apolobamba pass. Nothing is technical, but you should be fit and ready for consecutive active days.

Yes. Lighter days in Cochabamba and Sorata are built in to break up the active stretches, and the overall pace is set for the length of the trip rather than for speed.

No. You need to be comfortable on a mountain bike, in a kayak, and walking for several hours at altitude over consecutive days. Guides and support are with you throughout, and equipment is provided.

In most cases, yes. The cycling, kayaking, and some walking legs have vehicle or boat alternatives, so let your guide know and you can travel the support route for any section you would rather not do.

Altitude & Health

Preparing for a climb from the Amazon to the high Andes.

The route climbs overall from the Amazon lowlands to the high Altiplano, so you ascend gradually, which helps your body adjust. Even so, the Salar at around 3,650 meters, Lake Titicaca at 3,812 meters, and the Apolobamba pass above 4,800 meters are high, so take the early Altiplano days steady and consult your doctor about altitude medication if you have any heart or respiratory condition.

Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended for the Amazon start on the Rio Ichilo, and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for that lowland portion. Confirm current advice with a travel clinic well before departure, and bring strong insect repellent.

Large. The trip runs from the heat and humidity of the Amazon to nights that drop below freezing on the Altiplano and at altitude. You need to pack for both extremes and switch between them several times.

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and must cover trekking, cycling, kayaking, and sailing, along with high altitude and remote medical evacuation, since the Apolobamba and Iskanwaya are a long way from the nearest hospital.

The Journey: River, Salar, Lake & Apolobamba

What the signature sections are actually like.

Three days on a river vessel with open observation decks, with Yuracare guides leading forest walks, reading jaguar tracks on the banks, and showing the peque peque, the traditional propeller canoe of the Bolivian Amazon. It is off-grid and unhurried, a slow immersion in the forest at the start of the trip.

A two-day llama trek with the Calcina family along ancient trade routes brings you to the edge of the Salar, followed by a full day cycling its width and a night camped on Isla Pia Pia, a cactus-covered island, under exceptionally dark skies.

These are among the least-visited parts of Bolivia. The Kallawaya community of Canizaya and the Mollo ruins of Iskanwaya are reached by rough roads and on foot, with basic conditions and no connectivity, which is exactly what keeps them as they are.

The cities and larger towns, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, La Paz, Copacabana, and Sorata, have coverage. The river, the Salar, the Titicaca islands, and the Apolobamba are off-grid, so treat those stretches as a genuine disconnection and let people know your schedule.

Accommodation, Conditions & Packing

Where you sleep across the country's extremes.

It ranges widely: the river vessel on the Ichilo, hotels in the cities and towns, a solar lodge on Isla del Sol, community homestays with the people of Santiago de Okola and the Kallawaya at Canizaya, and supported camping on the llama trek, the Salar, and at Iskanwaya. The remote stays are simple by design; the town stays are comfortable.

Yes. There are supported camping nights on the llama trek, on the Salar at Isla Pia Pia, and at the Iskanwaya ruins, with tents and camping equipment provided. You carry only a daypack on the active days.

Pack for two climates and switch between them: light long-sleeved clothing, sun protection, and repellent for the Amazon, and warm layers, a hat and gloves, and a waterproof for the Altiplano and the high passes. Add broken-in boots, trekking poles, a daypack, and a dry bag for the river and lake.

The Great Bolivian Traverse: Amazon to Altiplano

Tour Highlights

Three-Day Amazon Expedition on the Catamaran Karumbe

Two-Day Llama Trek Across the Nor Lipez Altiplano

Cycle the Full Width of the Salar de Uyuni and Camp on Isla Pia Pia

Snorkel for Endangered Titicaca Water Frogs with Biologist Jaime

Two Days with the Kallawaya Healers of the Apolobamba Range

Walk to Iskanwaya: Bolivia's Most Isolated Pre-Inca Ruin

La Paz Explored with Guides from El Hormigon Armado

Sail Across Lake Titicaca

The Great Bolivian Traverse: Amazon to Altiplano

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Santa Cruz to Puerto Villarroel

Hotel Puerto Amazonas

Puerto Villarroel to Rio Ichilo

Catamaran Karumbe (Ecorio Expedicion)

Rio Ichilo: Full Day on the River

Catamaran Karumbe (Ecorio Expedicion)

Rio Ichilo to Cochabamba

Hotel Aranjuez

Cochabamba

Hotel Aranjuez

Cochabamba to Uyuni

Hotel Los Jardines de Uyuni

Uyuni to Santiago de Agencha

Casa Calcina

Santiago de Agencha to Sutullcha: Llama Trek Day 1

Sutullcha to Agencha: Llama Trek Day 2

Jukil Lodge

Agencha to Isla Pia Pia: Cycling the Salar

Isla Pia Pia to La Paz via Thunupa Volcano

Hotel Boutique Rosario Sur

La Paz

Hotel Boutique Rosario Sur

La Paz to Quewaya via Tiwanaku

Ecolodge Quewaya

Quewaya to Copacabana

Hotel Las Olas

Copacabana to Yumani via Kayak

Palla Khasa Lodge

Yumani to Isla de la Luna

Hotel Luna Titicaca

Yumani to Santiago de Okola by Catamaran

Community Homestay, Santiago de Okola

Santiago de Okola to Canizaya

Albergue Canizaya

Canizaya to Curva and Back: Kallawaya Walking Day

Albergue Canizaya

Curva to Aucapata via the Apolobamba Pass

Don Edgar's Inn

Aucapata to Iskanwaya

Dona Adela's Garden (Tent Camp)

Iskanwaya to Sorata

Altai Oasis Ecolodge

Sorata

Altai Oasis Ecolodge

Sorata to La Paz

Hotel Boutique Rosario Sur

Departure

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Explore the Places You'll Visit

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Salar de Uyuni

La Paz

Lake Titicaca

Frequently Asked Questions