The Traro Tour

Potosí silver mines, salt desert & the Atacama Desert in Chile

Saturdays from the UK

Duration – 17 days, 14 nights
La Paz 2 nights, Coroico 1n, La Paz 1n, Sucre 2n, Tarabuco 1n, Potosí 2n, Uyuni 1n, San Pedro de Quernez 1n, Villa Mar 1n, San Pedro de Atacama 1n, Santiago 1n.

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart from the UK arriving the following day in La Paz.
Day 2 At leisure.
Day 3 Half-day visit to pre-Incan Tiwanaku Ruins which rise from the high plain against the clear blue sky.
Day 4 A spectacular and vertiginous drive takes you out of La Paz over the high altitude La Cumbre pass, past needle-sharp crags,dropping to 1750m in 65km to the citrus orchards and banana plantations of subtropical Coroico.
Day 5 Return to La Paz.
Day 6 Fly to Sucre.
Day 7 At leisure exploring this charming colonial city.
Day 8 Drive to the simple yet evocative Hacienda La Candelaria.
Day 9 Visit the authentic market at the unspoilt village of Tarabuco. Continue up a brome-fringed road to Potosí on the desolate altiplano.
Day 10 Morning visit to the drift mines of Cerro Rico. The miners’ life here is hard: they continue to make offerings to a statue of the devil, who they are sure has dominion over the dark and dank tunnels. Later, tour the Imperial Mint Museum and the imposing architecture which reflects the city’s opulent past.
Day 11 Drive to Uyuni over a 5000m pass across the snow-swept plateau. Overnight in an extraordinary hotel constructed from salt.
Day 12 Full day expedition to enjoy the serenity of the immense salt pan. Overnight in San Pedro de Quemez.
Day 13 Cross the dazzling flats within the shadow of snow-capped Ollagüe volcano through valleys of wind-eroded rocks. Overnight in Villa Mar.
Day 14 Drive to rust-red Laguna Colorada, where three species of flamingo feed. En route to the jade-green waters of Laguna Verde, view the steaming geysers and thermal springs of Polques, before crossing into Chile and the lunar landscapes and pre-Incan ruins of the Atacama Desert. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 15 Fly from Calama to Santiago de Chile (2hrs).
Day 16 Return flight to the UK arriving day 17, Monday.

How about?

Visiting mystical Lake Titicaca from La Paz - full day (or overnight).
A few days on Easter Island.
The Choro Trek.

The above optional excursions may dovetail into the existing 13 night itinerary, or require extra nights.