6 Days 5 nights TUNUPA 5.430m and LICANCABUR 5.920m climbing

6 Days 5 nights TUNUPA CLIMBING 5.430m and LICANCABUR 5.920m

This fascinating tour is characterized by a changing landscape of unimaginable shapes and colours, ranging from long and deep gorges to vast and arid plains where we find a variety of lagoons of intense colours, snow-capped volcanoes, villages frozen in time with the remains of ancient cultures that have mysteriously disappeared. The largest salt pan in the world, islands formed by rocks, strange forests, landscapes with colourful fauna. The route includes the ascent of two very representative volcanoes, for which a good level of fitness is recommended due to the altitude of the route.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

- One of the most wonderful regions of Bolivia

- The largest salt flat in the world with more than 10.000 km2.

- Nominated as the number 1 wonder by international magazines.

- The perfect place to enjoy sunsets and surreal landscapes.

- Enjoy hot springs and views of geysers and volcanic activity.

- Home to several groups of pink flamingos.

- Incredible views of multi-coloured lagoons.

- Mountain climbing to the extinct volcanoes Tunupa and Licancabur.

 

Day 1: Uyuni - Jirira

At 08:00 we leave from your hotel to the handicraft market of Colchani, where you can buy some souvenirs made of llama and alpaca wool and handicrafts made of salt. You will visit a salt factory to understand the hard work of refining iodised salt. From Colchani we have a 15-minute drive to the shores of the Uyuni Salt Flat, located at 3,663 m.a.s.l., where we will visit the place where the salt is extracted for refining, the Ojos de Sal, the first salt hotel (Playa Blanca).

Later we will visit the island of Inkahuasi, of volcanic origin, where you will be able to admire more than 2,000 gigantic and millenary cacti that originated 1,200 years ago, these cacti grow 1 cm. per year. From the top of the island, you will have a 360° view of the Salar.

You will have a delicious and unforgettable lunch in the middle of the Gran Salar. After lunch you will go to the northern part of the salt flat to enjoy its white immensity. At the end of the afternoon, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset and take a few minutes to find a suitable place to take the perspective pictures that are a particularity of the Salar de Uyuni.

Then we will find our accommodation in a hotel on the shores of the Salar.

Tourist accommodation with private bathrooms.

 

Day 2: Colchani - Jirira

Dawn 5:30 am. We start the day by driving to the community of Coqueza, from where we begin the ascent to the Tunupa volcano, first by jeep, until we reach 3,800 mt. On the way there is a cave with several chullpas (mummies), the view over the crater of Tunupa and the immensity of the salt flat is spectacular, the most intrepid can continue climbing to the 2nd viewpoint 4330 m. (2h) and the 3rd viewpoint 4,804 m. (4h - 7h plus descent). (4h - 7h plus descent), from where you will have an exceptional view!

Reaching the 4th viewpoint or the top of the volcano requires experience, as the ascent becomes too dangerous due to the presence of steep slopes and steep rocks. The climb is not easy, as you go up the small bushes disappear and give way to a spectacular view of the multicoloured floor of the volcano, beautiful contrasts of blue, red, violet and yellow colours that stand out against the white background of the salt flat.

We descend from the volcano and drive down to see the flamingos in the wetlands at the foot of Tunupa. In the afternoon we will find our accommodation in the village of Jirira.

Tourist lodge with private bathroom.

 

Day 3: Jirira - High Altitude Lagoons - Laguna Colorada - Siloli Desert

In the morning we will continue our journey through the salt flats of Uyuni, in the distance we can see the Tomasamil volcano (5,890 m), to the viewpoint of the Ollagüe volcano (5,865 m), the only active volcano in Bolivia, surrounded by an impressive landscape of petrified volcanic lava.

We continue through beautiful lagoons such as Lag. Honda, Lag. Chiar Khota and Lag. Hedionda, whose waters have a high sulphur content, giving off a nauseating smell, and are home to three species of flamingo.

We will visit the Laguna Colorada located at the foot of the Black Hill, its waters have an intense red colour due to the presence of plankton, microscopic algae of red pigmentation, on the shores of the lagoon there is a phenomenon of accumulation of different minerals, for all this it is a sanctuary of hundreds of pink flamingos in its three species: Andean, Chilean and James.

In the afternoon we will find our lodging in the area of the Siloli Desert 4.600 m.a.s.l.

Hotel Ojo de Perdiz

 

Day 4: Siloli Desert - Geysers - Sol de Mañana - High Mountain Lodge

At 04:30 we leave towards the geysers, fumarolas "Sol de Mañana" and thermal waters, we will observe the formation known as Rocas de Dalí, and Laguna Verde, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, at 4,350 m.a.s.l., which has an approximate surface of 17 Km2 and a depth of up to 9 metres. It has an approximate surface area of 17 km2 and a depth of up to 9 metres. Its waters contain arsenic, lead, sulphur, borax and calcium carbonate, which produces a kind of white foam that is ejected on the shores of the lagoon - Refuge in the Community Lodge of the Green Lagoon (Overnight).

 

Day 5: Ascent Licancabur - desert - hot springs - Polques

We will leave early in the morning, around 03:00, and drive about 1 hour by jeep to reach the foot of the Licancabur volcano (4450 m.a.s.l.), around 04:30 we will start the hike to the volcano. It takes about 6-7 hours to reach the top of the volcano, where you can see its crater. Afterwards we will start the descent to the car (about 3,5 hours). In the afternoon we will visit the Laguna Verde (4250 m.a.s.l.), which has an emerald green colour due to the arsenic and magnesium content of its waters. It is located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano (5920m), which forms the border between Chile and Bolivia. Then we travel to the Dali Desert, a place with surrealistic coloured mountains reminiscent of Salvador Dali's paintings and rock formations of petrified lava. Finally, we go to the hot springs of Polques, where we find our refuge at an altitude of 4000 m.a.s.l., it is possible to enjoy the hot springs which have an average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius.

Day 6: Polques - Italia Perdida - San Cristobal - Train Cemetery - Uyuni

Departure at 08:30 in the morning.

The expedition continues through magnificent landscapes dotted with small mining towns, where the largest silver mine in South America and its colonial church of San Cristobal, Villa Alota, Rio Grande and beautiful attractions such as the Anaconda Canyon, Laguna Negra, Laguna Vinto and rock formations such as: Italia Perdida, Copa del Mundo, El Camello, the whole area is home to typical fauna and flora such as vicuñas and rheas (cousins of the ostrich).

Just 10 minutes from the centre of Uyuni is the Train Cemetery, a place where you can see rusty old iron from the 18th century, a sad reminder of the empire that once was the Bolivian Railways.

We arrive in Uyuni at around 18:00. End of the tour.

 

Price per person: Get in touch with us to ask your budget via WhatsApp: +591-73088333 or write us to the email: info@pukinatravel.com

 

Services included

- Transport in a 4x4 vehicle

- Oxygen tank

- All entrance fees and permits

- Full board during the programme

- Mineral water (2 litres per person per day)

- Fruits of the season

- Accommodation as described or similar, to be confirmed at time of tour confirmation, based on double occupancy with private bathroom.

- Professional driver with experience of the route

• Specialized guide during the whole tour (certified high mountain guide).

 

Services not included

- Transportation La Paz - Uyuni - La Paz

- Tips (optional)

- Bathing bags.

- Sleeping bag: Cost USD 50 per person for the whole tour. Not compulsory.

- Walking poles can be hired for USD 30 per pair for the whole trip. Recommended for the hikes. Not compulsory.

Suggested items to bring:

Photocopy of passport

A sleeping bag

Clothes suitable for low temperatures

Comfortable and sturdy walking boots

Sunscreen and hat/cap

Wool gloves

Swimming costume

A pair of sunglasses

A pocket torch

Bath towels

Toilet paper

Feather clippers

Two backpacks: A travel backpack and a small backpack.

People on medication should not forget their medication.

 

Notes:

The programme described above should be considered as ideal and may be subject to changes due to situations beyond our will and commitment (social demonstrations, road blockades, changes in airline and bus schedules, weather conditions, closure of tourist sites on days when they should be open, torrential rain, etc.). If this is not the case, you will be informed, explained, justified and corrected to the best of our ability.

Please note that during the rainy or dry season, due to weather and/or road conditions, routes and hotel reservations may sometimes change without prior notice. Therefore, the itinerary is for reference only and should not be taken as an exact itinerary of the tour, please note that if we have to make changes it will be for your own safety.

The rainy season in Bolivia is from November to March. The dry season runs from April to October.

Once the trip has started, the suspension, modification or interruption of the services by the passengers for personal reasons of any kind will not give rise to any claim, refund or reimbursement.