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17 Day itinerary in Chile, South America

Santiago to La Paz Travel Pass

Embark on an unforgettable adventure from Santiago to La Paz, exploring the heart of South America with Bamba Travel. Discover Chile’s vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes, marvel at Bolivia's otherworldly salt flats, and journey through the Andes. This curated travel experience includes guid... Read More

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Bamba Travel Inc

By Bamba Travel Inc

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Santiago

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Top Travel Passes

Backpacking

Classic Sights

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Fully experience Santiago's vivid personality by bike

2

See abstract natural formations, salt caves and the Licancabur Volcano

3

See active volcanoes, geysers & steaming craters

4

Take wacky pictures in the famous Salar de Uyuni

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Santiago, Chile

Santiago Bike City Experience

Departure Time: 9:30

Duration: 3 hrs

Pedal through the neighborhoods and popular markets in the Chilean capital with this fun Santiago Bicycle Tour and experience the city in a new way during your vacation. Bike tours in Santiago are very popular since the city is located in a flat valley with a lovely Mediterranean climate with low rainfall, making it great for a cycle. The first stop on this bicycle tour is La Chimba, a popular area known for its parties and bustle. The cycle tour continues in the Patronato neighborhood, a fairly traditional Chilean community where many people from around the world live today: Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Peruvian and others. There are plenty of clothing shops, restaurants and more in this neighborhood. Next, cycle to La Vega Central market where you can taste some typical fruits and vegetables. Finally, visit Plaza de Armas, the heart of historic Santiago.

Day 2

place Day 2: Valparaiso, Chile

Santiago to Valparaiso

Type: Bus

Time: From 06:45 to 21:30 ( Every 40 minutes)

Duration: 2 Hours

Transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso

Day 3

place Day 3: Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso Beer Trekking Experience

Departure Time: May vary depending on the season in which it is booked and will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Duration: 4 hrs

For this exciting tour, we will arrive to Quilpué's downtown, and we will prepare our beer gears in order to get lost into the woods. The 1st beer tasting will happen once we arrive to one of Quilpue's strangest landmarks. We will be walking higher and deeply into the woods of Fundo el Carmen, passing by the facilities of the Zoo. Time for the 2nd beer! Our final tasting will be up high on the hill with an amazing view of the city and the countryside! Keep in mind that Quilpué is also known as ''La Ciudad del sol''. We will be coming back to the train station in Quilpué's downtown after 3 hours approximately.

Meals: Snacks

Day 4

place Day 4: La Serena, Chile

Valparaiso to La Serena

Type: Bus

Time: 7:00 am

Duration: 6.5 Hours

Transfer from Valparaiso to La Serena

Day 5

place Day 5: La Serena, Chile

Free Day


Enjoy a free day to experience on your own

Day 6

place Day 6: Calama, Chile

La Serena to Calama

Type: Bus

Time: 03:30, 05:30. 07:45, 22:00, 23:45

Duration: 15.45 Hours

Transfer from La Serena to Calama

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Calama.

Day 7

place Day 7: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Calama to San Pedro de Atacama

Type: Bus

Time: 8:00, 13:30, 18:00

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Transfer from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama

Day 8

place Day 8: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Moon Valley Day Tour

Departure Time: 15:00

Duration: 4 hrs

Embark on your tour with a hotel pickup in San Pedro de Atacama. Begin by exploring the intriguing Amphitheater, a natural rock formation that seems to be intricately sculpted by nature. Marvel at its beauty and experience the unique acoustics of this remarkable place.

Continue your journey by uncovering the mysteries of the Tres Marías, three rock formations steeped in legends. Our knowledgeable guide will share the captivating stories surrounding these intriguing rocks.

Next, visit the Viewpoint and be mesmerized by a surreal panoramic vista of the Valley of the Moon. Take in the vastness and splendor of this distinctive landscape from this vantage point.

The highlight of the tour awaits: the sunset! Prepare to witness one of the world's most stunning sunsets as the sun descends behind the majestic Salt Mountain Range. The sky will be painted in warm hues, creating an unforgettable visual spectacle.

Note: Transfers only apply to certain hotels in the area. Please let us know in advance, so we can arrange everything accordingly.

Guide: Included for the day

Day 9

place Day 9: Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

San Pedro de Atacama-Green Lagoon-Dali Desert-Sol de Mañana geysers - Red Lagoon (B/L/D)

Depart San Pedro de Atacama at 6:30 am by minibus for an exciting 3-day excursion. Cross into Bolivia, passing by the Chile and Bolivia immigration offices. Once on the Bolivian side, at 4400m above sea level, we change vehicles to a 4WD Jeep with a maximum capacity of 6 people. We start off in the Bolivian high plains, visiting places like the Green Lagoon (toxic copper water) and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the big Licancabur volcano at 6000m. Continue on to Dali Desert, where Salvador Dali found his inspiration from boulders sprinkled in the middle of the desert. There you can admire surrealistic landscapes, thermal water pools, the Sol de Mañana geysers –intermittent springs coming up at a 100º C. Walk carefully next to fumaroles and steaming craters filled with boiling pots of mud at 150-200 Cº. The journey ends up at Laguna Colorada, an intense red-colored lake which acts as the main nesting center for thousands of flamingos of 3 different species.

NOTE: You need to arrive to Atacama one day before the trek departs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Travel Pass: Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom
Day 10

place Day 10: Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

Siloli Desert-Chiguana Salt Flats (B/L/D)

Have an early breakfast and depart around 8:00 am this morning. Pass by the Siloli Desert at 4,550 meters (the highest and driest in the world) where there are a set of rock formations as a result of wind erosion. Take a photo next to a huge lava rock formation in the shape of a tree. Continue on to high plain lagoons also known as coloured lagoons; Laguna Honda, Chiarcota and Cañapa. Then we make our way to Chiguana salt flat, on the south side of Uyuni salt flat and surrounded by volcanoes. The night is spent at the Salt Hotel (a hotel made of salt), in double or triple rooms.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Travel Pass: Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom
Day 11

place Day 11: Uyuni, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

Uyuni Salt Flats - Uyuni (B/L)

Depart at 8:00 am and cruise along the vast white expanse of salt today. Visit Inca Wasy (Fish Island), located in the middle of the salt flat, with beautiful cactus and rock formations made of petrified coral. Take time to organize your group for fun perspective and proportion-distorted photos on the blinding white surface of the salt flats. Pass by piles of salt at the small village of Colchani, a salt miners workshops next to the salt flats. End your unforgettable trip in the town of Uyuni around 3:00 pm and say goodbye to your new friends. We hope to see you soon for your next adventure!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12

place Day 12: Potosi, Bolivia

Uyuni to Potosi

Type: Bus

Time: 10:00,16:00

Transfer from Uyuni to Potosi

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Potosi.

Day 13

place Day 13: Potosi, Bolivia

Free Day
Enjoy a free day to experience on your own

Day 14

place Day 14: Sucre, Bolivia

Potosi to Sucre

Type: Bus

Time: 07:00, 10:00, 13:00, 17:00

Duration: 3 Hours

Transfer from Potosi to Sucre

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Sucre.

Day 15

place Day 15: Sucre, Bolivia

Sucre Cooking Class & Cocktail Making with a Local

Departure Time: 11:00, 17:00

Duration: 3 hrs

Bolivia is fast becoming a gastronomic hot-spot with its abundance of local Bolivian dishes and their distinct flavours which sets it apart from the rest of the world. In this interactive half day cookery class, our local chef will teach you the art of preparing a delicious 3-course meal and a Bolivian hot sauce whilst learning about local ingredients and traditional cooking methods such as the Batan. Shake up your very own cocktail using Bolivian spirits and seasonal fruits as demonstrated by the chef. Under 18s and non-drinkers make a mocktail. Finish off the experience by dining together in the company of the chef and receive a recipe of the main dish to recreate it for friends and family! We are passionate about the Bolivian food scene and want to share our passion for Bolivian food with like-minded travellers.

Sample Menu:

  • Starter: "Ensalada de Yuyu" - Succulent purslane shoots served on a selection of baby Bolivian potatoes with Creole cheese and lemon dressing.
  • Main: "Cazuela de Maní" - A peanut based dish that packs in chicken, vegetables, pasta and a generous garnish of straw fries.
  • Dessert: "Singani Chocolate Capas" - Layers of chocolate bizcocho infused with Singani coffee liqueur layered with Chantilly cream.

NOTE: With prior notice we can adapt certain recipes to accommodate dietary requirements including vegetarian and vegan. Example main dishes include Picante de Pollo, Cazuela de Maní, Papas Rellenas or Mondongo Chuquisaqueño.

Meals: Lunch

Day 16

place Day 16: Sucre, Bolivia

Sucre to La Paz

Type: Bus (Overnight)

Time: 20:00

Duration: 12 Hours

Transfer from Sucre to La Paz

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to La Paz.

Day 17

place Day 17: La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz Local Explorer

Departure Time: 14:00

Duration: 3 hrs

One of the best ways to see this offbeat and colorful city is in the sky! This adventure will show you the real La Paz exploring the amazing cable cars, the fascinating cemetery, local shamans and the pulsating city of El Alto with an amazing guide. This is one of the most stunning city tours in the world! Not only do you get to take in the magnificent views of La Paz and the surrounding mountains, but you also explore some of the most off the beaten path spots in the city! Take local transport up to the cemetery where we explore the open air street art museum and learn about the fascinating culture and traditions that can only be found here, then up to El Alto in the world’s most scenic form of transport, the teleferico (cable car). In El Alto we visit a local shaman and have the opportunity to get our fortunes read before exploring the city further and then taking 2 more telefericos back to the city center. Get a chance to see the real La Paz!

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom

Meals expand_less

  • Snacks (1)
  • Breakfast (3)
  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Santiago to Valparaiso
  • Valparaiso to La Serena
  • La Serena to Calama
  • Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
  • Uyuni to Potosi
  • Potosi to Sucre
  • Sucre to La Paz

Activities expand_less

  • Santiago Bike City Experience
  • Valparaiso Beer Trekking Experience
  • Moon Valley Day Tour
  • Sucre Cooking Class & Cocktail Making with a Local
  • La Paz Local Explorer
  • Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure

Not Included expand_less

  • Other Meals / Drinks
  • Accommodations where not mentioned
  • Guide throughout the trip
  • Tips & Gratuities
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Insurance

About Bamba Travel Inc

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