Bolivia is the most surprising country in the Andes: a capital city at 3,650 metres crossed by cable cars, the largest salt flat on Earth, lagoons coloured red and green by minerals and full of flamingos, and Lake Titicaca, the sacred lake of the Incas. It is also the highest country in South America, so a good Bolivia itinerary is planned around the altitude as much as around the sights.
These are the itineraries our team in Cusco designs for travellers to Bolivia, with our trusted local partners in La Paz, Lake Titicaca and Uyuni. Each one has a day-by-day plan, a route map and the travel times between stops.
Which Bolivia itinerary is right for you?
| Trip | Route | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | La Paz, Tiwanaku and the Uyuni Salt Flats | Full | A first look at Bolivia, or an add-on to Peru |
| 10 days | The 7-day route plus Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol | Relaxed | The classic Bolivia trip |
| 14 days | The 10-day route plus Potosí and Sucre | Relaxed | History, culture and landscapes |
| 10–12 days | La Paz, Uyuni and the lagoon route to San Pedro de Atacama | Active | Combining Bolivia and Chile |
7-day Bolivia itinerary: La Paz, Tiwanaku and the Uyuni Salt Flats
One week is enough for Bolivia’s two essentials: La Paz and the Uyuni Salt Flats. A domestic flight between them saves a long overland journey.
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | La Paz | Arrive at El Alto airport and drive down into La Paz. Rest: the first day at altitude should be easy. |
| Day 2 | La Paz | City tour: the Witches’ Market, Plaza Murillo and the colonial streets, the Moon Valley, and the city from the cable cars. |
| Day 3 | La Paz | Tiwanaku, the capital of a civilisation that flourished centuries before the Incas, with the Gate of the Sun and the Kalasasaya temple. |
| Day 4 | Uyuni | Fly to Uyuni. Visit the train cemetery and Colchani, then drive onto the salt flat for the sunset. |
| Day 5 | Uyuni | A full day on the salt flat: Incahuasi Island and its giant cactus, the salt flat’s endless horizons and, at night, the stars. |
| Day 6 | La Paz | Fly back to La Paz. Free afternoon for shopping or a last walk. |
| Day 7 | – | Departure from El Alto airport. |
Overland, train or boatFlight
10-day Bolivia itinerary: add Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol
With ten days you can add Lake Titicaca. The lake sits a little higher than La Paz, so after two or three days in the city you arrive well prepared.
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | La Paz | Arrive and rest. |
| Day 2 | La Paz | City tour, the Moon Valley and the cable cars. |
| Day 3 | La Paz | Tiwanaku. |
| Day 4 | Copacabana | Drive to Lake Titicaca across the Strait of Tiquina. Visit the basilica of Copacabana and watch the sunset from Cerro Calvario. |
| Day 5 | Isla del Sol or Copacabana | By boat to Isla del Sol, the legendary birthplace of the Inca sun god, with its Inca stairway and terraces. |
| Day 6 | La Paz | Return to La Paz. |
| Day 7 | Uyuni | Fly to Uyuni; train cemetery, Colchani and sunset on the salt flat. |
| Day 8 | Uyuni | Incahuasi Island and the heart of the salt flat; stargazing at night. |
| Day 9 | La Paz | Fly back to La Paz. |
| Day 10 | – | Departure. |
Overland, train or boatFlight
Visits to Isla del Sol depend on agreements between the island’s communities, and some areas have been closed to visitors in recent years. We confirm which parts are open when we plan your trip. Read more in our Lake Titicaca travel guide.
14-day Bolivia itinerary: La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni, Potosí and Sucre
Two weeks lets you continue from Uyuni by road to the colonial cities of the south: Potosí, once one of the richest cities in the world thanks to its silver mountain, and Sucre, the white city and Bolivia’s constitutional capital.
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | La Paz | Arrival, city tour and cable cars, Tiwanaku. |
| Days 4–5 | Copacabana or Isla del Sol | Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol. |
| Day 6 | La Paz | Return to La Paz. |
| Days 7–9 | Uyuni | Fly to Uyuni for three nights: the salt flat, Incahuasi Island, stargazing and a day to the lagoons and flamingos south of the salt flat. |
| Day 10 | Potosí | Drive to Potosí. Visit the Casa de la Moneda, the colonial mint. |
| Day 11 | Sucre | Drive to Sucre and walk its white colonial centre. |
| Days 12–13 | Sucre | Sucre’s museums and markets, and the dinosaur tracks of Cal Orck’o; or a day to the Sunday market of Tarabuco. |
| Day 14 | – | Fly from Sucre to La Paz or Santa Cruz for your international flight. |
Overland, train or boatFlight
Prefer to acclimatise gradually? Run this route the other way round: start in Sucre at 2,890 m, then climb to Potosí, Uyuni, La Paz and the lake.
Bolivia and Chile: from Uyuni to the Atacama Desert
One of the great overland journeys in South America links the Uyuni Salt Flats with San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Over three days by 4×4 you cross the salt flat and the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve: the red waters of Laguna Colorada with its flamingos, the steaming geysers of Sol de Mañana at dawn, the Dalí Desert and the green Laguna Verde below the Licancabur volcano, before crossing the border into Chile.
A typical 10 to 12-day trip combines La Paz and Lake Titicaca, the three-day lagoon route and two or three nights in San Pedro de Atacama, with the Valley of the Moon and the altiplanic lagoons, before flying from Calama to Santiago. It is the route of our Peru, Bolivia and Chile Expedition (21 days).
Overland, train or boatFlight
Combine Bolivia with Peru
Most of our travellers visit Bolivia together with Peru, and the classic link is Lake Titicaca: from Cusco by train to Puno, then overland to La Paz via the border at Desaguadero, with a stop at Tiwanaku. After Cusco and Puno you arrive in La Paz already acclimatised. There is also a direct flight between Cusco and La Paz.
Overland, train or boatFlight
See our Peru and Bolivia Discovery (16 days) and Peru and Bolivia (14 days) itineraries, our guide to the best Peru itineraries and all our Bolivia tours.
Altitude plan: the order matters
Almost all of this route is above 3,500 metres. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, whatever their fitness, so we plan your days to climb gradually:
| Place | Altitude (about) | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Sucre | 2,890 m | The best place to start if you want to acclimatise gradually |
| La Paz | 3,650 m | Start or end of most trips; take the first day easy |
| El Alto (La Paz airport) | About 4,050 m | You land here, then drive down into the city |
| Uyuni and the salt flat | 3,650–3,700 m | After a few days in La Paz or at the lake |
| Lake Titicaca (Copacabana) | About 3,840 m | After La Paz |
| Isla del Sol (Yumani) | About 3,980 m | Short walks with steep stone stairs |
| Potosí | About 4,000 m | One of the highest cities in the world; one night is enough |
| Lagoon route south of Uyuni | Up to about 4,900 m | Only once you are well acclimatised |
- Take the first day easy in La Paz, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
- Climb gradually: a few days in La Paz before Lake Titicaca or Uyuni, and the lagoon route only at the end.
- Arrive from Peru if you can: after Cusco and Lake Titicaca your body is already used to the altitude.
- Talk to your doctor before you travel about altitude and medication, especially if you have heart or lung conditions.
Pack for big changes in temperature: sunny days and freezing nights, above all at Uyuni. See our list of what to pack for the Salar de Uyuni.
Getting around Bolivia: travel times
| Journey | How | Time (about) |
|---|---|---|
| La Paz – Uyuni | Direct flight | A short flight |
| La Paz – Tiwanaku | Private transfer | 1 h 30 min |
| La Paz – Copacabana | Private transfer, with a short ferry across the Strait of Tiquina | 3 h 30 min – 4 hours |
| Copacabana – Isla del Sol | Boat | About 1 h 30 min |
| Uyuni – Potosí | Private transfer | 3 h 30 min – 4 hours |
| Potosí – Sucre | Private transfer | About 3 hours |
| Uyuni – San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) | 4×4 through the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve | 3 days |
| Puno (Peru) – La Paz | Private transfer via Desaguadero, with a stop at Tiwanaku | A full day |
Distances in Bolivia are long and many roads cross the high Andes, so we use domestic flights for the longest journeys and private transfers with experienced drivers for the rest.
Best time to follow these itineraries
- May to October is the dry season: clear skies, cold nights and the best conditions for the lagoon route and for travel by road.
- January to March is the rainy season, when a thin layer of water can turn the Uyuni Salt Flats into a giant mirror. Some routes on the salt flat may be closed after heavy rain.
- April and November are shoulder months, with fewer visitors.
Month by month, read our guide to the best time to visit Bolivia, and our complete guide to the Salar de Uyuni.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Bolivia?
Seven days are enough for La Paz, Tiwanaku and the Uyuni Salt Flats. Ten days let you add Lake Titicaca, and two weeks the colonial cities of Potosí and Sucre.
Is 10 days enough for Bolivia?
Yes. Ten days cover La Paz, Tiwanaku, Lake Titicaca with Isla del Sol and the Uyuni Salt Flats at a comfortable pace, with time to acclimatise.
Should I start my Bolivia trip in La Paz or Sucre?
Most flights arrive in La Paz, which is the easiest start. If you are worried about the altitude, start in Sucre, at 2,890 m, and climb gradually through Potosí and Uyuni to La Paz, or arrive overland from Peru after Cusco and Lake Titicaca.
How do you get from La Paz to Uyuni?
The quickest way is a direct flight from La Paz. Overland, it is a long journey, usually by night bus.
Can you go from Uyuni to the Atacama Desert?
Yes. A three-day 4×4 journey crosses the salt flat and the lagoons of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve and ends in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
When can you see the Uyuni mirror effect?
Usually from January to March, during the rainy season, when a thin layer of water covers parts of the salt flat. The rest of the year the salt flat is a dry, white plain.
Can you combine Bolivia and Peru?
Yes, and it is the most popular way to visit Bolivia. Travel from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and on to La Paz overland, or take the direct flight between Cusco and La Paz.
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Wilfredo Zúñiga Huamanguillas
Anthropologist & Hospitality Professional | South America Travel ExpertAnthropologist, hospitality professional and South America travel expert with 11 years of experience in tourism, trained at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco. Wilfredo writes about the people, traditions and landscapes of the continent, from the Andes and Machu Picchu to Patagonia, Brazil and the Amazon.
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