When people talk about wine, Bolivia—a country defined by its high altitudes—isn’t necessarily the first place that comes to mind! Let yourself be surprised by a vibrant journey through the world of high-altitude wines in Tarija and Santa Cruz, accompanied by the incredible story of Francisco and Humberto. You’ll also be charmed by the two colonial cities of Sucre and Potosí and blown away by the incredible Salar de Uyuni and the colorful desert landscapes of Southern Lipez. A vibrant journey filled with encounters!
Day 1: Santa Cruz
Your guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. We’ll depart from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in a private vehicle to reach the Volcanoes Lodge. From there, we’ll set out on a hike (3–4 hours) along the trails around the lodge, where we’ll discover the refreshing natural pools formed by the Elvira Creek waterfalls.
Overnight stay at the mountain hut.
Day 2: Samaipata
After breakfast, we head toward Mine Hill in a 4x4 for a 20-kilometer drive on a dirt road. This area of Amboro National Park marks the transition between the Amazon and the Andes Mountains, all at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level.
We visit Las Cuevas, then set off on a hike lasting about two hours and venture deep into the forest of giant ferns. Some of them grow up to 15 meters tall. Their age is estimated to be several thousand years, as they grow only a few centimeters each year. The trail is accessible only during the dry season. The view is incredible.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner on your own.
Overnight stay at the El Pueblito Resort ****.
Day 3: Samaipata
At 9 a.m., we set out to explore the Uvairenda winery owned by Francisco and Humberto, friends who are passionate about wine and their region.
Maria Eldy, the estate’s winemaker, will take us on a journey through the history and character of this Cruceño terroir.
After a full tour of the vineyards, we will have the opportunity to taste a selection of grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tannat, etc.
Lunch near the estate.
1750 Wines (high-altitude wines) are produced in the Samaipata Valley, in Santa Cruz. The winery is dedicated to producing high-quality wines on a small scale. The tasting allows visitors to understand and learn about the nature of wine production in the Samaipata region while enjoying the beauty of the valley. Bilingual guide. Early morning departure from Samaipata to the Santa Cruz airport. Overnight stay at the Casa Patio **** boutique hotel.
Day 4: Tarija
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport in a private vehicle. Domestic flight from Santa Cruz to Tarija. A driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Vincent, your French-speaking Belgian guide, will pick you up at your hotel at 2:30 p.m.
This introductory afternoon tour will give you a first impression of the Tarija region, known for its condors and its unique wine-making traditions.
You’ll enjoy a pleasant evening with Vincent and his wife Julia, a warm and welcoming couple who will show you around their farm-inn, where you’ll be spending the night.
Day 5: Tarija
The next day, you’ll set out on a hike through the valleys surrounding the city of Tarija. During this roughly 9-hour hike through the mountains, you’ll discover the region’s stunning landscapes and have the chance to spot majestic condors.
After dinner, you will return to Tarija.
The trek is part of a sustainable tourism initiative; in fact, Vincent works closely with the residents of the village of Rosillas.
Overnight stay at the Carmen Hotel ***.
Day 6: Tarija
Most Bolivian wine production takes place in the department of Tarija, located in the southern part of the country at an altitude ranging from 1,700 to 3,000 meters. This wine, among the highest-altitude wines in the world, boasts a rich aroma due to intense exposure to ultraviolet rays.
This characteristic has, in fact, come to define Bolivian wine. Most of the vineyards are located in the Santa Ana, Concepción, and Los Cintis valleys, home to prestigious estates such as Aranjuez, Campos de Solana, and Concepción. These valleys also produce a very sweet wine known as Oporto.
At 9:00 a.m., we leave our hotel and head to the outskirts of Tarija. We visit family-run wineries and cellars where Bolivia’s finest wines, such as Singani, are produced. We’ll enjoy a tasting of hams and cheeses. We return to Tarija at the end of the day.
Day 7: Tarija
You’ll head toward Tupiza. The trip takes about 4 hours by private transport, with opportunities to stop for photos or breaks. A picnic lunch is included along the way. Overnight stay at the Hotel Mitru**.
Day 8: Tupiza
We set off toward La Poronga (12 km away). After a short walk, we head north toward the Quebrada Seca, where incredible multicolored rock formations with unusual shapes, such as the Duende Canyon, come into view. We visit the Puerta del Diablo, then the Valle de los Machos, and finish with the Canyon del Inca. Return to Tupiza. English-speaking guide. 4×4 transportation from Tupiza to Uyuni.
We’ll leave the hotel in the morning around 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Uyuni in the afternoon. (About a 4.5-hour drive)
Free afternoon.
Lunch included. Overnight stay at the Los Jardines de Uyuni Hotel ****.
Day 9: Uyuni
We’ll leave the hotel at 9:30 a.m. in a private 4×4 for a tour of the train graveyard on the outskirts of town. We’ll then head south.
Along the way, we’ll visit several villages, including the model community of Culpina K. We’ll stop for lunch in San Cristobal, where we’ll be able to visit the ornate colonial church, if it’s open.
Then we cross the Rio Grande, passing through an area inhabited by vicuñas and ñandús (relatives of the ostrich), and arrive in Villamar in the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All-inclusive. Overnight stay at the Jardines del Mallku Cueva** Hotel.
Day 10: Villamar
We head south to Laguna Colorada. The lagoon gets its intense brick-red color from phytoplankton that reacts to sunlight.
Then a trip to the Sol de Mañana geysers (4,850 m above sea level), a volcanic crater with emissions of sulfur vapor and hot water.
We stop at the Polques hot springs before heading along Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (so named because the landscape resembles one of the master’s paintings).
By late morning, we arrive at Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, at the foot of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes (5,960 m), to witness a curious phenomenon: the wind picks up, and Laguna Verde takes on a spectacular emerald green hue.
Return to Laguna Colorada in the afternoon. The trail continues through the stunning landscapes of the Siloli Desert and its famous “stone tree,” where a few viscachas sometimes venture. Overnight at Hotel del Desierto***.
(Availability of double/twin rooms not guaranteed)
Day 11: Siloli Desert
Heading north, we follow the Chilean border along the “Route of the Gems”: Laguna Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda, and Cañapa, sanctuaries for three species of flamingos.
Stop at the Ollagüe Volcano viewpoint. This active volcano (5,865 m above sea level) is also home to one of the highest sulfur mines in the world. The trail then descends from an altitude of approximately 4,200 m to 3,600 m.
We cross the small Chiguana salt flat, at the foot of the Tomasamil volcano (5,900 m), before reaching the village of San Pedro de Quemez.
Cold lunch. All-inclusive. Overnight stay at the Hotel de Piedra***. (Availability of double/twin rooms not guaranteed).
Day 12: Salar de Uyuni
From San Pedro, a two-hour drive along a dirt road takes us to the Salar de Uyuni (3,650 m above sea level), the world’s largest salt flat. The experience is truly unique: the horizon stretches endlessly, and the vastness invites silence.
Head due north to Incahuasi Island, a volcanic island covered in stromatolites and giant cacti (stromatolites are fossilized bacterial colonies, the earliest traces of life on Earth).
On the way, stop at the “Galaxy Cave,” whose stalactites look as if they were carved from lace. In the afternoon, head east toward Colchani. Along the way, visit a salt mine and the Salt Hotel (closed since 2001).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner at the hotel. To end the day on a high note, we’ll enjoy a unique moment: watching the sunset over the Salar while sipping a Bolivian wine of your choice, selected in advance with your travel planner. Overnight at the Palacio de Sal**** hotel.
Located on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, the Palacio de Sal is built entirely of salt. With its spa—which blends modern design with elements inspired by Andean cosmology and ancient wisdom—it’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries!
Day 13: Potosí
We leave Colchani at 8:30 a.m. by private vehicle and cross the entire Cordillera de los Frailes to reach Potosí (3,900 m). This imperial city enjoyed its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries, the golden age of silver. At that time, it was home to the largest mine in the world. Cerro Rico (the Rich Mountain) is still in operation today, but Potosí’s international glory is well and truly a thing of the past. On the way, we stop at Pulacayo, which in the 17th and 18th centuries was home to the second-largest silver mine on the continent.
Today it is a virtually abandoned village, though it is home to a museum that chronicles its former glory. We arrive in Potosí after a 3- to 4-hour drive (205 km). We leave Potosí by private vehicle to reach the charming little colonial town of Sucre (2,810 m above sea level). We descend from the highlands and leave them behind as we make our way down into the Chuquisaca valleys.
We cross the Pilcomayo River via the Sucre Bridge, which features somewhat anachronistic architecture. Further south, this river forms the border between Argentina and Paraguay. We arrive in Sucre after about a 3-hour drive (160 km). For your information, your driver speaks Spanish; he is not a guide. We head to Christophe’s place—a Frenchman who has been living in Sucre for several years—to enjoy a local aperitif. Christophe makes his own liqueurs using local fruits. You’re in for a great time! Overnight at the Pueblo Samary **** hotel.
Day 14: Sucre
Departure at 9:00 a.m. by private vehicle for the village of Candelaria (a 2.5-hour drive), located in the heart of “Tarabuco” country, an ethnic group renowned for its textiles. This charming village has retained all its authenticity (most of the residents speak only Quechua).
In the morning, participate in the traditional production of chicha, a famous Andean beverage made from corn and fruit. The fermentation process can last anywhere from a few days to two months. As a result, chicha can be very mild (low in alcohol) or very strong.
A traditional lunch made with locally grown produce, shared with the community members.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the small museum with a weaver, who will also give us a tour of her workshop. We can take a stroll around the area before heading back to Sucre at a leisurely pace.
Lunch included. Dinner on your own. Overnight stay at the Pueblo Samary **** hotel.
Day 15: Sucre
Let’s enjoy some local cuisine! Meet in the hotel lobby at 9 a.m. so we can walk to the central market. We’ll discover new products and say hello to our caseras (the vendors) in the warm and colorful atmosphere of one of Bolivia’s most beautiful markets.
Next, we head to La Guarida, a magical spot in the heart of Sucre, to meet our host, learn a few secrets of Bolivian cuisine, and enjoy a meal in the sunshine. Bilingual guide. Overnight at the Pueblo Samary **** hotel.
Day 16: Sucre
We spend the afternoon exploring Bolivia’s constitutional capital. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, “White Sucre” is known for its tranquility, beautiful colonial architecture, and numerous churches.
We meet our guide at 2 p.m. in the hotel lobby and set off to explore downtown and its most famous landmarks. We start with the Recoleta Convent, a beautiful white-stone building with four courtyards, founded by the Franciscan Order in 1601 and now converted into a museum.
We learn more about the culture of the region and the country at the Ethnographic Textile Museum (ASUR), and to round out the day, we visit the San Felipe Nery Monastery, where we enjoy a breathtaking view of the city from the terrace.
Day 17: Santa Cruz
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport in a private vehicle.
Would you like to experience it or plan your own custom trip with our team?