Buenos Aires to La Paz: Salt Flats & Sand Dunes
15 days
from Buenos Aires to La Paz
From
$ 1999
Duration15 days
Breathe in the mountain air of La Paz and dance in the tango milongas of Buenos Aires on a two-week adventure. Connecting the Atlantic to the Andes, you'll journey across the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Desert and the Salar de Uyuni. Feel like a sophisticate as you sip wine in Buenos Aires and pull back the curtain on the centre of the continent. Best of all, you'll do it in the company of other fun, young travellers. Don't choose between inspiring wilderness and urban sophistication – do it all.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 15 daysService level: Basic
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Starts in: Buenos AiresPhysical Grading: Light
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Ends in: La PazAges: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Buenos Aires
Start place: Buenos Aires
Arrive at any time.
End place: Buenos Aires
Day 2: Buenos Aires/Salta
Start place: Buenos Aires
Salta, situated in the Lerma Valley of northern Argentina, is home to empanadas salteñas - a delicious local specialty. No visit to the town will be complete without giving them a try. In the evening, opt to experience a local celebration at one of the "Peña" folklore shows.
Skip a long bus ride with an included flight to Salta.
End place: Salta
Day 3: Salta
Start place: Salta
Enjoy free time to explore the area. The scenic Quebrada de las Conchas and Cafayate, famed for its wine and vineyards, are recommended stops. The multi-coloured valleys in the foothills region of the Andes are sure to be a highlight.
Explore the city and enjoy the local cuisine. Opt to take a trip through the scenic Quebrada de las Conchas to Cafayate, or visit the High Mountain Archaeological Museum.
End place: Salta
Meals: B
Day 4: Salta/San Pedro de Atacama
Start place: Salta
In the morning, take a bus further north to the dry desert regions of Argentina and Chile. Stop in the little town of San Pedro de Atacama, on the edge of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth.
Travel over the border and into Chile.
End place: San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: B
Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama
Start place: San Pedro de Atacama
Opt to try out sandboarding, go mountain biking, or visit the Valley of the Moon.
End place: San Pedro de Atacama
Day 6: San Pedro de Atacama/Salt Flats
Start place: San Pedro de Atacama
Groups like to get creative with photography, as the endless white of the salt flats creates some great depth illusions that are fun to play with in photos.
Ascend by bus into the mountains and cross into Bolivia for a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert Altiplano with spectacular scenery.
Note: During the rainy season the locations visited may change due to some routes being covered by water.
We offer unique accommodation on the Uyuni Salt Flats. Instead of very basic refuges and homestays most operators use, we have upgraded to simple hotels that are equipped with solar panels to provide electricity and hot water. Rooms are multi-share and each has a private bathroom. Meals are made from local ingredients, most of which are grown on-site.
We offer unique accommodation on the Uyuni Salt Flats. Instead of very basic refuges and homestays most operators use, we have upgraded to simple hotels that are equipped with solar panels to provide electricity and hot water. Rooms are multi-share and each has a private bathroom. Meals are made from local ingredients, most of which are grown on-site.
Meals: L, D
Day 7: Salt Flats
Settle in to your G Adventures-supported salt-brick bungalow, complete with salt floors and furniture, after a guided walking tour up to the sacred Jukil mountaintop for sweeping valley views and a dinner of local ingredients prepared by ladies from the community.
Continue exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats on a 4x4 excursion. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert. Last stop for the evening is a G Adventures-supported community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Salt Flats/Uyuni
Rise early to cover more of the unique landscape of the Uyuni Salt Flats. Continue to see incredible scenery, including volcanoes, and salt lakes.
End place: Uyuni
Meals: B
Day 9: Salt Flats/Potosí
Travel north to visit one of the highest cities in the world. On arrival spot the looming mountain of Cerro Rico, a working silver mine.
Meals: B
Day 10: Potosí
Get out and explore Potosí and wander through the streets of the city.
Meals: B
Day 11: Potosí/Sucre
Travel north to Sucre. Tackle the city as there is a lot to offer during our two days here. Optional activities include a visit to an old tin baron’s mansion and a textile cooperative, mountain biking, and hiking.
Travel north to the beautiful colonial city of Sucre.
End place: Sucre
Meals: B
Day 12: Sucre
Start place: Sucre
Free time to explore the beautiful colonial city of Sucre. For more active options opt to go hiking in the surrounding area or mountain biking.
End place: Sucre
Meals: B
Day 13: Sucre/La Paz
Start place: Sucre
Enjoy a free day in Sucre before an overnight bus to La Paz.
End place: La Paz
Meals: B
Day 14: La Paz
Start place: La Paz
Wake up from the overnight bus ride, get settled, and have the day to check out the city of La Paz.
Optional activities in La Paz include a pre booked Death Road biking adventure, museum visits, a tour of the Valley of the Moon, or a visit to the world’s highest ski resort, Chacaltaya (5600m/18,368 ft).
Optional activities in La Paz include a pre booked Death Road biking adventure, museum visits, a tour of the Valley of the Moon, or a visit to the world’s highest ski resort, Chacaltaya (5600m/18,368 ft).
Enjoy free time to explore the markets and winding streets of this high altitude city.
End place: La Paz
Day 15: La Paz
Start place: La Paz
Depart at any time.
End place: La Paz
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Salta Your Discover Moment: San Pedro de Atacama Your Discover Moment: Sucre
- 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni (3 days)
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Plane, Bus, 4x4 truck -
Accommodation
Simple hotels (twin-share) (10 nts), Hostels (multi-share) (1 nt), Overnight bus (1 nt), G Adventures-supported community lodge/basic hotels on the Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share)