Bolivia Classic Highlands Panorama
From La Paz to Isla del Sol, then via the White City and Silver City to Uyuni and the high-altitude lagoons
A complete north-to-south route for first-timers: first acclimatize to the altitude in La Paz, visit Tiwanaku and Lake Titicaca, then fly to Sucre to lower the altitude, travel overland via Potosí to Uyuni, join a 3-day off-road loop, and fly back. The pace is moderate, with long-distance segments replaced by flights to avoid the long-distance bus from La Paz to Sucre. Amazon and the Death Road are not included.
From January to April, the salt flats are flooded, and Isla Incahuasi may be inaccessible; from June to August, the lake area is extremely cold at night.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in La Paz and Acclimatize to Altitude
La Paz City（Mi Teleférico、El Prado (Avenida 16 de Julio)）
It takes about 40 minutes to take a taxi from the airport down to the city center. In the afternoon, take the cable car to view the city and walk to slow down the pace.
The altitude is about 3,600 meters. Avoid walking up steep slopes and do not drink alcohol on the first day.
Stay: Sopocachi
Day 2 · La Paz Old Town and Markets
La Paz City（Plaza Murillo、Calle Jaén、National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (MUSEF)、Witches' Market、Mirador Killi Killi）
Walk in the central area all day. Take the cable car or a taxi to and from Sopocachi, about 15 minutes one way.
Stay: Sopocachi
Day 3 · Tiwanaku Ruins Day Trip
Join a tour or charter a car to and from Tiwanaku, about 1.5 to 2 hours one way, and return to the city in the evening.
Stay: Sopocachi
Day 4 · Cross the Tiquina Strait to the Lakeside
Copacabana & Isla del Sol（Strait of Tiquina、Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana、Cerro Calvario）
Take the morning tourist bus to Copacabana, taking about 3 to 4 hours. Passengers and vehicles cross the Tiquina Strait on separate ferries.
You need to pay a small ferry fee yourself to cross the strait. Keep your valuables with you.
Stay: Copacabana Lakefront and Main Street
Day 5 · Ascend the Southern Isla del Sol and Stay Overnight
Copacabana & Isla del Sol（Isla del Sol、Pilko Kaina、Yumani & Inca Stairs）
Take a boat to Yumani in the morning, taking about 1.5 hours. After landing on the island, walk up the hill along the Inca Steps.
There are no ATMs on the island, so bring enough cash. Ask the day before if the northern part is open for transit.
Stay: Yumani (Southern Isla del Sol)
Day 6 · Return to Copacabana and Back to La Paz
Copacabana & Isla del Sol（Copacabana Lakefront） → La Paz City
Take a boat back to Copacabana in the morning, taking about 1.5 hours. Take a bus back to La Paz in the afternoon, taking about 4 hours.
Stay: Sopocachi
Day 7 · Fly to Sucre and Stroll the White City
Sucre（Plaza 25 de Mayo、Casa de la Libertad、La Recoleta Viewpoint & Monastery）
Fly from La Paz to Sucre in the morning, taking about 50 minutes. Walk to explore the old town after traveling from the airport to the city.
Stay: Around Plaza 25 de Mayo
Day 8 · Dinosaur Footprints and Indigenous Textiles
Sucre（Parque Cretácico & Cal Orck'o、ASUR Museum of Indigenous Art、San Felipe Neri Convent）
Take the Dino Bus to and from Cretaceous Park in the morning, and walk around the old town in the afternoon.
If it is Sunday, you can go to the Tarabuco Market instead, which is about a 1.5-hour drive.
Stay: Around Plaza 25 de Mayo
Day 9 · Ascend to the Silver City of Potosí
Potosí City（Casa Nacional de Moneda、Plaza 10 de Noviembre、Potosí Cathedral）
Take a minibus or shared taxi from Sucre to Potosí, taking about 3 hours. Walk around the old town in the afternoon.
The altitude is about 4,000 meters. Guided tours are mandatory at the National Mint (Casa Nacional de la Moneda); pay attention to the tour schedule.
Stay: Central Plaza Old Town
Day 10 · Cerro Rico Mines and Convent
Potosí City（Cerro Rico Mine Tour、Convent of Santa Teresa、Church and Convent of San Francisco）
The travel agency will pick you up and drop you off at Cerro Rico in the morning, and you can walk around the old town in the afternoon.
The mine shafts are narrow and dusty. People with cardiopulmonary problems or claustrophobia should not enter.
Stay: Central Plaza Old Town
Day 11 · Potosí to Uyuni Town
Take a bus to Uyuni in the morning, taking about 4 to 5 hours. Confirm your off-road tour and supplies in the afternoon.
Withdraw enough cash in town beforehand, as there are no ATMs inside the reserve.
Stay: Uyuni Town
Day 12 · Traverse the Salt Flats and Climb Isla Incahuasi
Salar de Uyuni（Train Cemetery (Uyuni Railway Scrap Yard)、Colchani、Ojos del Salar、Isla Incahuasi）
The 4WD off-road tour starts at around 10:00. Drive across the salt flats all day and arrive at a salt hotel on the south bank in the evening.
The route will change during the flooding season, subject to the arrangements of the tour on the day of departure.
Stay: Salt hotels around Colchani
Day 13 · High-Altitude Lagoons to Laguna Colorada
Eduardo Avaroa Reserve (Laguna Colorada & Verde)（Laguna Cañapa、Laguna Hedionda、Laguna Honda、Árbol de Piedra、Laguna Colorada）
The off-road vehicle heads west from the south bank through the Siloli Desert, taking about 7 to 8 hours of driving for the whole day.
The shelters are basic with no heating. Bring your own sleeping bag and warm clothes.
Stay: Laguna Colorada shelters (around Villa Mar)
Day 14 · Geysers and Laguna Verde, Return to Uyuni
Eduardo Avaroa Reserve (Laguna Colorada & Verde)（Sol de Mañana Geysers、Polques Hot Springs (Termas de Polques)、Salvador Dalí Desert、Laguna Verde、Valle de las Rocas） → Salar de Uyuni
Depart at 5:00 AM to see the geysers, and return to Uyuni via Villamar in the afternoon, arriving at around 18:00.
This is the longest day of the trip, with altitudes reaching nearly 5,000 meters. Watch out for altitude sickness.
Stay: Uyuni Town
Day 15 · Fly Back to La Paz and End the Trip
Fly from Uyuni to La Paz, taking about 1 hour. Transfer to an international flight or stay in the city to rest.
Flights from Uyuni are scarce and subject to change. Leave a buffer of at least half a day for international flights.