From Buenos Aires to La Paz via Uyuni -16 Days

Arrival in Buenos Aires. Private transfer from the airport and check-in at your accommodation.

Breakfast, and then at 09:00, it's time for the City Tour. Discover the beauty and wonders of Buenos Aires, see the National Congress, The Metropolitan Cathedral next to the Government House in May Square area. Visit the Colon Theater, one of the most important opera houses in Latin America and San Telmo, traditional neighborhood where Tango performances can be seen in many bars and restaurants. Stop at La Boca colorful neighborhood, which was seat of immigrants - mainly Italians - and now home of some artists. Enjoy Palermo, an area that combines its architecture and history with entertainment and amusement in its green spaces. Finally, La Recoleta, an exclusive and elegant neighborhood where the famous cemetery is found.

Alternative at no extra cost: Buenos Aires Bike Tour. If you want a more active tour to discover the corners of Buenos Aires with a small group and pedal your way along the city streets, the bike tour is your choice.

The afternoon is free for you to explore.

Breakfast. The daytime is free for you to explore. In the late evening, there is Madero Tango Show and Dinner. In the very heart of Buenos Aires, this refurbished historic "conventillo" is a classic building of the porteño culture. A Tango Show is a trip to older times. Professional artists will show you their best art, singing songs and dancing typical pieces, shared with the best tango orchestras. The show consists of several parts in which you can appreciate 2 tango orchestras, a folkloric group, dancers and singers. Dinner and drinks (national label wine varietals or champagne FREE. Water, soda and beer FREE) are included.

Breakfast and check out. In the evening, find your own way to Retiro Bus Station to take the Night Bus to Salta.

Arrival in Salta. Transfer to your accommodation and check-in. Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city or to relax after the bus trip.

Breakfast and free day to relax, walk around this beautiful colonial city and try to go to a “peña” at night. There are many available optional day trips.

Cafayate and Villages Day Tour
We are leaving from Salta to the South, taking the route 68, passing through little towns like Cerrillos, La Merced, El Carril, Cnel. Moldes, La Viña (agricultural area which main production is tobacco). We are visiting the village of Alemanía, and from there we are entering to Cafayate Gorge, where we´ll see in the mountains the erosion of millions of years, created by wind and water (Devil´s Throat, Amphitheater, The Monk, The Castles, Parrot´s House, The Windows and The Toad). After visiting these places, we are arriving to the town of Cafayate to visit a winery and to taste the specialty of the region, torrontés wine. After walking through the town, we are coming back to Salta through the same gorge, which will offer us a different landscape in our way back to the city.

Departure time: 07:30-07:50 (there can be variations depending on location of accommodation)
Duration: 10 hours
Frequency: Daily departures. Blackout 25 dec and 1 jan.
Transport: Mini-Bus (19 or 24 pax)

01:00 or 07:00 Salta to San Pedro de Atacama bus, depending on day or time of the year. Arrival in the morning or in the evening. Find your own way to your accommodation at San Pedro Backpackers.

Geysers del Tatio Excursion:
You will be picked up at the hostel between 04:30 - 05:00 depending on season to be able to admire the driest and highest desert in the world. The road will take you between hills and mountains of the tough Andes range until you reach the geothermal site of the Geysers, 1 hour and a half after departure. There you will be able to admire the out of this world Geysers, fumaroles and steaming craters that show the volcanic activity of the region. The Geysers reserve is located at 89 km from San Pedro and 4.230 meters above sea level. So temperature is low in summer (-6 degrees Celcius) and even colder in winter (July-August) (-20 degrees Celcius). It is very important to take warm clothes and plenty of water to help your body adapt to such a high altitude. Breakfast is offered viewing the geothermic field and on the way back there is a short stop at Machuca Village. Back to San Pedro hostel at about mid day.

Free day to relax or taking optional tours like Moon Valley or Altiplanic Lagoons.

San Pedro - Uyuni Overland 1st day
06:30 - 07:00 pick up at your accommodation for the beginning of the San Pedro to Uyuni Overland. There is a stop at the border to go through Chilean immigration before departing San Pedro. After a short but nice ride the minibus reaches Hito Cajon, the border with Bolivia and in the foothills of the Licancabur Volcano. There you will change to the Jeep 4WD you are going to use until the end of the overland and have breakfast meeting your driver and other staff. They almost don´t speak English and even their Spanish is basic but are normally very friendly and helpful. This is the beginning of the real adventure. The vehicle will ride along deserted landscapes, climbing higher and higher without even noticing it is happening. You will see lagoons with plenty of wild life (Red and White lagoons), huge white topped mountains and volcanoes, and altiplanic plains while you talk to your companions and learn about their travels. Lunch is provided at a place of hot springs and after that, the second part of the day takes you to the Sol de Mañana Geysers and finally to Laguna Colorada, where more than 30.000 flamingoes nest every year. The night will be spent at Huaylajara or Villamar at a family or communal hostel. Basic but clean and enough to sleep and eat to be ready for next day! Attention, this 1st day you will reach 4.500 meters above sea level, so take into account the many tips to avoid “soroche”.

San Pedro - Uyuni Overland 2nd day
Breakfast, a bit relax before everyone is ready and off you go to learn a bit more about life in the Altiplano. The second day, the road is less dramatic and lonely and you will see more signs of civilization. You will visit the Siloli desert where the wind and sun and a bit rain carved strange volcanic rock formations. By lunch time you will be at Laguna Escondida (Hidden Lagoon, also called Laguna Negra) and in the afternoon you will see the canyon of river Anaconda. In the evening, arrival at Salt Hotel in the shores of the Uyuni Salt Flat for a comforting 2nd night in the desert.

San Pedro - Uyuni 3rd day (Salt Flat) - La Paz:
04:00 or 05:00 departure to cross the biggest and highest salt flat in the world. If weather helps, you will be able to see the sunrise in the middle of the salt flat, one of the most beautiful experiences the Altiplano has to offer…and being at the salt flat is already breathtaking! Breakfast in the salt flat.

The driver has to drive slowly and you will have plenty of time to relax, enjoy and be amazed by an “out if this world” landscape. You will never forget this day.

At midday there is a stop to have lunch at a sat hotel and restaurant in close to Colchani village, the gate way to the flats. So after lunch you will go out and arrive to Uyuni at about 13:00 or 14:00. You will have time to relax, grab a coffee, eat something, charge your mobile devices and connect with your friends and family to tell them about your adventures. At 20:00, take cama bus to La Paz!

Arrival to La Paz Bus Station, find your onw way to your accommodation. Free day to explore this high city.

At 08:00, Tiwanaku Day Trip
After 1 hour and a half ride you will reach this pre Columbian ruins, surrounded by beautiful nature. The ancient city and culture of Tiwanacu is supposed to be one of the most important in the American continent. It is believed that they were even more advanced in pottery, astronomy and math than the neighboring Incas. If you are traveling further north you will see Tiwanacu influence in the archaeological sites of Peru. After a visit to the uncovered ruins (there is a lot that is being uncovered but is not open to the public), the tour returns to La Paz and will leave you at you hostel or hotel at about 4 pm. You will be amazed to learn how this ancient people used to leave and what they believed, so different from us nowadays.

Check out. End of services

Buenos Aires arrival transfer
15 nights' accommodation with breakfast
Buenos Aires city tour OR Buenos Aires bike tour
Tango Show with Dinner, Drinks and transfers
Bus from Buenos Aires to Salta
Cafayate Full Day Excursion
Bus from Salta to San Pedro
Geisers del Tatio Excursion (04:30 to 12:30)
San Pedro to Uyuni Overland including:
- 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- Transportation in shared Jeep 4WD (from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni)
- Spanish speaking guide/driver
PM Bus from Uyuni to La Paz
Tiwanaku Ruins day trip, departure 08:00-8:30 and back at about 16:00