1 Week in Bolivia - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Bolivia 

Get a taste of Bolivia's vibrant cities and striking natural attractions on this weeklong itinerary that takes you to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Potosí, the famous Uyuni Salt Flats, Tunupa Volcano, and La Paz.  

Welcome to Bolivia! Start the trip in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where you'll enjoy a guided city tour. Then move on to Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Highlights here include the La Casa de la Libertad, where Bolivia's proclamation of independence from Spain was signed, and the Museum of Indigenous Art (ASUR). Day three continues in Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to the National House of the Mint (Casa Nacional de la Moneda), one of South America’s finest museums.

Explore the Uyuni Salt Flats the next day—you'll have ample time for photo ops—and walk around the otherworldly Incahuasi Island. Then go on a hiking adventure to Tunupa Volcano, passing colorful fields of quinoa and herds of llamas and alpacas along the way. Finish the trip in the high-altitude city of La Paz, visiting the unique Witches' Market and going for a cable car high above the metropolis, enjoying unforgettable views. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Explore La Paz & Lake Titicaca

You don't have to choose between the city and the great outdoors: this 7-day itinerary around Bolivia includes several days to explore the fascinating city of La Paz and time to enjoy beautiful Lake Titicaca, where you'll learn about llama herding on an island in the middle of the lake.

The adventure begins in La Paz. You'll do some standard sightseeing, then take some extra time to immerse yourself in the city's unique culinary scene on a guided food tour. Walk around El Alto, the epicenter of the Aymara community in Bolivia. Move on to Lake Titicaca on day three. You'll spend the next two days exploring the area, boating to the serene Island of the Moon in the middle of the lake. On the island, you'll dine with a local family, learn about llama herding, and try your hand at the locals' ancient reed-net fishing practice.

Return to La Paz at the end of day four. You'll spend some more time in the city in the second part of the trip, detouring to the ancient city of Tiwanaku—the center of an empire that flourished long before the Inca—to walk around the ruins. Head back to the city for one last Bolivian meal and some last-minute shopping before catching a flight out. As your plane climbs into the sky, look down to see the Amazon and Lake Titicaca in the distance. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Active Adventure in Bolivia

This outdoorsy week-long itinerary features three days of caving, hiking, and swimming in Bolivia's best national park, plus cultural sightseeing in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cochabamba, and La Paz.

Kick off the trip in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. You'll take a short flight to Cochabamba on day two, where you'll get to know the city on an architecture tour. Visit Portales Palace, with a design inspired by Vatican City, before heading into Torotoro National Park for several days. You'll go on an exciting caving excursion to Umajalanta Cavern, a long, deep cave with several waterfalls. Hike to the bottom of Torotoro Canyon to see dinosaur footprints and take a dip in a cool lagoon.

On your last full day in the national park, you'll hike down to El Vergel Canyon to enjoy lush greenery, diverse wildlife, and small waterfalls. Have lunch in Torotoro before returning to Cochabamba for the night. Transfer to La Paz and go on a guided tour of the city, visiting the famous Witches' Market and detouring away from the city center to see the impressive Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) with its bizarre, moon-like surface. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Discover Chile & Bolivia

Experience the majesty of the Atacama Desert and the snow-capped Andes on this awe-inspiring journey around Chile and Bolivia that includes a visit to the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats, the chance to see flamingos in the wild, and a dip in natural hot springs. 

Welcome to Chile! The itinerary starts with a couple of days in the Atacama Desert. You'll go hiking around the Valley of Moon, visit serene lagoons, see the Atacama Salt Flats, and watch the sun go down over the mountains from the Piedra del Coyote (Coyote Rock). Keep your eyes open for pink flamingos in the wild — they're easy to spot standing around the desert's lagoons. Cross into Bolivia on day three and witness the incredible natural display of the Sol de Mañana Geysers.

You'll spot more flamingos the next day as you drive past dramatic rock formations like the Arbol de Piedra (meaning "tree of stone"). You might also spot the vicuña, a cousin of the alpaca and llama, and the ñandu, an Andean ostrich. Enjoy views of the Ollague Volcano before heading to your overnight in the village of San Juan. You'll spend day five exploring the Salt Flats of Uyuni, then head to La Paz for a short visit before the trip ends. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Adventure in the Bolivian Amazon

Discover the vibrant wildlife and indigenous cultures of the Bolivian Amazon on this weeklong adventure that includes canoeing on jungle rivers, learning about tribal traditions, and hiking in the rainforest after dark.

Welcome to the Amazon! The journey starts in Rurrenabaque. Paddle down the Beni River on a canoe ride that takes you through the Bala Gorge on your way to the Pilón Lajas Indigenous Territory Park and Biosphere Reserve. Overnight in the jungle village of Asunción del Quiquibey, where you'll have the chance to learn about the daily lives of the Mosetén and Tsimané tribes. You'll also visit Mapajo, a community-run ecotourism project, and learn about medicinal plants on a guided walk through the jungle.  

On the second half of the trip, you'll explore Madidi National Park, basing yourself at Madidi Jungle Ecolodge, which is wholly owned and run by indigenous people. You'll spot a wide variety of birds, monkeys, spiders, and frogs on a series of guided hikes and boat rides. Enjoy a riverside hike, wildlife viewing, and boat ride along the Tuichi River on the last full day of the trip. You'll also have time to try your hand at piranha fishing before you say farewell to the Amazon and head back to La Paz, where the trip ends. Learn more

More Great Bolivia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Bolivia? Check out these other Bolivia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.