Revealed Travel Bolivia Newsletter April 2018 Uyuni Salt Flats Revealing Bolivia Bolivia is a destination for the truly adventurous traveller keen to get off the beaten track and experience unexpected adventures in remote places. With spectacular Andean peaks, the islands of Lake Titicaca, the pre-Inca Tiahanaco ruins, unblemished rainforest, quirky markets, colonial towns, indigenous peoples, remote villages, traditional festivals, breath-taking landscapes and the extensive salt flats, a journey to Bolivia is full of surprises. Much of the country is at high altitude and the distances are large so overland travel involves long journeys by local buses and trains or taking flights on the domestic network. In general terms the standard of accommodation is rather lower than you will find in other South American countries but that said, Bolivia is an immensely rewarding country to visit. Bolivia is often combined with Peru and Chile in a journey including Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and La Paz before travelling across the Salt Flats to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. We also regularly combine Bolivia with Argentina and Brazil. These pages aim to provide you with practical information to help you plan your trip. Getting there There are no direct flights from the UK to Bolivia. There are flights via Sao Paolo (Brazil) to Santa Cruz with LATAM or via Miami or New York to La Paz or Santa Cruz with American Airlines. Avianca flies via Bogota. Air Europa has flights via Madrid to Santa Cruz. There are other routes which will include a change in Buenos Aires (Argentina). If you are planning an overland journey you can fly into one city and back from another. Domestic Flights There is a good network of flights within Bolivia and locally across South America. We will advise you on routes and airpasses. Time Difference: Bolivia is 4 hours behind GMT. 01932 424252 www.boliviarevealed.co.uk www.southamericarevealed.co.uk part of the Revealed Travel group owned by Mercator Enterprises Ltd
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Revealed Travel
Bolivia Newsletter April 2018
Uyuni Salt Flats
Revealing Bolivia Bolivia is a destination for the truly adventurous traveller keen to get off the beaten track and experience unexpected adventures in remote places. With spectacular Andean peaks, the islands of Lake Titicaca, the pre-Inca Tiahanaco ruins, unblemished rainforest, quirky markets, colonial towns, indigenous peoples, remote villages, traditional festivals, breath-taking landscapes and the extensive salt flats, a journey to Bolivia is full of surprises. Much of the country is at high altitude and the distances are large so overland travel involves long journeys by local buses and trains or taking flights on the domestic network. In general terms the standard of accommodation is rather lower than you will find in other South American countries but that said, Bolivia is an immensely rewarding country to visit. Bolivia is often combined with Peru and Chile in a journey including Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and La Paz before travelling across the Salt Flats to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. We also regularly combine Bolivia with Argentina and Brazil. These pages aim to provide you with practical information to help you plan your trip.
Getting there There are no direct flights from the UK to Bolivia. There are flights via Sao Paolo (Brazil) to Santa Cruz with LATAM or via Miami or New York to La Paz or Santa Cruz with American Airlines. Avianca flies via Bogota. Air Europa has flights via Madrid to Santa Cruz. There are other routes which will include a change in Buenos Aires (Argentina). If you are planning an overland journey you can fly into one city and back from another. Domestic Flights There is a good network of flights within Bolivia and locally across South America. We will advise you on routes and airpasses. Time Difference: Bolivia is 4 hours behind GMT.
La Paz Nestling in a valley high up in the Andes, the first glimpse of the city as you arrive from the altiplano is an extraordinary sight. A regular tour will take in a visit to the extraordinary landscapes of Moon Valley and a trip on the cable car to provide spectacular views of the city but for an altogether different experience we will arrange a tour with a former shoe-shine boy to give you a greater insight into the city.
Suggested Itinerary:
Days 1-2: Santa Cruz Days 3-4: Sucre Days 5-6: Potosi & the Silver Mine Days 7-10: Uyuni & the Salt Flats Days 11-12: La Paz Days 13-15: Amazon Jungle Day 16: La Paz
Please contact us to discuss extensions to Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, the Atacama desert and beyond.
Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca We recommend staying on the Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca for a couple of nights but it does get busy with day trippers from Puno (Peru) or from La Paz. In Inca legend this is where Manco Capac, the founder of the dynasty, was created by the great deity, Viracocha. The island measures just 5½ miles by 4 and a walk from north to south is very rewarding.
Seasons and Climate: The wet season in Bolivia is November to March. The driest months are June – September but temperatures drop dramatically at night in the South American winter particularly at altitude. The Oruro carnival takes place in the run up to Lent when early booking is essential.
Entry Requirements: British Nationals do not currently require a visa for entry to Bolivia. In general terms, travellers should make sure their passports are valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival into all South American countries.
Tiahuanaco The Tiahuanaco (or Tiwanaku) empire was one of the foremost pre-Inca civilisations which extended into present-day Peru and Chile. Bolivian research suggests that Tiahuanaco began as an agricultural village around 1580 BC and grew to become an important imperial centre before falling into decline in the 8th Century AD. Tiahuanaco can be easily visited in a half-day tour from La Paz.
The Amazon Madidi National Park covers a vast area of 1,895,750 hectares (7,319 sq miles) from the Andean peaks of the Cordillera Apolobamba to the tropical jungle of the Amazon basin. Rurrenabaque is the gateway to trips along the Beni and Tuichi rivers for a three or four night stay at a jungle lodge. Activities include bird-watching, jungle trails and river wildlife. Highly recommended.
Altitude: When travelling in the Andes you will be at fairly high altitude. If you have a heart condition or are very asthmatic you should check with your doctor. You should advise your travel insurers of any pre-existing medical condition.
El Alto (La Paz airport): 4058m La Paz: 3300-4000m Sucre: 2790m Potosi: 3977m Uyuni: 3670m
Hotels:
In general terms the standard of accommodation in Bolivia is lower than you will find in other South American countries. Our team of travel specialists will provide you with first-hand expertise and advice.
Uyuni Salt Flats The Uyuni Salt Flats cover an astonishing ten thousand square kilometres. Highlights of the region include the ‘Dali’ Desert, Reserva Eduardo Avaroa National Park where Laguna Colorada is home to over 30,000 flamingoes and Isla Incahuasi, a coral island covered in giant cacti, some of which are reputed to be hundreds of years old. We also arrange onward travel to the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz is one of the principal gateways into Bolivia; a busy, bustling metropolis, which retains its colonial roots in the centre. We recommend a climb up the cathedral’s bell tower for splendid views over the city. The Latin America Travel Association’s charitable wing, the LATA Foundation, supports a project to help street children here. https://www.latafoundation.org/projects/friends-of-alalay/
Vaccinations: It is advisable to check your immunizations for Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. If you have been to Africa within 3 months of arriving in Bolivia you may need to provide proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever. If you are travelling into the Amazon basin it is better to take precautions against malaria unless there are medical reasons for not doing so.
Sucre Originally founded as La Plata in 1538, the delightful city of Sucre is one of the oldest cities in the Americas and was renamed in 1825 after one of Simon Bolivar’s generals, Antonio Jose de Sucre, who was instrumental in the movement for independence from Spain and who later became president. The colonial centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sucre stands at an altitude of 2790m.
Ground Arrangements: We book airport-hotel transfers, city tours, excursions and internal flights, buses or trains according to your needs together with all hotels and ground arrangements. Costs: Prices will vary according to season of travel, the standard of accommodation and whether we are booking travel arrangements for you on a private basis or as part of a group tour. Please contact us to discuss your arrangements. Our Service: Advice and expertise for travellers to Latin America to create safe, reliable trouble-free tours combining quality of service with value for money.
Potosi The discovery of silver made this at one time the largest city in the Americas, described by the South American Handbook as “the source of great wealth for colonial Spain and of indescribable hardship for many Bolivians”. Learn more on a visit to the Cerro Rico mine. It takes about three hours to travel by road from Sucre up to Potosi which is at 3977m above sea level.
Group Tours Although we specialise in putting together tailor-made itineraries for independent travellers, we appreciate that some people prefer to travel in a group, accompanied by a Tour Leader throughout the entire trip. We offer a variety of such tours which include Bolivia, from short trips of up to 14 days to longer trips of 3 weeks or more. Group Tours are available at varying budgets and levels of comfort. Typical group size is 12-16 people.
Popular group tours include the following: Lima to La Paz (including Inca Trail to Machu Picchu): 15 days from £1649 excl.international flights. Comfort level: Basic, adventurous. South American Odyssey (Rio to Lima or vv, including Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco and Machu Picchu): 21 days from £4355 excl. international flights. Comfort level: Mid-range.
Andean Explorer (Lima to Santiago including Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Uyuni Salt Flats and the Atacama Desert): 17 days from £4561 excl. international flights. Comfort level: Mid-range.
Buenos Aires to Lima (including Mendoza, Santiago, Atacama Desert, Uyuni Salt Flats, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco and Machu Picchu):
21 days from £3239 excl. international flights. Comfort level: Mid-range.
Further Information and News
Revealed Travel Revealed Travel are dedicated to promoting travel to some of the world’s most exciting destinations and have a team of travel specialists who have considerable experience and know-how in putting together safe and reliable tailor-made itineraries for our passengers.
The Revealed Travel group is owned by Mercator Enterprises and includes South-East Asia Revealed, Central America Revealed, South America Revealed.
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Ecuador Prize Draw 2018 Many congratulations to Nicholas Welch, the winner of our recent prize draw to win a ten-day luxury adventure holiday to Ecuador. The Prize Draw was run in conjunction with British Airways/Iberia and Footprint Travel Guides. We are grateful to the Hotel Illa Experience, Napo Wildlife Centre and Tren Ecuador for their participation and support in the promotion.
Our thanks to all who entered. Keep an eye out for future offers, promotions and prize-draws.
www.ecuadorrevealed.co.uk
New Websites We have recently published new dedicated websites for the following destinations:
