Read our COVID 19 Travel Update
What's a group trip?
Join a small group of like-minded travellers on a guided trip.
What's a tailor made trip?
We put together a bespoke tour to fit your requirements.
Duration: 7
Capacity: 5 per person
Our expert guide will take you hiking into the heart of the Cordillera Apolobamba range, Apolobamba National Park and Madidi National Park.
This fully-supported walking holiday is well off-the-beaten-track in a relatively unexplored area.
The trails are suitable for active walkers looking for a remote, adventurous trek in Bolivia.
Bolivia’s trekking is superb and none more so than this trek.
It’s a relatively unexplored area, to the north of La Paz, and as well as being part of the largest protected reserve in Bolivia, is also home to native healers and great wildlife.
We hike through gold-rich valleys and over high mountain passes, with soaring snow-capped mountains all around.
Keep a look out for vicuña, condors, flamingoes and more, with every step.
This trek is demanding and requires that you are fit, acclimatised and used to camping and being in remote areas.
Apolobamba National Park
The word Apolobamba, originally Apullu Pampa (several plateaus), is the ancient name for the Ulla Ulla plains.
Nowadays, these plains constitute the Apolobamba National Park (Area Nacional de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba), the largest Vicuña reserve in Bolivia.
Ulla Ulla boasts a swelling population of 2,500 vicuñas and healthy numbers of black ibises, Chilean flamingos, Andean geese and viscachas. The wild vicuña herds can be observed at close range.
During the day, the vicuñas graze with the alpaca. Towards evening, when their domesticated brothers and sisters head home to their stone-wall corrals, the vicuñas head off to more isolated pastures.
Kallawaya Indians
The land here has been home to many different peoples through the centuries. Some still survive in the lower mountain valleys.
The Kallawaya Indians, who are the most well known, are the traditional healers of the area. Highly respected throughout South America (they journey as far as Patagonia and Panama), they are expert in the use of herbal medicine.
Their art is making diagnoses by ‘reading’ a llama’s entrails or scattered coca leaves. The Kallawayas also work as arrieros on the trek.
Madidi National Park
The park started as a very small area between the shores of the lower Tuichi River and the Madidi River. As a result of the success of the conservation and tourism development programs more land has been brought into the protected area.
Madidi Park adjoins the Ulla Ulla wild life reservation and together they form the largest protected land area in Bolivia.
Duration: 10
Starting in San Pedro in northern Chile, we explore the Atacama desert.
We have to spend a couple of days in San Pedro de Atacama taking it easy and letting ourselves get acclimatised to the high altitude.
Here we concentrate on capturing the wonderful colours of the desert at dawn and dusk as we acclimatise.
Heading to Bolivia
We head nextto the vast southern deserts of Bolivia in our four wheel drive vehicle to enjoy the starkly beautiful landscapes of this dramatic desert wilderness.
The immense Salar de Uyuni is a natural marvel of South America.
Deep blue skies, clear skies and and the brilliant white salt create a fantastic spectacle.
More about the safari
Bruce Percy is an internationally-travelled and published photographer.
He has visited and photographed South America many times and has the knowledge to help you make the most of this trip, which is limited to 8 people.
Anyone who has a passion for photography can join, as it is designed to allow everyone quality time at some fabulous locations, with accommodation, food and logistics all taken care of.
We use hotels built by and in the traditional style of the local Aymara communities, providing an income in this, one of the poorest parts of Bolivia.
Discover More Enquire about booking
Duration: 4
Most of the course takes place on a glacier at around 5,000m/16,404ft and is open to complete beginners.
Top level, professional guides show you how to plan and execute a successful climbing expedition.
We begin by taking a look at the hazards that snow covered mountains present.
Next, we teach you the skills and techniques necessary to help you climb and enjoy the mountains.
Skills covered
Prices From $2800 / £2240 per person
Dates: March 2021
Duration: 15
From La Paz we travel by bus and train across the altiplano to Uyuni, gateway to the Salar de Uyuni.
The next four days are spent on a four-wheel-drive expedition through this southern altiplano desert. We’ll visit vividly coloured lagoons, conical volcanoes, geysers and mudpools, hot springs and a unique flora and fauna.
Next, to Lake Titicaca and the lakeshore town of Copacabana and to the Island of the Sun, an island rich in history and tradition.
We explore the Island of the Moon, Inca ruins and experience the ancient culture of the locals.
Trekking in Bolivia
Our tour culminates in a four day trek through the heart of the Condoriri National Park in the Cordillera Real.
The trek has three high mountain passes, remote highland communities, herds of grazing llamas, awe-inspiring mountain scenery and soaring condors.
Prices From $2325 / £1860 per person
Dates: March 2018
Duration: 13
You start your trip in the city of Santa Cruz (or alternatively you can start in La Paz) then head to the beautiful colonial city of Sucre.
In Sucre you visit nearby indigenous markets, and can shop for stunning traditional weavings.
From Sucre we continue to the colonial mining city of Potosi with its fascinating yet harsh history.
Onwards next to enjoy and experience the vast Uyuni Salt Flats on a four wheel drive adventure among some of the world’s most incredible scenery.
The action continues as we visit the world’s highest capital, La Paz, admire its dramatic setting amidst snow-capped peaks and haggle at the colourful witches’ market.
We finish with a tour to the mystical Lake Titicaca, from where the Inca Empire is believed to have emerged.
If you choose you can extend your trip by a few days to relax in the hot springs of Sajama National Park, or head to the nearby Condoriri National Park for high altitude hiking.
For those looking for some off the beaten track adventures there’s Toro Toro National Park and well worth a visit for superb wildlife is the Bolivian Amazon.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in Touch
+44 (0)131 467 7086
+44 (0)131 554 6025
info@andeantrails.co.uk
We had a brilliant time , we loved it and managed all the mountain climbing! Our group was fantastic and also the guides . We celebrated our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays - they managed to arrange cakes for our birthdays and we had such great laughs with everybody.
Shirley & Colin Whittaker (UK), Mar 2020 » Salkantay Lodge Trek To Machu Picchu
Highlights - everything really but probably Isabela. The island was so beautiful, lots of areas to explore on your own - the walk to Muro de las Lagrimas, lagoons, beach, watching the pelicans diving for fish around sunset. Los Tuneles was probably our favourite snorkelling trip. Kicker Rock would be a close second, we have some fantastic footage of hammerheads. All the breakfasts were fresh and enjoyable as were the lunches provided on the trips - especially the ceviche on Los Tuneles tour. Andrea, our main contact was great always on time, very friendly, lots of useful information. Overall organisation was excellent - no problems. Thanks again Tom - it was worth the wait!!
Neil and Julie Buckley (U.K.), Jan 2020 » Galapagos Island Hopping
