Bolivia
October 31 – November 16, 2017
This image and cover © Jonathan Rossouw
Expedition O ver view
“Dizzying” is an apt adjective for Bolivia, and not merely because of
the light-headed feeling one gets touching down in 12,000-foot-high
La Paz. To explore this country is to encounter wildly diverse and
dramatic landscapes and cultures: from the stark Andean Altiplano,
to the wildlife-rich lowlands of the Amazon river basin; from Titicaca,
the continent’s largest lake, to the earth’s largest salt flats in Uyuni.
© Jonathan Rossouw
From the thriving indigenous community in Tarabuco, to the harsh
existence of silver miners in Potosi. Join Apex on this 17-day journey,
and experience the dizzying variety of people, wildlife and historic
sites on offer in this, the geographic heart of South America.
Photos: Totora Boat Building on
Lake Titicaca (Cover), Valley of the
Moon, Llama
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© Jonathan Rossouw
Itinerar y
Tuesday, October 31: Arrive in La Paz, Bolivia
Arrive in Bolivia’s de facto capital late at night, and transfer to your comfortable
hotel in the upmarket, lower altitude, and considerably more oxygen rich, Calacoto
neighborhood. Overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
Wednesday, November 1: La Paz
© Jonathan Rossouw
Take the day to acclimate to the city’s 12,000-foot elevation. Independently explore
the city’s alleys and lively markets, grand colonial plazas and museums if you are
feeling energetic. Enjoy lunch and dinner at the hotel with a briefing by your
expedition leader this evening. Overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
Thursday, November 2: La Paz – Tiwanaku / Valley of the Moon
© Jonathan Rossouw
This morning, take a short drive to the southeastern shore of Lake Titicaca,
where the ruins of the once-epic city of Tiwanaku stand. Several carved monoliths,
archways and arcades, as well as pottery and tools in the site’s museum, are
windows into the pre-Inca civilization that inhabited Tiwanaku, thought to have
been constructed around 700 AD. After lunch, head just outside La Paz for a stroll
around the cactus-covered badlands of the Valley of the Moon. Peruse the Alpaca
knitwear and local jewelry in Obrajes, Calacoto and La Florida on your way back.
Return to La Paz for dinner and overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
Friday, November 3: La Paz / Rurrenabaque / Madidi National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Rurrenabaque.
From there, travel by boat up the Beni and Tuíchi Rivers to the indigenously-owned
Chalalan Ecolodge, located within the vast Madidi National Park. En route, watch
for wild macaws, Capybaras and a plethora of waterbirds. Enjoy a late lunch at the
lodge followed by an initial exploration of the palm-fringed Chalalan lagoon. Bolivian
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Photos: Colchani Salt Mounds,
Aymara Women, Tiwanaku Monolith
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© Jonathan Rossouw
Squirrel, Large-headed Capuchin and Bolivian Red Howler Monkeys are all present
around the lagoon, as is a healthy population of the bizarre, leaf-eating birds known
as Hoatzins. After dinner, light out on a night hike to look for insects, tarantulas,
amphibians, and nocturnal birds. Overnight at Chalalan Ecolodge.
Saturday & Sunday, November 4 & 5: Madidi National Park
The 7,300 square-mile Madidi is a biodiversity hotspot, boasting one of the highest
number of bird species on the planet and an incredible 1,300 known vertebrates.
Ranging in altitude from 600 to 20,000 feet, its topography is vast and varied,
including snow-capped peaks, cloud forests and tropical jungles. For two full days,
enjoy guided treks and canoe trips, while looking for sloths, the recently discovered
Madidi Titi Monkey, and the herds of White-lipped Peccaries for which the area is
famous. Learn about the magnificent variety of flora and medicinal plants in the
area. Enjoy the cacophony of birdsong from parakeets, parrots, toucans,
woodpeckers and over 300 other species around the lodge. On the last evening,
indulge in a traditional “dunucuabi” catfish dinner, followed by music and dance
from the local San José de Uchupiamonas community.
Monday, November 6: Madidi / Rurrenaubaque / La Paz
© Jonathan Rossouw
Bid farewell to the upper Amazon basin as you cruise down the Tuíchi and Beni
Rivers back to Rurrenabaque. Enjoy lunch in town, followed by a flight back to
La Paz. Dinner and overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
Tuesday, November 7: La Paz / Colchani / Uyuni Salt Flats
© Jonathan Rossouw
After breakfast, fly to Uyuni in southwest Bolivia. Travel in a 4x4 to the village of
Colchani to appreciate the unique processing of salt, before continuing across the
4,000-square-mile shimmering white expanse of the world’s largest salt flat. Notice
the Ojos del Salar, holes where underground water bubbles up, and the seemingly
endless mosaic on the surface of the flats. Ascend the foot of 17,500-foot Tunupa
Volcano for phenomenal panoramic views over the saltpan, and visit remote
Coquesa to see well-preserved ancient mummies, the picturesque village of
Chantani, and the pre-Columbian ruins of Pukara in Ayque. Make sure to be well
positioned to watch the sun set over the white desert. Dinner & overnight at the
Hotel Luna Salada, made of salt blocks.
Wednesday, November 8: Uyuni Salt Flats
Take a full day to explore the Uyuni Salt Flats, making sure to see Galaxy Cave,
where bone-like rock formations dangle from the walls and ceiling. Nearby Devil’s
Cave is a sacred burial ground, and human remains are visible within. Visit Incahuasi
Island, with its giant cacti and spire-like rocks made of petrified coral, watching for
the attractive rabbit-like Andean Vizcachas that call the island home. Incahuasi is
the top of an ancient volcano that was submerged when the whole area was a lake,
roughly 40,000 years ago. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Luna Salada.
After breakfast, set off on an overland drive to Potosi, the world’s highest major
city at 13,420 feet, and the silver capital of colonial South America. Stop at the
virtual ghost town of Pulacayo outside Uyuni, once the site of the largest silver
mine in Bolivia and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the defunct mine
and its network of tunnels. See a nearby collection of decaying steam locomotives,
including the train that was robbed by legendary bandit Butch Cassidy, which
bears the bullet holes from the attack. Arrive in Potosi, at the foot of the Cerro Rico,
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© Jonathan Rossouw
Thursday, November 9: Uyuni Salt Flats / Potosi
Photos: Madidi National Park,
Madidi Titi Monkey, Uyuni Salt Flats,
Incahuasi Island
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a hulking, red mountain once thought to be made of silver. Dinner in town and
overnight at Coloso Potosi Hotel.
Friday, November 10: Potosi
© Jonathan Rossouw
Potosi was the largest supplier of silver for Spain during its conquest of the New
World. Mining is still the major industry, with over half of its mainly Aymara-speaking
inhabitants employed in one of the cooperative mines on Cerro Rico. This morning,
tour a working mine to see the conditions and systems inside the mountain after
500 years of mining. The trade has not changed much over the years, and seeing
the mine today gives a sense of how it was in the 15th century. After lunch, tour
Potosi, a stunning colonial jewel, with ornate edifices constructed in a fascinating
“Andean Baroque” style that incorporates Amerindian influences. Dinner in town
and overnight at Coloso Potosi Hotel.
Saturday, November 11: Potosi / Sucre
© Jonathan Rossouw
A scenic drive brings you to Sucre, arguably the most beautiful city in Bolivia, and
its constitutional capital. Nestled in a semi-arid inter-Andean valley, Sucre enjoys
a milder climate than the high Altiplano, and its whitewashed colonial buildings
are remarkably well preserved. Enjoy lunch in town before embarking on an
exploration of the city’s historic buildings. Visit the House of Freedom, where the
Bolivian declaration of independence was signed in 1825, and the Museum of the
Treasure, housed in one of the oldest homes in Sucre and containing a beautiful
display of Bolivian precious and semiprecious stones. Look down upon the city
from the Convent of San Felipe de Nery. Stroll through French-influenced Bolivar
Park, before dinner and overnight at Hotel Parador Santa Maria La Real, located
in a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion.
Sunday, November 12: Sucre – Tarabuco
© Jonathan Rossouw
Numerous villages dot the hills around Sucre, and the best preserved of these is
Tarabuco. Today, visit Tarabuco’s world famous Sunday Market, to experience
first-hand the fabrics for which the local Yampara people are known. Strolling
through the market is not only a great opportunity to shop for tapestries, bags
and shawls, but also to witness the Yampara people in their beautiful, traditional
monteras (leather helmets), multicolored, hand-woven ponchos and chuspas
(bags for carrying coca leaves and money). Afterwards, visit the community of
Jatun Yampara and enjoy a typical indigenous lunch, demonstration of weaving,
consultation with the local shaman and the opportunity to buy textiles directly
from the community. Return to Sucre for dinner and overnight at Hotel Parador
Santa Maria La Real.
A morning flight back to La Paz allows you the opportunity to explore the famous
city built on the edge of the Altiplano, in the shadow of Volcan Illiniza. Visit the
magnificent San Francisco Colonial Church and Plaza Murillo, where the Cathedral,
Government Palace and National Congress buildings are located. An afternoon
cable car ride offers incredible views over the city, as you fly between La Paz and
El Alto. Walk the famous colonial Jaen Street, then peruse the famous Mercado de
Brujas or Witch Doctor’s Market, where various parts of frogs and insects used in
rituals are on display. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a show of folkloric music and
dance from around the country. Overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
© Jonathan Rossouw
Monday, November 13: Sucre / La Paz
Photos: Pulacayo, Potosi Mine,
Tarabuco Flowerseller, Witch
Doctor’s Market
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Tuesday, November 14: La Paz / Lake Titicaca
Rise early today and head to Copacabana, on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca,
the sacred lake of the Incas. Board a catamaran and sail to Isla del Sol, the
legendary birthplace of Inca civilization. This is the lake’s largest island, and home
to over 180 pre-Inca and Inca ruins. Visit Challapampa, one of the larger villages
on the island, and allow local guides to take you through the Gold Museum,
displaying Inca relics that have been found in the lake. Visit the chapel, school, and
a typical indigenous house. Trek along trails paved in Inca style. At day’s end, watch
an authentic Kallawaya Andean ceremony, then return to the catamaran for dinner
and overnight onboard.
Wednesday, November 15: Lake Titicaca / La Paz
Thursday, November 16: Depart La Paz
Photos: Totora vessel on Lake
Titicaca, Dance Performance
© Jonathan Rossouw
Rise early and transfer to the airport for your international flights home.
© Jonathan Rossouw
This morning, sail to the southern end of the island and explore the ruins of Pilko
Kaina Palace. Continue to the Inti Wata Cultural Complex to see pre-Inca agricultural
terraces and native high-plateau plants and animals, including Llamas, Alpacas and
Guanacos. Walk along the Inca steps to the Fountain of the Inca, once suspected to
be the Fountain of Youth by the Spanish. Sail aboard a totora vessel, a traditional
reed raft, and experience primitive Titicaca navigation. Return to Copacabana and
travel back to La Paz for a farewell dinner. Overnight at Casa Grande Hotel.
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Expedition Map - Bolivia
A – L a Paz
D – Potosi
B – Madidi National Park
E – Sucre
C – Uy uni Salt Flat s
F – L ake T iticaca
B y A ir
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B y Boat
B y Road
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Your Expedition Leader
Kevin Clement
Not many people can say they have lived inside Denali National Park,
but Kevin Clement is one. Nowadays, however, he spends most of his
time guiding ecotourism and adventure travel trips on all seven
continents. Kevin has served as the Denali Foundation instructor for
natural history and as a trainer for the Park’s staff of naturalists. For
several years he worked with the sled dogs of Denali National Park,
rebuilding sleds in the summer and patrolling in the winter. He has lived
in several other national parks and has guided groups in whitewater
rafts, on cross-country skis, by sled dog, and on foot, earning
certifications in scuba diving, swiftwater rescue, and wilderness
medicine, as well as a Coast Guard Master’s license.
“Kevin is the consummate
Renaissance Man, possessing a
poetic and artistic take on the
world that adds a fascinating
dimension to his interpretation
as you explore alongside him.”
Recently, Kevin has been coordinating and leading kayaking excursions
in South Georgia, Antarctica and the Arctic. Kevin is also a veteran of
South America. And, as always, he still draws and paints. His first career
was as an illustrator and he never travels without his sketchbook. Or his
sense of humor.
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– Judy M., Hawaii
Expedition Details
Bolivia
October 31 – November 16, 2017
$12,970 Per Person Rate
$13,950 Solo Rate
17 Days Trip Length
15 Guests Group Size
La Paz / La Paz Start/End
Included
Apex Expeditions’ rates include all accommodations; all meals, activities and excursions as described in the itinerary;
air La Paz/Rurrenabaque/La Paz, La Paz/Uyuni and Sucre/La Paz, as noted in the itinerary; all gratuities, services of an
Apex Expeditions leader and local guides throughout the itinerary; local beer and wines at lunch and dinner; airport
transfers; permits and entrance fees; all taxes.
Not Included
Costs not included in the price of your Apex expedition include travel to and from the start and end point of trip;
premium brand drinks and liquor; travel insurance (Trip Cancellation and Interruption, as well as Emergency Medical
and Evacuation insurance, are highly recommended); airport departure taxes; excess baggage fees; passport and/or
visa fees; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.); and travel arrangements pre- or post-trip.
Payments & Terms
20% of the trip cost will confirm your place on the expedition. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure.
All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars. Per person pricing is based on double occupancy.
The solo rate is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations and is subject to availability.
If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same
gender. However, if a roommate is not available, the published solo rate will be charged. Upon confirming your
reservation you will be required to pay the published Solo Rate, if we are able to pair you with a roommate, the
applicable difference will be refunded at the time that the final trip payment is due for all participants. Please note that
solo accommodations are limited and cannot always be guaranteed throughout. For our full set of Terms & Conditions,
One-of-a-kind adventures to the world’s most
fascinating places. Join us.
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Hoatzin © Jonathan Rossouw
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Reser vation Form
Bolivia
October 31 – November 16, 2017
Person 1: (Primary Contact)
Passport Name: Preferred Name: Date of Birth: Email Address:
Mailing Details:
Address: City: State: ZIP Code: Country: Phone: Fax: Double
Solo
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Charge my deposit to my:
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E-mail: [email protected] or Mail: 4130 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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