Trip Region: South America
Country(ies): Bolivia
Partners Trek? No
Cost: $1928
Airfare Estimate: $1000
Structure: 3   •   Lodging: 3   •   Nightlife: 2   •   Activity: 2

Do you like motor boating? As a child, were you frustrated by the training wheels on your bike? Are you excited by the prospect of taking the best jumping pic ever? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the trek for you! Come join some 3rd-year Erbers (brimming with musky wisdom) on an epic journey through one of South America’s best kept secrets. Get ready to get your adrenaline fix biking down (down being the operative word) the world’s most dangerous road, snap some epic photos on the stunning salt flats, kick it with the likes of flamingos, parrots, and spider monkeys. See Copacabana (the Bolivian one, not the Brazilian one) and La Paz. The trip will culminate in a visit to the famed Lake Titicaca, which was funny in third grade, and is even funnier now. Just think how many likes you’ll get on Facebook. There will be something for everybody. We’ll rage, we’ll relax, and we’ll make friends and memories for a life time!

Day 1 — Sunday, Aug 21

Leave Detroit and fly to La Paz. Our Bolivian adventure has begun!

Day 2 — Monday, Aug 22

Downhill mountain biking in Coroico on the "World’s Most Dangerous Road." We will weave our way down hair-raising turns with steep, 1000 meter drops to one side. This 60 km. long, adrenaline-packed adventure brings us down to 1700 meters above sea level, passing through mountain grasslands, grazing llamas, alpacas and dramatic cliffs. At the end of the journey, we will pack up our equipment and head back to La Paz.

Day 3 — Tuesday, Aug 23

Fly to Uyuni. Visit the great Salt Flats and on the way pass by the town of Cochani where we will visit the local artisan plant where the salt is processed and learn how salt is B2extracted from the Flats. Then we will proceed to the Incahuasi Island, also known as Fish Island, where one can observe the "giant cactus" and have lunch on the Salt Flats. Then we will visit the 800 year old mummies of Coquesa and continue on to the town of San Juan where we will stay overnight.

Day 4 — Wednesday, Aug 24

Today we will travel south to visit the Cache lagoons, Hedionda, Chiarkhota and Honda, and then continue on to the Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) and side trips around the lagoon to see the famous james flamingoes, a species unique to the Andean region. We will see the Borax sediments commonly known as “The Perennial Ice” and the Sol de Mañana Geysers, and will also visit the Chalviri Lagoon and the Polques thermal waters. The tour continues down to the Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) before heading north to the town of Villamar.

Day 5 — Thursday, Aug 25

Visit the Rock Art site and the town of Tomas Lakjas. Return to the city of Uyuni visiting along the way the Valley of the Rocks and the towns of Culpina K and San Cristobal.

Day 6 — Friday, Aug 26

Return to La Paz for a “choose your own adventure” type day of urban zip lining, museum exploring, or sight seeing.

Day 7 — Saturday, Aug 27

Travel from La Paz to Copacabana. The tour starts in the city of La Paz at 3640 meters above the sea level, and continues along the enormous high plateau all the way to the Titicaca Lake located at 3810 meters above the sea level. We will cross the strait of Tiquina which is the narrowest part of the entire lake, dividing the lake in two: the small section known as Wiñaymarka and the large section known as Chucuito. Continue the trip by the side of agriculture terraces built during the Chiripa, Tiwanaku and Inca civilizations. Arrival at Copacabana and accommodation at Hotel Rosario Lago Titicaca.

Day 8 — Sunday, Aug 28

We will take a motor boat towards the southern part of the Sun Island and visit the Pilkocaina Temple, hike up to the Yumani community to see the village, the Fountain and the Inca Staircase. We'll take the boat back to Copacabana and transfer to Mountain cerruni where we will paraglide for an hour, then take a short visit to the renaissance style church where you will find the Patron Virgin Mary of Bolivia, the handicraft shops and the local product market.T

Day 9 — Monday, Aug 29

Morning hike to ancient Incan astronomy observation site. Return to La Paz for a final night of raging.

Day 10 — Tuesday, Aug 30

Fly from La Paz to Detroit. Time to get some shut-eye before classes start!