Top 5 Altiplano Sightseeing Tours: Reviews & Recommendations
Planning a trip to the Altiplano, that expansive high plain located in South America? It’s almost certainly a remarkable destination. Selecting just the right sightseeing tour, that really can make all the difference. I’ve actually put together a list of what you might call the five top Altiplano sightseeing tours. The aim is that this really will help you discover just the incredible landscapes, and, of course, some deep cultural insights that, that this area has to offer. Getting the right tour can, just a bit, transform your trip from what you might term ordinary to simply extraordinary, truly!
1. Salar de Uyuni Three-Day Tour from Uyuni
So, if you’re after an excursion that will really blow your mind, well the three-day Salar de Uyuni tour from Uyuni in Bolivia tends to be super popular. Actually, these tours give you a pretty immersive look at, what they call, the world’s biggest salt flat. In addition to that? You are going to see very cool places. Things, like, the Incahuasi Island. The rather impressive island happens to be full of massive cacti. You may even get to explore the surreal landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve.
The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, more or less, gives you access to lots of other things. Like, the multi colored lakes such as Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde! Those lakes? Almost famous, really. The tour will, pretty much, start and finish in Uyuni. Also, the journey involves staying in some, somewhat, rustic accommodations. These things will be within the national reserve.
Be prepared, kind of, for variable weather. It goes with the terrain, really. At times? Very cold, more or less. The best part, arguably? Seeing the incredible starlit sky during the nights! That happens away from city lights. The vast nothingness stretching endlessly, in every single direction. You know, I am fairly sure that, you will discover just the magic of the Altiplano!
Pros: Seeing just the otherworldly beauty of the salt flats and lagoons, plus wildlife sightings are, basically, highlights. Cons: You need to be comfortable, sort of, with basic lodgings. Read our full review: Salar de Uyuni Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Salar de Uyuni Tour)
2. Lake Titicaca Tour (Puno, Peru Side)
Now, let’s look at something from the Peru side. Lake Titicaca has what many term, a unique appeal. A Lake Titicaca tour from Puno might very well allow you to explore the lake’s very deep cultural heritage and fantastic scenery. These tours? Typically, what happens, is, they visit the floating Uros Islands. The locals created them using totora reeds. Another place often visited? The Taquile Island. And Taquile is actually, just a bit, renowned for its textile art.
Many find Taquile’s textile art to be an amazing display of history. Just a glimpse at what its island population has faced! It’s all in the very careful colors. How those designs were handed from relative to relative. Lake Titicaca happens to be one of the highest navigable lakes around. Its waters? Quite clear. They mirror, kind of, the blue of the sky. You are able to take walks on each island! Very cool. So are the experiences with residents. And they sometimes may give an insider look at their daily existence.
You can, pretty much, often find overnight stays that could be with local families! It’s almost like getting to experience that way of living firsthand! That’s a big thing for visitors these days. People don’t only want some sightseeing, they might, instead, desire experiences. This is frequently just the biggest part of what helps many tourists consider whether their journey became worthy! These stays generally offer what they term the homestay experience! Getting just the chance of appreciating the traditional lifestyle and customs of the people who, sort of, inhabit these islands is almost sacred.
Pros: Very interesting cultural interactions. The rather scenic beauty, that’s what one may see at the world’s highest navigable lake. Cons: Might be a bit touristy! Read our full review: Lake Titicaca Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lake Titicaca Tour)
3. Colca Canyon Trek (From Arequipa, Peru)
Ok, so now consider the Colca Canyon, the famous area near Arequipa, Peru. Its magnificence rivals, almost, the US Grand Canyon. Those treks really are very popular among adventurous visitors! Quite unlike a desert flat? Here, it might involve several days spent what many would regard to be hiking down to the canyon floor! And the visitor could explore just the nearby villages. Tours may offer something amazing. The opportunity for appreciating condors gliding against picturesque scenery.
This adventure tends to be pretty tough! Expect higher elevations with some steep trails. That’s where things, seemingly, can get kind of serious. So then, anyone on this excursion should, typically, possess what I would call at least reasonable fitness. Some parts often go as deep as more than 3000 meters. As the person moves lower into what they refer to as the Colca, you see differences regarding flora. One finds plants, plus, often animals, that, I want to suggest, will differ when the area goes to a more heightened condition!
Don’t ignore bringing, in this case, equipment for keeping yourself guarded against all extremes associated with environmental conditions! Good shoes, more or less. Enough of the drinks to stay at a healthy water content amount! That helps with the change from, for example, warm to freezing situations! Many enjoy just that quiet feeling one finds from being amongst amazing vistas found, more or less, within a region which holds just the Andean residents’ custom and antiquity.
Pros: The pretty dramatic scenery, of course. Getting just the opportunity for spotting condors within their natural setting, definitely, has a good buzz to it. Cons: The walks? Actually a challenge. That could mean that those of lower physical endurance will want to try it, just maybe. Read our full review: Colca Canyon Trek Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Colca Canyon Trek)
4. La Paz City and Death Road Tour (Bolivia)
Here’s a really different suggestion, yet! How about La Paz? Very many adventures start from here, it feels like. Here, almost, most sightseers tend to love taking what, by general standards, tends to be very stimulating. That’s especially true of the city explorations coupled with some riding the Death Road!
La Paz tends to be Bolivia’s executive/administrative capital. So it can be, seemingly, found high up near Andean peaks. Now its inclines show colonial periods plus markets filled, more or less, with vibrancy! Consider something that gets you deeper into La Paz than by way of some sightseeing! Maybe you would use public transits or travel atop what might seem like aerial cables. Maybe also it has what I may just call an extremely attractive mix, that’s what people claim. It includes customs originating in early periods right beside everyday modern conditions.
What about biking in Coroico along El Camino de la Muerte? At more than 4000 feet tall, mountain riding there might well provide people some thrills that could cause them just that certain joy when facing down sheer mountain cliff inclines! I feel you must employ guides though. And they would always, seemingly, include various support systems together, of course, with some instruction around biking practices meant mainly, too it’s almost, for ensuring security.
Pros: Mixture including city visiting plus then high epinephrine bike travel produces experiences often thought unforgettable! The Andes vista offers one beautiful backdrop when going along route during cycle period. Cons: One had best, maybe, evaluate personal fears well concerning high elevations. Think about dangerous paths! Read our full review: La Paz Death Road Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (La Paz Death Road Tour)
5. Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) Tour from Cusco, Peru
And this one happens frequently. From Cusco. Think what it would mean climbing Vinicunca often termed something as rainbow hill during a day venture during an exploration taking location beginning somewhere such, just a little, as Cusco up somewhere amid countries within Peru! Everyone can come across remarkable views displaying mountain stratifications consisting involving multiple hues throughout excursions throughout such areas showing Andean highlands also as it often incorporates altitude adjustments too.
People undertaking trips may need physical health generally since climbing there might occur when starting during elevated terrains sometimes ranging round about 5000 meters over such point as coast! As reward occurs one experiences sights comprised what some see like geological splendors found rarely all over.
Often tour versions possess included foods offerings together transports also directive expertism which leads somewhat ease upon tourists planning visiting ventures. Confirm take always weather securing dresses together supporting products mainly while weather tends displaying sometimes erratic behaviors atop elevation highs
Pros: Really pretty spectacular natural view. Ideal choices folks find photography pursuits while getting amazing landscapes captured using camera contact! Cons: Level challenges demands fitness thus potentially dissuading anyone not feeling rather resilient fitness ratings
Read our full review: Rainbow Mountain Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Rainbow Mountain Tour)