Live my life as an Andean: everything is possible, nothing is certain.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  El Alto Airport - La Paz

  

  We arrive in La Paz via El Alto, enough to immediately immerse ourselves in the crowd and a complete change of scenery! We jump into a taxi to cross this giant market and stop at the first cable car station. We gain some height to realize what La Paz really looks like: this city spread out in a sort of immense crater. Small colorful “casas” as far as the eye can see, markets everywhere... The cabins fly above this chaotic, lively atmosphere, with the snow-capped peaks of Huayna Potosi and Illimani (iconic Bolivian glaciers over 6000 m high) as a backdrop. We stop at Sopocachi, just a stone's throw from the bustling center. We love strolling through the quiet streets of this little bohemian neighborhood of La Paz. We find little shops, small bars that are worth stopping at. We will have a coca mate at the Sopocachi market, the sacred and traditional drink, the remedy for altitude sickness. And the yapa, that is, the little extra offered by the vendor, because here you always “yapa” a good customer. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: bus ticket, taxi, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 2

  La Paz

  

  We set off for a day of exploration in La Paz. We walk through the streets of Sopocachi, heading towards the center, with a short "fresh fruit juice" break at the Sopocachi market and a "salteña" along the way. The salteña is the 11 a.m. snack for Bolivians, a small pastry filled with chicken or beef in its juice. The challenge: to eat it, without cutlery, without getting dirty... A mixed and contrasting city, La Paz is the perfect sample of an entire country. From the market district, full of colors and smells, you cross a few streets to find yourself in the heart of the historic district, now a business center. Two worlds that coexist 200 meters apart and whose only common point is the permanent and noisy chaos that characterizes them. We have a mate de coca, or some leaves to chew on Sagarnaga. We cross the Mercado de Las Brujas, where we buy a miniature to please the Ekeko, the benevolent god of abundance. Tradition has it that you project all your hopes into the purchase of the coveted miniature object, which will then be ritualized. (Discover the legend of the Ekeko) In the historic district, we take calle Jaen, one of the last colonial streets in the city, with its cobblestones and colorful houses. We take the time to push open every door to discover small inner courtyards, galleries, the museum of musical instruments, and we meet Rosario. She talks to us about culture, clothing fashion, traditions, and invites us to try on her many cholita skirts (7 layered, it seems), sharing all their secrets with us. We have lunch at one of the market's communal tables, among the Paceños. The choice of dishes is rich, and the smells of grilled meat with Aji sauce mix with those of fried foods and other spicy soups. We head to El Alto by cable car, flying over houses as far as the eye can see, peeking above inner courtyards, terraces where traditional clothes and dance costumes dry... On the cliffside, shamans are perched, leading offering ceremonies to Pachamama. Shall we venture to one of them to have our coca leaves read? We go back down through the general cemetery. Far from being frightening or sad, this unique cemetery is lively, colored by large mural frescoes and decorated by the families of the deceased. Here, death is celebrated: people sing, dance, and make offerings to honor lost loved ones. This visit allows us to better understand Bolivian culture regarding its dead. We then pass through Calle de Los Andes, the street of carnival costume makers, shops, and tailors. You could watch for hours the meticulous work of the Diablada mask makers. Further down, towards the market, you find custom hats, all kinds of jewelry, and cholita skirts. For dinner, we will provide you with a list of restaurant suggestions, of all styles. In Bolivia, we are lucky to have varied and quality foods, and we eat well. It's simple, here products from the Amazon, the Yungas (tropical fruits and vegetables), products from the Altiplano (potato, quinoa, llama), meat from Beni, and products from Lake Titicaca all come together. The meal can be accompanied by a good local wine from Tarija with a high-altitude grape variety. Night at hotel Naira***. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), buffet breakfast, room.

• day 3

  La Paz - Copacabana

  

  Go to the general cemetery early to catch a bus towards Tiwanaku. The journey itself is an excursion. After the traffic jams leaving La Paz and El Alto, we set off on a bumpy road, Andean music blasting in our ears, the smell of chewed coca leaves in our nostrils. To our left, on a clear day, Sajama, the highest point in Bolivia at 6542 meters above sea level; to our right, the Andes Cordillera. The ruins of Tiwanaku are the symbol of its civilization, a pre-Inca civilization that remains very mysterious, but whose influence is still present today. Its knowledge of the land, its agricultural techniques, including the cultivation of potatoes and its hundreds of varieties, and its rituals, were adopted by the Incas and still live on in the Aymara and Quechua cultures. Ross-Marie, our guide who is passionate about the place and its esotericism, takes us to visit the spiritual and political center, where a few temples, a pyramid, and the famous Gate of the Sun still stand. We get back on the road towards Lake Titicaca. It is at the crossroads of the three most important Andean cultures of the region: Inca, Tiwanaku, and Aymara. We arrive at Tiquina, where we get off the bus to cross the mouth by boat. On the dock, we are tempted by small fried ispis from the lake, spiced up with Aji (spicy sauce). Be careful not to lose sight of our bus which crosses on its own; if we get distracted, it could leave without us. Just under an hour before Copacabana. You spend the night at the Las Olas hotel. Included: picnic basket, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, local guide, private transport, room & breakfast, French-speaking guide, guide fees.

• day 4

  Copacabana

  

  An Api with buñuelos awaits us at the covered market for breakfast. Api is a smooth hot drink, typical of the Andes, made from purple corn flour and cinnamon. It is often found in markets, accompanied by buñuelos, a kind of doughnut. A very comforting combo for cool early mornings at altitude. Then we board a lancha heading to the Island of the Moon. We will take the opportunity to bring some supplies to this small, isolated island inhabited by about fifty families. Isla de la Luna is the second sacred island of the Incas, after Isla del Sol. There you can find the ruins of the Iñak Uyu palace, reserved for the Virgins of the Sun, the ñustas, chosen from the most noble families of the Empire. During their stay on this island, they received the education that would allow them to become future priestesses. Doña Esperanza welcomes us to her home, with her big smile, in the small houses she has renovated with her husband. Originally from the shores of Lake Titicaca, on the "mainland", she moved to the Island of the Moon for her husband, who is from this 91-hectare island. She has learned to live at the pace of the place, whose secrets she knows and will share with us. We will be able to discover her plantations and the different plants of the island, including muña, a medicinal herb, a kind of peppermint that grows between 3000 and 4000 m altitude and apparently relieves just about everything. At the end of the afternoon, we prepare quinoa soup as a family, rich in protein, vegetables, and local flavors, for dinner. You spend the night at Doña Esperanza's. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, guide fees, private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, lunch.

• day 5

  Yampupata - Kasani - Santiago de Okola

  

  We stroll on the island, and we can reach the village on the other side by the beach, for a lovely walk. We then cross the island along the ridges, with a 360-degree view between Isla del Sol and the Andes, whose Llampu summit dominates the lake. Along the paths, we have unexpected encounters with women accompanying their herds of llamas. At noon, we share an Apthapi with Esperanza and the village neighbors. It is a lunch where everyone contributes to the meal and we share our dishes. We will be able to share the fresh cheese and bread that we bought when leaving La Paz. When the morning fishing is good, Esperanza brings trout from the lake, accompanied by delicious vegetable fritters. We take the lancha back to the village of Sampaia, just opposite the island. From there, we venture on a superb hike (3-4h maximum) to the end of the Yampupata peninsula, along the ridge, crossing small villages and with breathtaking views of the lake, the inland, the Andes, and Peru. From Yampupata, we take a vehicle to reach the village of Santiago de Okola, on the other side of the lake. We are welcomed by Don Thomas from the community, who will host us at his home for the night, or by a family from the community who will be delighted to share their daily life with you, far from traditional tourism. Included: French-speaking guide, guide fees, private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), Spanish-speaking local guide, room & breakfast.

• day 6

  Santiago de Okola

  

  Santiago de Okola is a community located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Made up of fishing and farming families, the inhabitants of Santiago de Okola benefit from the richness of their environment, between the lake and the Cordillera. They are a people open to the outside world, with a strong desire to share their culture: fishing on the lake, climbing or short hikes to the Sleeping Dragon, cooking, working in the fields... We spend the evening in the village. We share a few drinks and experience festive Andean evenings. The golden rule, before bringing a glass of alcohol to your lips, is to pour a few drops on the ground. This custom is directly linked to the worship of Pachamama, to whom this first sip is reserved as a sign of respect and reverence. A central deity in Andean cosmology, Pachamama is, in the pre-Columbian religions of South America, the "Mother Earth" who governs the human environment in its entirety (both materially and spiritually). A deity without a temple or any kind of place of worship, she can be honored at any time and in any place. Included: dinner, Spanish-speaking local guide, room & breakfast

• day 7

  Santiago de Okola - Tuni

  

  Let's set sail to enjoy the tranquility and serenity of this microclimate so characteristic of Titicaca. We board for a cruise on a catamaran built by the Santiago de Huata community. For lunch, we can choose between lake trout with butter, garlic, tomato, or llajwa – the essential spicy sauce of the Andes – or a fresh fish ceviche with tiger's milk and sautéed corn. We leave the shores of the lake towards the heart of the Cordillera, to meet the Quispe family. Jaime and Marisol welcome us to their home in Tuni, an Aymara hamlet at 4,400 m altitude, inhabited by about ten families. You spend the night at the Ecolodge Tuni refuge. Included: local guide, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast.

• day 8

  Tuni

  

  The Aymara culture, so unique, places great importance on solidarity and community life. It is based on four founding pillars: community, festivals, rituals, and Pachamama. Ancestral Aymara traditions are still very present here, and the Tuni community is committed to keeping them alive and sharing them. No staging, no costumes: the Quispe family opens their doors to us and lets us live with them for a few days, in all simplicity, with Pachamama at the center of beliefs and offerings. The agency has had family ties with the community for a very long time. Fabrice, the founder of Terra, is the godfather of a little girl from the village. The Terra families are used to spending weekends there from time to time. They know that sharing a few moments with Jaime and Marisol brings a lot to our children. Pure happiness and an undeniable openness to the world. We have 4 days, and before us, the choice of discoveries. It is urgent to take your time, to exchange, to let yourself be surprised by the unexpected, by encounters and by what you will learn from them. We invite you to choose your program and let yourself live to the rhythm of the Cordillera: Want to scramble up to high snowy peaks? Condoriri Lagoon Trek Jaime, a high mountain guide trained by instructors from Chamonix who came to deliver training and certifications, takes us trekking around the lagoons and Condoriri. We take care of preparing the itinerary, equipment, and supplies, and we join the muleteers. They will accompany our journey at the foot of the glaciers with our caravan of mules. It is a real skill to guide mules and men through scree and steep passages. Jaime and his brothers have managed to develop mountaineering in the region and participate in organizing major expeditions, accompanied by cooks, porters, and muleteers. Want to settle in and discover life "like a local"? At the heart of Aymara daily life We follow Vicky to the village school. Why not try an Aymara language class? The transmission of ancestral traditions also involves teaching this language, which is still spoken in the villages. We then offer to help as kitchen assistants with Denys and Marisol. The specialty here is Huatia, a type of cooking in an oven dug into the earth. One of the main foods is chuño, a dehydrated potato. On the Altiplano, the soil and climate only allow some communities to harvest potatoes once a year. As a preservation method, the Andeans use, during the coldest months, a dehydration process to extract the starch from the potatoes. The taste is... peculiar, but the method is ingenious and we would do well to learn the technique. To complete our Andean meal, we go fishing in the icy rivers and lagoons, rich in trout. We participate in different tasks depending on the season and needs: making straw mattresses that will be sold in the area, collecting animal droppings for fuel in the houses. Shearing llamas is a real challenge, a bit physical, with the first challenge being to immobilize the animal. With the spun wool, we can learn weaving and making warm clothes, which are very useful in the mountains. Included: all inclusive, French-speaking guide, guide fees.

• day 9

  Tuni

  

  "À la carte" program at the pace of the Cordillera Option: Condoriri lagoons trek Option: At the heart of the daily life of the Aymaras Included: all inclusive, French-speaking guide, guide fees

• day 10

  Tuni

  

  À la carte program at the pace of the Cordillera Option: Condoriri Lagoon Trek Option: At the heart of Aymara daily life Included: all inclusive, French-speaking guide, guide fees

• day 11

  Tuni - La Paz

  

  A la carte program at the pace of the Cordillera Option: Trek of the Condoriri lagoons Option: At the heart of Aymara daily life We head towards La Paz. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: all inclusive, French-speaking guide, guide fees, private transport, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 12

  La Paz - Coroico

  

  We descend from our heights towards the pre-tropical region of the Yungas. Here, we find warmth and lush, green vegetation. We leave La Paz and climb up to nearly 4,600 meters in altitude, to the Cumbre. This is where the mountain bike descent begins. From there, we leave the Altiplano to enter the Amazon basin. From now on, we will lose 100 meters in altitude and gain 1.6 degrees every 10 minutes. We leave behind the llamas, the snow, the rocks, to reach Yolossa, the water, the mangoes, the coffee, the parrots, the monkeys, at 1,200 meters in altitude. Green replaces grey, it is an explosion of colors, scents, and oxygen. This road is the only one linking the Andean capital to the Amazonian producers. In case of social conflict, blocking it with a few trucks means stopping the transport of goods (meat, citrus fruits, coca, coffee) to the capital. Control of this route is essential. Note: the descent is done in a group service / English-speaking guide. Night at Villa Kiki. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport.

• day 13

  Coroico - Puente Villa

  

  We set out to meet the coffee growers, who have managed to make the most of their land and move away from the non-sustainable and intensive production of coca, so popular in the region. We cross the coffee and coca fields and talk with the producers of Coripata. You will be welcomed in a small inn in Puente Villa. Included: room & breakfast, private transport.

• day 14

  Puente Villa - La Paz

  

  We head back up to the high plateaus, passing through Yanacachi, the commercial crossroads of the region. Here, fresh Amazonian products are exchanged for potatoes and quinoa from the Altiplano. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: private transport, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 15

  La Paz

  

  Bolivian dances are a true representation of the diversity of Bolivian culture. Carnival is the time to abolish hierarchies, to overcome taboos, and to express, behind the masks, all those hidden worlds so present in beliefs. Whether it is Carnival season, Gran Poder (La Paz festival), or the start of the university year, you will always come across groups of young Paceños rehearsing in the parks or on the city squares, reinvented as dance grounds for the occasion. Tempted by the idea of joining a Tinku, Diablada, or Llamerada rehearsal? A group of dancers will proudly teach us the steps and the meaning of their choreography. For the exercise, endurance is key. At almost 4,000 meters altitude, even after 15 days of stay, the lack of oxygen is still felt. We head down to the southern zone for lunch on a terrace. Different atmosphere, different city: you should know that you gain 1 degree for every 100 meters of elevation change. So the calculation is simple: you enjoy 4 extra degrees by going to the southern zone. The terraces there are pleasant and less noisy, the cafés are stylish, and the streets are quieter. We enjoy the small parks where children play to stroll, the modern shops, or we go to the Mall, a large shopping center, for an American-style experience. You also find the beautiful neighborhoods there, secure condominiums, with incredible houses, some of which are worthy of the famous neighborhoods of Hollywood. You leave the hustle and bustle of the business district and find a certain sweetness of life. Night at Hotel Naira***. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), buffet breakfast, room.

• day 16

  La Paz - El Alto Airport

  

  Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport. Included: departure transfer.