PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR OF BOLIVIA 9-24 October This best-of-bolivia trip offers you a chance to visit Bolivia s cultural and scenic attractions accompanied by professional photographer Gary Latham. Gary will help enthusiastic photographers of all levels get the most from their experience with workshops including how-to-shoot basics right through to producing professional quality images and a dedicated portrait session. ITINERARY PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR OF BOLIVIA - ITINERARY Day 0 Departure Day 1 Arrival to Santa Cruz- Flight to Sucre Day 2 Sucre. Day 3 - Sucre Tarabuco Sucre (colonial town and indigenous market) Day 4 Sucre Potosí Day 5 Potosi Pulacayo- Uyuni Day 6 Uyuni Salt Flats Day 7 Bolivian desert and lagoons Day 8 Stone tree Laguna Colorada Uyuni Day 9 Tayka de Piedra - Uyuni Day 10 Uyuni La Paz (flight) DAY 11 La Paz Tiwanacu Copacabna DAY 12 Copacabana Island of the sun La Paz (Lake Titicaca) Day 13 La Paz Day 14 La Paz Santa Cruz Day 15 - Santa Cruz - Airport DAY 0 DEPARTURE DAY 1 ARRIVAL TO SANTA CRUZ- FLIGHT TO SUCRE Assistance is provided at the airport with connecting flight to Sucre. Transfer to hotel. Free day to relax and acclimatise. Overnight at Villa Antigua Hotel. DAY 2 SUCRE. Photographic workshop in the morning with Gary Latham. Telephone: +44 208 835 7034 Email: sales@highlives.co.uk
Take an afternoon tour of Sucre (2,800 m.a.s.l / 9,000 ft), a town steeped in colonial history and culture. Visit the Liberty Museum, the churches of San Lazaro and San Felipe Neri and the indigenous people s museum ASUR, Recoleta Monastery, the Cathedral, Mercedes Museum, House of Liberty. Later in the afternoon explore the beautiful General Cemetery where many of Bolivia s historical figures were laid to rest. Overnight at Villa Antigua Hotel. DAY 3 - SUCRE TARABUCO SUCRE (COLONIAL TOWN AND INDIGENOUS MARKET) Visit Tarabuco 60 km from Sucre to see the indigenous community and its traditional market. Opportunity for a portrait session of a traditional textile work. Overnight at Villa Antigua Hotel. DAY 4 SUCRE POTOSÍ Leave Sucre for Potosí; a city at an even higher altitude than La Paz standing at 4,090 m / 13,420 ft. Afternoon tour of the city that was once the world s largest industrial complex managed by the Spanish empire in the 16 th century. Visit the mines of Cerro Rico, the Casa de la Moneda mint that bankrolled imperial Spain, Torre de la Compañía de Jesús - an 18 th century religious monument, the baroque-style San Lázaro Church and the vibrant handicraft market. P a g e - 2 -
DAY 5 POTOSI PULACAYO- UYUNI Morning transfer to Uyuni, with a stop at the Pulacayo Mine founded in 1833 and located close to Huanchaca, the world s second largest silver mine. Visit the Maestranza, Aniceto Arce s house, the refinery smelting works, spinning mills and the first railroad to reach Bolivia. The Thesis of Pulacayo (Tesis de Pulacayo) was an important document in the Bolivian and Latin American labour movement. It was adopted at the request of the delegation of Llallaguaga in the Congreso de la Federación Sindical de Trabajadores Mineros de Bolivia (FSTMB), which met in November 1946 in the city of Pulacayo. The thesis is based on the Trotskyite concept of permanent revolution and the Transitional Program of the Fourth International. Many miners still live in Pulacayo and it is an interesting place to view Bolivia s mining life. Private transfer to Uyuni (3,650 m): 5 hours. Overnight at Palacio de Sal DAY 6 UYUNI SALT FLATS Leave Uyuni at 9:00 am for the Salt Flat past a small settlement where the locals process salt. Short stop at the Train Graveyard en route for the middle of the Salt Flat to see the pools ( eyes ), salt mountains and salt blocks. This singular route takes us into one of the world s most isolated areas where we will be alone surrounded by a glittering white landscape. After a couple of hours arrive at Isla Lomo de Pescado to look at giant cacti and the birds and viscachas that have made this island their own. Our chef will prepare a buffet of delicious local produce for lunch before we move on to the Galaxias Grotto (natural coral formations) to visit a pre- Colombian cemetery and enter caves to see weird and wonderful rock formations. In the afternoon take one of the hundreds of routes across the Salt Flat to watch the sun go down in a blaze of intense colours. Overnight at Palacio de Sal P a g e - 3 -
DAY 7 BOLIVIAN DESERT AND LAGOONS Set out early for the deserts and lakes of the region leaving the Salt Flat behind and moving across the majestic highland area to look out at spectacular mountains and hills over whimsical landscapes where the llamas and vicuñas welcome you to wending streams and an insight into the day to day life of the locals of the area. Reach the Capiña Salt Flat where borax is mined passing by mountains in the distance that look like cities; the Ciudad de Piedra and Ciudad Italia. At midday and just before reaching the hot springs of Polques have a cold lunch and watch the flamingos. After lunch continue on to Laguna Verde in the south of Bolivia almost on the border with Chile. The Licancabur Volcano stands guard over the shimmering emerald-green Laguna Verde which changes hue with the movement of the sun. Arrive at hotel in the middle of the desert in the evening. DAY 8 STONE TREE LAGUNA COLORADA UYUNI Set off early for Laguna Colorada to sip hot chocolate while watching three species of flamingos dance to welcome a new day. Continue on through the desert to the Stone Tree and Geysers. Drive through the Siloli desert. Overnight at Ojo de Perdiz DAY 9 TAYKA DE PIEDRA - UYUNI Return to Uyuni via pass the Blanca, Honda, Hedionda, Chiarcota and Negra Lagoons to relax and have lunch prepared by our chef. Drive past the Ollagüe Volcano and arrive at hotel. Overnight at Jardines de Uyuni P a g e - 4 -
DAY 10 UYUNI LA PAZ (FLIGHT) La Paz (average altitude 3,577 m). Fly into the airport of El Alto and descend from the highland plains to a stunning morning view of the capital city, La Paz. Take a city tour that includes the Witches' Market and the dramatic rock formations of the nearby Valley of the Moon. Soar above the city on the Teleférico. Overnight at the Naira Hotel. DAY 11 LA PAZ TIWANACU COPACABNA Private overland transfer to the archaeological site of Tiwanacu for a guided tour. The tour continues to Lake Titicaca, visit Copacabana and its famous church, Calvary Hill (the stations of the cross) and nearby Inca ruins. Tiwanacu is an archeological site of which only 15% of the site has been restored. Overnight at La Cupula Hotel. DAY 12 COPACABANA ISLAND OF THE SUN LA PAZ (LAKE TITICACA) Private boat to the Islands of the Sun and Moon on Lake Titicaca, meet local fishermen, visit the Pilcocaina Palace, and enjoy a typical Apthapi lunch. Overnight at the Naira Hotel. DAY 13 LA PAZ Early morning visit to Pamparalama followed by a visit to La Paz s bustling fruit and vegetable markets. Afternoon workshop by Gary Latham and portrait session at Mamani Mamani Cultural Centre in Jaen Street in La Paz s colonial district. Portrait session subject to be confirmed, a farewell tapas, dinner and drinks. Overnight at the Naira Hotel. P a g e - 5 -
DAY 14 LA PAZ SANTA CRUZ Free morning. Late afternoon flight to Santa Cruz. DAY 15 - SANTA CRUZ - AIRPORT Transfer to airport. Tour price per person: from 2700 / 3600 / US$ 4200 Single supplement: 520 / 690 /US$810 What is included Logistical support and on-call emergency services are available 24 hours a day. Accommodation in standard double room. Tickets to most places, except those specified in our excursions in some protected areas. All the services as described in the itinerary. Tour guided by Gary Latham. 2 photography workshops by Gary Latham 2 portrait sessions (one in Sucre and one in La Paz) Meals- breakfast every day, full board in the Uyuni salt flats and desert, lunches where indicated What is not included Travel insurance, tips or other personal expenses. Transatlantic flights and internal flights Alcoholic drinks or extra drinks not included in the set menu. Transatlantic flights. Taxes on internal flights. Your guide will inform you of these taxes, which have to be paid in person. Notes: There may be changes in the itinerary due to weather conditions; these will be briefed to you upon your arrival. Recommendations The Uyuni salt flats and desert: The salt lake region is not for the fainthearted, crossing Bolivia s southern desert requires an effort due to the high altitude and intense sun. We recommend visiting your GP if high altitude may be an issue. To avoid Sorojchi or altitude sickness: we recommend avoiding exercise on the first day and waiting until your body has acclimatised, eat light (digestion at altitude is very slow), drink lots of water and do not smoke or drink alcohol. The salt flats are very cold, windy and with high solar radiation. During the day it is usually sunny and warm but temperatures drop in the evenings. We recommend you bring: A warm sweater P a g e - 6 -
Thick jacket Wool gloves Wool socks Wool hat Sun cap Boots Towel Lip moisturizer Sunscreen 50 or more Very dark sun glasses with UV filter Flashlight Between December and April we recommended you bring a raincoat or windbreaker Bathing suit P a g e - 7 -
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS Day Week day Location Hotel Meals Highlights Day 0 Thursday Leave UK N/A N/A N/A Day 1 Friday Santa Cruz-Sucre Villa Antigua N/A N/A Day 2 Saturday Sucre Villa Antigua B Workshop Day 3 Sunday Sucre-Tarabuco-Sucre Villa Antigua B,L Portrait session Day 4 Monday Sucre- Potosí Libertador B,L City tour Day 5 Tuesday Potosí- Pulacayo-Uyuni Palacio de Sal B,LBx Pulacayo Day 6 Wednesday Uyuni Salt Flats Palacio de Sal B,L Salt Flats Day 7 Thursday Uyuni Salt Flat Ojo de Perdiz B,L,D Desert Day 8 Friday Uyuni-Tayka Desert Hotel Tayka de Piedra B,L,D Desert Day 9 Saturday Tayka-de Piedra-Uyuni Jardines de B,L Luna Salada Uyuni Day 10 Sunday Uyuni-La Paz Naira B,L City tour Day 11 Monday La Paz - Copacabana La Cupula B,L Copacabana Day 12 Tuesday Copacabana-Island of the Sun- La Paz Naira B,L Island of the Sun Day 13 Wednesday La Paz Naira B,L,D Pamparalama, Portrait session workshop Day 14 Thursday La Paz-Santa Cruz LP B Free day Day 15 Wednesday Santa Cruz Airport N/A B N/A P a g e - 8 -
GENERAL CONDITIONS Photographic tour of Bolivia 1. The Itinerary might be modified according to airline schedules and weather and social conditions. 2. This is a formal quote but final confirmation of the price will be given before payment. HIGHLIVES LTD BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS HighLives Ltd. Booking Terms and Conditions Your contract is made with HighLives Ltd, registered in England and Wales, number 7024516, registered office: 48 Fernthorpe Road, London, SW16 6DR. All flights including flights sold by HighLives are ATOL protected. The HighLives ATOL number is T380. HighLives is a member of the Travel Trust Association, membership number U8743. All funds paid to HighLives Ltd are held in HighLives Trust Account; all bookings made with HighLives Ltd are financially protected under the relevant supplier's customer protection bonds. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Travel Trust Association will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advanced booking. For further information visit the Travel Trust Association website at www.traveltrust.co.uk. The following are HighLives booking conditions: 1. Making a booking When making a booking, you (the main traveller listed on the booking) guarantee that you have the authority to accept, and do accept for you and on behalf of your party, that you are subject to the following conditions and that you are aware of the conditions you will face when travelling to Latin America. Your contract with HighLives Ltd is also subject to the terms and conditions of carriage of any airline used. 2. Holiday bookings not including flights For holidays booked with HighLives Ltd that do not include flights, in accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992", all UK passengers booking with HighLives Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all money paid to us, arising from cancellation or curtailment of travel arrangements due to the insolvency of HighLives Ltd. 3. Booking To book a tour send the completed booking form together with a non-refundable deposit. The balance of the fees for the tour is due sixty days prior to departure. No reminder will be sent, so if we have not received payment by the due date we will regard the booking as cancelled. Cancellation charges: 60 days or more before departure Deposit only 59 to 30 days before departure: 60% of tour fee 29 to 0 days before departure: 100% of tour fee 4. Extra charges before departure We reserve the right to increase the price of a holiday up to 30 days before departure by a maximum of 10% of the total cost, to cover unforeseen additional fuel costs, taxes or exchange rate changes not covered in the initial quote. 5. Extra Charges and Taxes Most of the activities will be included in the total cost; however some destinations require that each visitor pays additional costs such as entrance fees in person. HighLives Ltd. will inform you in your quote when this will happen. Some taxes, including UK Airport Departure Tax (APD) and certain transit taxes, are paid in the UK and are included in the booking P a g e - 9 -
price. However, airport taxes for both domestic and international travel are charged at check-in by most South American airports. HighLives cannot accept any liability for tax collected incorrectly in Latin America. If you break your journey for a stopover in the USA or Europe you may be asked to pay local airport taxes. Where travel originates at the other end ( inbounds ), many South American countries charge a substantial exit tax (in addition to airport tax) and this cannot usually be collected when tickets are paid for. 6. Changes made by HighLives to your holiday Some of our tours require a minimum number of people to go ahead. If we have to cancel your trip due to insufficient numbers a full refund will be given. If we cancel your tour we will advise you at least 30 days prior to the departure date. Alternatively, in the event of HighLives Ltd having to alter, amend or cancel your holiday up to 30 days before your departure date, we will provide you with the following three alternatives : 1. Accept the alternative offered (at an additional cost if applicable). 2. Purchase another available holiday from us. 3. Cancel your holiday with a full refund of all the monies paid. 7. Unforeseen cancelations and delays HighLives Ltd cannot be held responsible for; the consequences of any delays, expenses incurred or alterations caused by illness, weather, war, terrorism, political events, civil strife, strikes, natural disaster, technical difficulties or any event beyond our control. HighLives Ltd cannot be liable for any compensation if we are forced to cancel or in any way change your holiday as a result of situations beyond our control which neither we nor our suppliers could foresee or forestall even with all due care. For example technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline, the alteration of the airline or aircraft type, war or threat of war or civil unrest, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural disaster, fire or bad weather, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster. 8. Changes to your tour made by you before departure If you decide to change any part of a confirmed booking up to 60 days before departure, HighLives will try to assist but will charge for any additional holiday costs incurred, including cancellation charges that may be incurred for services cancelled. We reserve the right to add an administration charge of 35 per person. Any amendments must be made in writing by the main passenger on the booking. Alterations within the cancellations period listed in point 3 before departure we may choose to treat as a cancellation, and the penalties hereunder will apply. 9. Cancellations by you Any client who wishes to cancel a booking must do so in writing and the fees listed in point 3 will be charged. Cancellations will take effect the day said written notification is received by us. 10. Independent arrangements If you have already made some of your arrangements independently, such as flights, accommodation or transport reservations when you book tailor-made/bespoke arrangements with us, please note we accept no liability for these independent arrangements or where your booked itinerary with HighLives Ltd is discontinuous. In these circumstances if, for example, you arrive late to join a trip or to make onward connections, we shall endeavour to rearrange hotels and transfers, but we accept liability only for the elements of the itinerary that we are contracted to provide but you might have to pay an additional fee due to delays and cancellations. 11. Health and Safety Some of our tours involve travel in remote, mountainous regions, at high altitudes, where amenities and medical facilities are few and far between. Every effort is made to ensure your safety and well being, but bookings are accepted on the understanding that you appreciate the risks and hazards associated with this sort of travel. HighLives Ltd. will not accept responsibility for accidents, injury, lack of fitness, carelessness, illness, negligence or lack of punctuality attributable to the customer. If you have any disability or illness, you must inform us at the time of booking the holiday so advice can be given P a g e - 10 -
on the suitability of the trip. A letter from you GP will be requested by HighLives Ltd. should we think is necessary before finalising a booking. 12. Insurance All customers must be fully insured for the duration of the tour. Customers are responsible for arranging their own insurance which must cover medical expenses, injury, death, rescue, helicopter rescue (if appropriate), repatriation, cancellation and curtailment. Customers must provide HighLives Ltd with evidence of their insurance. We recommend you take out insurance at the time of booking and double check the small print to ensure it covers all activities you are involved in and that you are covered in case of tour and flight cancellations due to bad weather, terrorist acts or any unforeseen circumstances beyond our control and responsibilities. 13. International flights With regard to international flights: HighLives Ltd can book flights for customers as we are an ATOL bonded agency. HighLives Ltd cannot however take responsibility for changes or alterations made by any airlines to any flights whether booked directly by you or through HighLives Ltd. 14. Personal items and baggage Personal items and baggage remain at all times the responsibility of the customer. In addition responsibility must be accepted for any equipment loaned to you, and you must agree to pay for any loss or damage caused to this equipment while in your care. 15. Visas At this moment, British and EU citizens do not require a visa to visit Peru, Bolivia, Chile or Argentina. Customers of any other nationality should inform us at the time of booking so we can advise on the current situation. A full British passport, valid for at least one year beyond the return date, is required by British citizens travelling on our tours. You are responsible for arranging your passport, and any necessary visas and vaccination certificates. Please check with the relevant embassy for the latest requirements with regard to visas and vaccinations. 16. Guide decisions Due to the adventurous nature of the tours, all customers must at all times agree to comply with the decisions taken by the guide. 17. Complaints Should you have a complaint about the tour, contact us immediately on our emergency number, HighLives Ltd will try to make sure the complaint is dealt with at destination. If you are unable to contact us, your complaint must be made by letter and received by HighLives Ltd within 14 days of the end of the tour. 18. Jurisdiction In the unlikely event of any sort of dispute arising, the Laws of England shall apply. If the dispute cannot be resolved directly between us within 6 weeks of written intimation of the dispute, both HighLives Ltd. and the customer shall attempt to settle the dispute by mediation. A mediator will be selected with the assistance of the Law Society of England. If the mediation is unsuccessful, the English courts shall have jurisdiction. P a g e - 11 -