Altiplano Trip Details

The Bolivian Altiplano and the Chilean Atacama are perhaps the most lunar landscapes I've yet encountered. Not only are they enticing in their otherworldly look, but being here feels like you're on another planet because of the high altitude.

The main focus of this trip is to be at some of the best locations for sunrise and sunset each day. The highlight being the Salar de Uyuni. Along the way we will visit the valley of the moon, the rainbow valley, Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde, the Coral Army, el Arbol de Piedra (the stone tree) and many other prominent features of these landscapes.

Getting to the trip

There are regular flights to Calama, Chile from Santiago. From Calama, it is a straightforward transfer bus (1hour).

Upon booking the trip, you will be forwarded onto Andean Trails (South American travel specialis) who can arrange flights and excursions for you.

Arrival

We will meet in San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile (direct connection from Santiago),

7:00 - 9:00pm
Dinner with the group, hosted by Bruce

10-day Itinerary


I n this section I'll give you a break down of what we're doing each day, in terms of location. There's a further section down the page which deals with what to expect as a daily schedule.

Day 1:
Arrival day. But we will go out for an evening shoot just outside San Pedro. Back for dinner and night's stay.

Day 2:
Transfer to Bolivia to arrive in Bolivia at 8am. Photograph Laguna Verde / Blanca if weather is cloudy, picnic / light lunch enroute to San Pedro de Queues. If not cloudy, travel directly to Coral Army for sunset. Hotel Tayka de Piedra for evening dinner and Bed.

Day 3:
Sunrise shoot at coral army, back for breakfast (Leave hotel at 6am, arrive at Coral Army for 6:30am). Depart for Salar at 10am. In the late morning till mid afternoon we will shoot many different islands around the Salar. Including the Bell and Pyramid islands. Picnic lunch. Arrive at Pescado Island around 4:30pm for sunset shoot. Stay at Tayka de Sal. Evening Dinner.

Day 4:
Sunrise shoot on Salar near Islands. Facing west with islands in foreground. Return to Tayka del Salt for breakfast. Evening shoot of Islands in Salar facing east with Islands in foreground. Evening dinner and bed Tayka del Salt.

Day 5:
Sunrise shoot at salt mine next to Tayka del Sal (Depart Hotel at 6:15am to arrive at mine for 6:30am)). Lunch at hotel. In afternoon transfer to Colchani for check in. Then depart for photos on Salar in middle of nowhere for sunset (arrive on location for 5pm, finish at 6:30pm). BLD. Bed.

Day 6:
Sunrise shoot in Salar (depart at 6am to arrive on salar for 6:30am). Return for Breakfast. Check out at 10am. Depart for laguna Colorada, photograph Locomotive graveyard en route. Arrive at Laguna Colorada for 4pm Shoot until 6:30pm, depart lagoon no later than 7pm.

Day 7:
Sunrise shoot Lago Cachi (depart at 6am to arrive at Cachi for 6:30am). After lunch, shoot stone Tree, Siloli desert. Evening shoot at Cara Lagoon. Or alternatively, return to Laguna Colorada Mirador for sunset repeat shoot (arrive at lagoon for 5pm to 6:30pm).

Day 8:
Morning shoot at Laguna Colorada (south midador). Return to hotel for breakfast. Depart for Sol de Mañana for Sunset shoot (arrive at Sol de Mañana for around Depart Sol de Mañana at 6:30pm. Arrive at Polques(thermal waters) for evening Dinner and Bed.

Day 9:
Sunrise shoot at Laguna Blanca. Picnic breakfast at border. Shoot laguna Verde after breakfast. Depart for border. Arrive San Pedro de Atacama. Evening stay at Casa don Tomas. Evening dinner.
Day 10: Departure day (breakfast included)

Daily Schedule Outline

Each day will have the following format:

6:30 - 8:30am

On location for twilight & sunrise.

8:30 - 9:30am

Breakfast, back at the hotel.

10:30am - 12:30pm

Rest time

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Lunch at hotel.

1:30pm - 7pm

We will travel through the day while the light is bleached out, in order to get to our next major photographic location a few hours before sunset, so you have time to find good vantage points and research the location.

8pm - 9pm

Dinner

Acclimatisation

Bolivia is the Tibet of South America. With high elevations of around 3,600 metres up to 5,400 metres, it is paramount that we ascend slowly during our time together.

This trip has been carefully assembled to reduce the risk of HACE (high altitude cerebral edema). Over the period of 9 days, we ascend the Bolivian altiplano in stages, with our last day at 4,500 metres. During that time, we will travel in two land cruisers, so we have the possibility to descebd if need be. All the hotels offer oxygen if required.

Altitude problems may happen to anyone of any age and of any level of fitness. The key to reducing the risk is to ascend slowly over a period of days and to take things easy - avoiding alcohol and too much physical exertion is advised.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking any of our workshops/tours that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for trip cancellation (by you), activities involved and destination. This cover should include repatriation costs and medical costs.

You must provide us with details of your alternative insurance with or before your final payment.

Terms & Conditions

Please feel free to read our terms & conditions.

Contact Details

Bruce Percy Photography Limited
P.O Box 24113, 
Edinburgh, EH7 9EY
Scotland

Tel: +44 (0) 787 621 0051
e-mail: bruce@brucepercy.com