Nature's Wisdom & Indigenous Arts
The capital city of La Paz has a growing urban art, music and dance scene that blends indigenous with contemporary influences. Start the tour enjoying the festivities of the Gran Poder Festival and meeting with talented costume makers. Then, explore the culture and conservation projects of the Andean highlands and rainforest regions. Learn about indigenous culture and art while taking workshops in rainforest handicrafts, cooking and weaving. Stay at homestays and participate in community ecotourism projects near Madidi National Park and agritourism activities at Lake Titicaca. By traveling on this tour, you will be supporting the arts and sustainable development of our Bolivian hosts. So, enjoy, explore and empower!
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: La Paz
Arrivals & acclimatization, from airport transfer to the hotel, have an orientation meeting and time to rest. Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 2: La Paz
Visit museums of La Paz, MUSEF (textiles, masks, feather art), Contemporary Art and Coca Museum (optional). Then meet with costume makers involved in the Gran Poder Festival and enjoy welcome dinner. Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 3: La Paz
Free morning. Enjoy the Gran Poder Festival for the rest of the day (which really culminates around 2-3pm). Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 4: La Paz/Rurrenabaque/ San Miguel del Bala
Travel from La Paz to Rurrenabaque. Enjoy a 2-hour river trip to San Miguel del Bala, a very nice community-based ecotourism project in the buffer zone of Madidi National Park. Here you will enjoy a community tour and talks on local arts, biodiversity and conservation. Accommodation: Community Lodge
Day 5: San Miguel del Bala
In the morning enjoy a rainforest handicrafts workshop and the afternoon a river and rainforest trip. Accommodation: Community Lodge
Day 6: San Miguel del Bala/Rurrenabaque
Travel from San Miguel del Bala back to Rurrenabaque. Enjoy a free afternoon in Rurrenabaque, or optional visits to a cocoa farm and a new indigenous culture museum in San Buenaventura (across the river from Rurrenabaque). Accommodation: Community Lodge
Day 7: Rurrenabaque-La Paz-Santiago de Okola
Take the short 40 minute flight back to La Paz, and a bus ride to Santiago de Okola on Lake Titicaca. Explore the the community and enjoy a restful night. Accommodation: Hotel Oriental
Day 8: Santiago de Okola
In the morning, enjoy between your choice of a weaving or cooking workshop followed by a free afternoon of hiking or enjoying the beach. Accommodation: Homestays
Day 9: Apolobamba National Park/Pacha Trek
Take a private bus ride to Apolobamba National Park and begin the Pacha Trek. During the trek visit sites such as the Carabuco Church & Thermal Waters. The Carabuco Church has some well-preserved, massive baroque paintings (lots of fire & brimstone) and is built upon a pre-Colombian ritual site. Overnight at the community lodges. Accommodation: Homestays
Day 10: Pacha Trek with Andean Rituals
The Pacha Trek continues with intimate encounters to learn about rituals, music, textiles, cameloids, medicinal plant use, and nature conservation. Accommodation: Community Lodge
Day 11: Pacha Trek to Charazani
Today, enjoy a breathtaking hike to Charazani where you can enjoy beautiful scenery and thermal hot springs. Accommodation: Community Lodge
Day 12: Charanzi/La Paz
Return to La Paz and enjoy a free afternoon exploring the city. Accommodation: TBD
Day 13: La Paz
Travel by private bus back to La Paz and enjoy the Murals of La Paz Walk and visits to artisan studios. The Murals of La Paz Walk is a new program that highlights visits to 16 beautiful murals in downtown La Paz. Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 14: Piriati Island (Lake Titicaca)
Today, enjoy a day-trip to Piriati Island on Lake Titicaca with a visit to the museum dedicated to pre-Colombian pottery and jewelry. Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 15: La Paz
Free day for selecting your own activities (day-hikes, cooking class, etc.) Closing dinner and discussions. Accommodation: Naira Hotel
Day 16: Home
Transfer to airport for departures home or add-ons.
Suggested Tour Dates:
To participate in the Gran Poder Festival, the suggested tour dates are May 31 - June 15, 2012. If excluding the Gran Poder Festival, recommended tour dates fall in May - October. This is a sample itinerary and EcoArts can create a program based on any art, sustainable, social, volunteer, adventure, spiritual, cultural and other requested specifications.
Price Details
Prices vary according to group sizes. Based on the sample itinerary, estimated prices are as follows.
Group size of 6-7
$2982
Group size of 10-11
$2545
Group size of 13
$2386
The price includes
• All confirmations in the program
• Double room accommodations
• Transportation by private, air-conditioned motor coach as well as transfers for group as appropriate, in addition to all other land and water transportation.
• EcoArts Tour/La Paz on Foot representative to accompany the group through the whole touring period and/or English speaking, tour guide(s) to accompany the group throughout the touring period.
• Preparatory reading materials
• Admission and fees to museums, program activities and lessons
• Honoraria for conservation and arts professionals and donations to organizations
• Two meals a day
• Philanthropic and carbon offset donations to One Million Lights and Native Energy
The price does NOT include
• Extra baggage fees
• Expenses of a purely personal nature
• Room service charges
• Gratuities to the bellboys, waiters, guide and driver
• Extra Beverages and one meal a day
• Travel Insurance (We strongly advise that each participant arrange for their own travel insurance)
Customize This Tour
Application and Deposit: A $400 non-refundable deposit (that is included in the total tour cost) and registration forms are required from each tour participant to secure a participant’s reservation. Call Rosalyn at 415-680-3474 to receive an application or more information to customize this tour today.
EcoArtists
Partners
La Paz on Foot