Edge of the World
Remote Bolivia: Chiquitania Missions, Amazon Headwaters & the Altiplano — 11 Days
About this Journey
For the traveller who wants Bolivia almost entirely to themselves — this route covers the country's least-visited and most surprising landscapes. At Orígenes Journeys, every element of this itinerary can be adjusted to your pace, interests, and travel style. The days below are a starting point — a framework to spark ideas, not a constraint.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrive Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Arrival and check in. Welcome briefing with your Travel Designer contact. Dinner in the Equipetrol neighbourhood, sampling eastern Bolivian cuisine distinct from the Andean plates most visitors expect.
Day 2 — Santa Cruz: Gateway to the East
Morning at the Biocentro Güembé wildlife sanctuary — butterflies, toucans, and native mammals in a lush lowland setting. Afternoon visit to the historic centre and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo. Evening briefing on the Jesuit Missions circuit ahead.
Day 3 — Chiquitania: San Xavier & Concepción
Private overland east into the Chiquitania — Bolivia's tropical lowland savanna, rarely visited and quietly extraordinary. Visit the mission of San Xavier, the oldest of the six UNESCO Jesuit missions, then continue to Concepción.
Day 4 — San Ignacio de Velasco & Santa Ana
Continue to the larger mission town of San Ignacio de Velasco, then to the hauntingly beautiful Santa Ana de Velasco — a tiny village where the original mission church survives almost unchanged since the 18th century.
Day 5 — San Miguel & San Rafael
Visit San Miguel de Velasco and San Rafael — both UNESCO-listed, both home to extraordinary baroque churches built by Jesuit priests alongside Chiquitano craftsmen. The craftsmanship in these remote villages is genuinely astonishing.
Day 6 — Return Santa Cruz / Fly to Rurrenabaque
Morning transfer back towards Santa Cruz, then afternoon flight north to Rurrenabaque. Transfer by motorised canoe to a conservation-led jungle lodge on the edge of Madidi National Park.
Day 7 — Madidi: Jungle Immersion
Full day in the Amazon with naturalist guides — morning wildlife walk through primary forest, canoe excursion on a river fringed with towering palms, and an evening night walk.
Day 8 — Madidi: Indigenous Community Visit
Morning visit to a Tacana or Quechua-Tacana community — meet local families, learn about the role of medicinal plants in daily life, and understand the community-led conservation model that protects this extraordinary corner of the Amazon.
Day 9 — Return Rurrenabaque / Fly to La Paz
Morning canoe back to Rurrenabaque. Afternoon flight to La Paz. Check in and evening in Sopocachi — a neighbourhood of tree-lined streets, independent restaurants, and a pace quite different from the city centre.
Day 10 — La Paz & Tiwanaku
Early transfer to Tiwanaku for a private morning visit with a specialist archaeologist — the ceremonial platforms, the Gateway of the Sun, and the subterranean temple best absorbed before the day-tour crowds arrive. Return to La Paz for an afternoon on the cable cars and a final dinner overlooking the city.
Day 11 — Lake Titicaca & Departure
Early morning transfer west to Copacabana and a boat to Isla del Sol — walk the ridge trail past Inca terraces and ruined temples with the lake stretching in every direction. Return to Copacabana and transfer directly to El Alto International Airport.
Journey Details
- Duration11 Days
- RouteRemote Bolivia: Chiquitania Missions, Amazon Headwaters & the Altiplano
- Days11 stops
Highlights
- Arrival
- Jesuit Missions
- Baroque Woodcarving
- Wildlife Density
- Return to the Heights
Initial Consultation — No Commitment