Two weeks

Agree on Sucre.

And if you don't want to do the mine trip,I wouldn't bother with Potosi either....

La Paz, Salar trip and fly in/out of Rurre for Pampas trip...,,that is good for your timeframe....

If you arrive by plane in Uyuni on day one of this 12 day trip, then yes I'd say getting through Sucre would use up 8 days. Really I don't think it's worth it to fly all the way to Rurrenbaque for a 1/2 day Pampas tour, or even a full day tour. And I think Sucre is definitely worth the time, Potosi only if you are going to visit the mines, and Cochabamba not worth it on your time frame. If you decide against a rushed trip to Rurre, my suggestion is a 2-3 hour bus from La Paz to Corioco, in the las Yungas region. That's a really beautiful area to see.

Doing the Salar tour without acclimatization is not the best idea... maybe better first go to Sucre, then Potosí, then Uyuni.

Also going for two weeks in October. Hoping that enuff people will be around to keep price down on the two day bike ride and 3 day boat ride from La Paz to Rurre. Was only $250 two years ago but now prices are higher and are based on number of people going.

Did the road of death ride two years ago and highly recommend you consider it with Gravity Assisted.

Did the one day tour of Uyuni 2 years ago--looks like frozen Lake Erie in February--lot of WHITE!

Did the jungle tour at Rurre last trip --people who did the Pampas tour did NOT see any anacondas. Lot of people do Ayahuaska there.

Did not bother with mine tour as almost everyone staying at hostel in Potosi got sick from fumes in mine and discouraged me from doing it.

Sucre is OK...but had my camera stolen while many other backpackers had money pick pocketed there.

Heard many good things about Cochabamba but did not get there. Everywhere you go in Bolivia you will find people with pictures of BIG trout that they say they caught near that town.

Personally, I think that you should choose Sucre over Potosi (If you decide on either place at all). Sucre is a beautiful city to explore. Cochabamba is also fun, you can take the funicular up to see a giant statue of Jesus while overlooking the whole city. I think you should leave out Potosi, Sucre, and Cochabamba and instead spend an extra day in La Paz, head to Isla del Sol and/or go to Coroico (to experience the rainforest).

Below, I've written up what I think a good 12 day itinerary would be. It is quite ambitious (I'm aware), but I think it is definitely doable. I traveled around Bolivia for awhile, and although overnight buses are not always very comfortable, they definitely allow you to see a lot of the country in a "quick" period of time! Be aware that posted travel times are not always accurate as the cheaper the bus, the more likely it is to break down/make more frequent stops.

Suggested itinerary:
**La paz (2 days) - You will probably spend the first day acclimating to the high altitude.. We struggled a lot with altitude sickness when we first arrived!
Fly to Uyuni-
**Uyuni (3-4 days)
-fly to La Paz-
-bus (4 hours)-
**Copacabana/Isla del Sol (3 days)
-bus to La Paz-
**Camino de la muerte/Death Road (1 day)
-stay in Coroico overnight-
**Coroico (1 day)
Back to La Paz for flight home

Hi Thanks for suggestions. May have to reverse my order of things as flights to Uyuni are delayed due to Election on 20th September.
Anyone know if the transport ban that day is enforced on all transport options

So far i have come up with
Day 1 Land la Paz
Day 2 Fly to Uyuni (midday)
Day 3-5 Salt Plains
Day 6-7 Get to Potosi (see Mines, what time is the earliest bus?)
Day 8-10 Sucre
Day 11-13 La Paz (Moon Valley,Tiwanaku)

Or a round the other way
Day 1 Land la Paz
Day 2-3 Fly morning to Sucre
Day 4-5 Potosi (mines)
Day 6-8 Uyuni/Salt Plains (need to get from Potosi in time for 11am tours,maybe bus night before)
Day 9-13 Back to La Paz (over night bus)

Are both these routes doable given transport options. (1) is my preferred route but (2) seems safer time wise. Not sure i can fit any more in

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