Touring in Bolivia

Bolivia is a remarkably diverse country, a constantly changing landscape of snow-capped mountains, lush rainforest and parched desert. Dominated by the Andes, this is a real stronghold of indigenous highland culture, and it remains one of the least visited countries in South America. Those travellers who do find their way here usually need a few days to acclimatise to the altitude - Bolivia is home to the world’s highest capital city, the world’s highest lake and the world’s highest commercial airport!

Once you’ve caught your breath in La Paz you’ll find some cute colonial architecture and fascinating markets, although Bolivia’s UNESCO-listed official capital, Sucre, is a more attractive city. Strike out into the countryside and you’ll start to appreciate Bolivia’s spectacular scenery, from the eerie lunar landscape of the Salar de Uyuni salt flats to the serene expanse of Lake Titicaca. Everywhere you go you’ll see Quechua and Aymara women in bowler hats, one of Bolivia’s most enduring images. The varied terrain also supports an impressive array of flora and fauna, including condors, pink freshwater dolphins, alpacas and the infamous coca plant.

Touring Highlights of Bolivia

• The remarkable Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, an alien landscape stretching over 4,633 square miles that was left behind when a vast prehistoric lake dried up.
• La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world, cradled by the Altiplano. Once you’ve adjusted to the altitude, head out and explore the colonial plazas, busy streets and bustling markets.
• Sky-high Lake Titicaca sits between Bolivia and Peru, shimmering in the shadow of the snow-capped Cordillera Real, and it’s a great place to chill out for a few days and meet the many indigenous groups that live here.
• Although not many people know it, Bolivia’s official capital is Sucre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considerably more attractive than La Paz, filled with beautiful whitewashed architecture.
• Spanish conquistadors founded Potosí as a base for extracting the bountiful silver under the surrounding hills, and this was once one of the world’s richest cities.