Introducing Bolivia
Simply superlative – this is Bolivia. It’s the hemisphere’s highest, most isolated and most rugged nation. It’s among the earth’s coldest, warmest, windiest and steamiest spots. It boasts among the driest, saltiest and swampiest natural landscapes in the world. Although the poorest country in South America (and boy do Bolivians get tired of hearing that), it’s also one of the richest in terms of natural resources. It’s also South America’s most indigenous country, with over 60% of the population claiming indigenous heritage, including Aymará, Quechua, Guaraní and over 30 other ethnic groups. Bolivia has it all…except, that is, for beaches.
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This landlocked country boasts the soaring peaks of the Cordillera Real around Sorata and the hallucinogenic salt flats of Uyuni, the steamy jungles of the Amazon Basin and wildlife-rich grasslands of the Southeast. Unparalleled beauty is also reflected in its vibrant indigenous cultures, colonial cities such as Sucre and Potosí, and whispers of ancient civilizations. This is exactly what attracts visitors, and with good reason. Bolivia is now well and truly on travelers’ radars; opportunities for cultural and adventure activities and off-the-beaten-path exploration have exploded. But while most travelers stick to the well-worn paths of the Altiplano, there’s plenty to be found elsewhere, including the tropical east and the lowland regions in the south.
Bolivia’s social and political fronts have been in flux since the appointment of the country’s first indigenous president. Optimism is generally high, especially among the indigenous majority, although many changes are afoot. Protests, marches and demonstrations are a perpetual part of the country’s mind-boggling landscape. This is a truly extraordinary place. Put on your high-altitude goggles, take a deep breath (or three) and live superlatively.
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- Trek the Inca Trail, explore the Amazon rainforest and cross the Bolivian altiplano
- Discover the sacred Land of the Incas
- Journey from Cusco to La Paz via Lake Titicaca
- Explore the best of Bolivia in 12 days
Last updated: Jan 19, 2012
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: Gluten free/Celiac in Bolivia
by megansprague 16 May 2012
Muchas gracias a todos! Ha yes I am well aware of the questionable hygiene standards in Bolivia and especially La Cancha. I think I'll…
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SA on a shoestring NEED TO BUY, in Arg-Chile
by mguycooper 16 May 2012
Hi folks, currently in Puerto Mntt, Chile, heaing to Bariloche, Arg, and then north from there. Just changed my flight to stay another…
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SA on a shoestring NEED TO BUY
by mguycooper 16 May 2012
Hi folks, So I am in Puerto Montt and I just changed my return flight to stay another month in SA! Super excited needless to say. This…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Bolivia
Browse more cities in BoliviaFeatured property
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Hostal de Su Merced
Sucre
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Bolivia
Things to do
- All things to do (742)
- Activities (118)
- Entertainment (87)
- Restaurants (255)
- Shopping (78)
- Sights (153)
- Tours (51)
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Our Top Picks For Bolivia
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1 Salar de Uyuni
An eerie, otherworldly sea of salt that will haunt your daydreams for years to come
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2 Potosí
A wealth of colonial churches with fabulous paintings, and miners looking to strike it lucky in hell
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3 Sorata
Alluring spot for action or inaction, for exhilarating treks or swinging in a hammock
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4 Parque Nacional Torotoro
Thousands of dinosaur tracks criss-cross this rough and rugged beauty of a national park
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5 Samaipata
This picturesque, laid-back town is the gateway to the pre-Inca site, El Fuerte, and stunning Parque Nacional & Área de Uso Múltiple Amboró
Fast Facts about Bolivia
- Birth rate
23.3 births/1000
- Literacy rate
87.2%
- Population below poverty line
64%
- Merchant marines
25 ships
- Annual military spending
US$130 million
- Highest point
Nevado Sajama 6452m
- Population
8.9 million humans, 3 million llamas
- Airports with unpaved landing strips
1068
- Average annual income
US$2900
Our favourite Bolivia Blogs (beta)
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The Thing About Coca
Blog: Viva Latin America! - 24 April 2012
You may not have heard of coca, but these green leaves are a common sight in the Andes region. Whether it is boiled up as tea or held in mouths for hours on end, many men and women from the north west of Argentina to Venezuela couldn’t live without it. And if you’re a Coca-Cola [...]
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Lady in La Paz
Blog: A Lady in London - 13 April 2012
The drive from Lake Titicaca to La Paz, Bolivia is one of the most adventurous I’ve ever experienced. Leaving the town of Copacabana, the road winds through thick green hills and along sapphire waters until it reaches a point where there should be a bridge. But there isn’t. There is only a wide stretch of [...]
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Lady on the Island of the Sun
Blog: A Lady in London - 11 April 2012
It was cold in Bolivia. As my bus wound its way around Lake Titicaca, rain spat at the windows and wind whipped across the roof. Gone was my sunny day on the floating islands in Peru. I was entering a new country en route to the famous Isla del Sol, and I was beginning to [...]
