Tourism in Bolivia is developing at a rapid pace and there are all conditions for this. There are attractions for every taste. The natural beauty of South America in Bolivia is complemented by ancient architecture and picturesque cities.
The most popular cities in Bolivia are La Paz, Sucre and Potosi. La Paz and Sucre compete for the title of the main city of the country, but the forces are equal and each of them is worth a visit. In the first one can find a huge market with shamanic devices, and the architecture of Sucre is unparalleled. Bolivia is rich in unique places. These include the Uyuni salt marsh, the Moon Valley, the Colorado Lagoon. Here you can also see the largest freshwater lake, walk along the most dangerous path in the world, look at the tallest statue of Christ. Bolivia has many places to talk about with superlative adjectives.
Bolivia is home to an incredible number of different species of animals. Naturalists and researchers often come here, attracted by national parks and forests. In many places, wild, pristine nature has been preserved here. Therefore, this country more than rewards any traveler who wants to discover the real Bolivia.
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What to see in Bolivia?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
La Paz city
It is the de facto capital of Bolivia. The city is home to most of the government offices, and together with the suburbs, La Paz ranks first in terms of population. The city is very colorful, it combines ancient culture and modern trends. It is located in a stone "cup" of a dried-up river, on the slopes of which new buildings are constantly appearing.
Uyuni Salt Flats
In the south of the Altiplano Plain, there is the largest salt marsh in the world, which was formed after the drying up of the lake. It is a snow-white canvas with an area of 10,588 km². Among the attractions of the salt marsh are the Forest of Stones, which consists of natural stone statues, and the Fishing Island with its huge cacti. And during the rainy season, Uyuni turns into a huge mirror. Salt hotels were built on the lake for tourists.
Tiwanaku
Even before the Incas began to develop their empire, another, pre-Incan civilization existed in South America for 400 years. Its center was the city of Tiwanaku. Its area is 2.6 km². During the heyday of civilization, it was home to about twenty thousand people. The size of the stones from which the city is built is surprising. Scientists still cannot decipher the inscriptions on them.
Yungas death road
One of the most dangerous roads in the world, which claimed more than one human life. It passes through the Andes and was built by Paraguayan prisoners in the 1930s. The length of the road is almost 70 km, the depth of the abyss is 600 meters. The width of the road barely reaches 3.2 m. On average, about 300 travelers are killed here and more than 30 cars are crashed here, but there is no other way from Korokoiko to La Paz.
Lake Titicaca
It is the largest freshwater lake in South America. It is located in the Andes, on the border of Peru and Bolivia, at an altitude of 3812 meters, which makes it unique. The lake area is 8300 km². It consists of two sub-pools. The maximum depth of the first is 284 m, the second - 40 m. There are many islands on Titicaca, some of them are inhabited by people. Isla del Sol is one of the most popular destinations in Bolivia.
Lunar valley
In the driest desert on the planet, in some places it has never rained.An amazing place is located here - the Valley of the Moon. It is also deserted and lifeless, like the rest of the Atacama, but it attracts tourists very much. With its landscapes and reliefs, it resembles the surface of the moon. Salt hills cast unusual shadows, while columns, rocks and caves create amazing views.
Sucre city
The official capital of Bolivia, the white city, one of the centers of tourism in the country. Sucre was founded in 1538. It is located in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2750 meters, surrounded by the Andes. One can easily get dizzy here, but not from the high pressure, but from the amazing colonial architecture. The city is full of UNESCO-listed buildings. There are also many museums, cathedrals and churches.
Potosi town
The Spaniards, looking for El Dorado, found Potosi and, probably, achieved their goal. They say that the silver mined there would have been enough to build a bridge from Potosi to Madrid. In the 17th century, the city was one of the richest in the world. The population grew, as did the number of victims in the mines. But when the reserves of silver ran out, the Spaniards left the city along with all its churches, monasteries and luxurious mansions.
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
One of the largest parks in the Amazon Basin is located in the eastern part of Bolivia. Its area is 15,838 km². This is a very old area, over a billion years old. On its territory there are savannas, mountain evergreen forests, rivers and waterfalls. The most famous of them is Arkoiris. Its height is 88 meters. The national park is home to over 250 species of fish, 4000 species of plants and 130 species of mammals.
Puma Punku
The Puma Punku complex is located not far from the Tiwanaku facilities. It consists of huge stone blocks. Translated Puma Punku means "the gate of the cougar." On the territory of the complex with an area of 2 km² there is an embankment lined with megaliths. Their weight starts from 22 and ends with 400 tons. At the same time, the stones adhere so well to each other that it is impossible to slip a sheet of paper between them.
Lagoon colorado
On the territory of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve is the Colorado Lagoon, which is called the Blood Lagoon. It is a shallow salt lake with an area of 54 km. During the day and with a change in temperature, the color of the lagoon changes from red to purple-brown. The reason for this is sedimentary rocks and algae. The landscape of the lake is complemented by desert rocks. Often the landscape is decorated with flamingos that live in this area.
Madidi National Park
The park is famous for its hiking trails. On its territory there are rainforests, valleys and mountains. More than a thousand species of animals live here. There are safe areas for tourists, but other parts of the park are extremely dangerous. During a tour to the forest, you can live in ecological villages, catch piranhas, look for monkeys, jaguars, and do photo hunting. After going to the pampas, you can see the giant anteater.
Mount Cerro Rico
This is the mountain that brought extraordinary wealth to Potosi and claimed thousands of miners' lives. It rises above the city and is known as the “mountain that eats people”. Because of unsafe silver mining, the mountain is riddled with mines and holes. Its height has decreased by 400 meters, but the miners continue to dig, risking their lives every day. If the mountain collapses, it will bury the entire Potosi beneath it.
Cristo de la Concordia statue
The city of Cochabamba is home to the tallest statue of Christ in the Southern Hemisphere. Its height is 34.2 m, and together with the pedestal it is 40.4 m high. It was built on Mount San Pedro, therefore it is located at an altitude of 2840 m above sea level. The statue has an observation deck. There are 1399 steps leading to it. An incredible panorama of the city opens up from there.
Jesuit Mission to Chiquitos
It is a cultural and historical monument located in the department of Santa Cruz. It consists of six ancient settlements. There are many churches in them, which are the result of the fusion of Native American and European culture. They were built by the Jesuits in the 18th century. The churches have been restored and included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Amboro National Park
The park was founded in 1984 in the north of Bolivia. The park has tropical mountain forests and valleys. The central part of the park is almost inaccessible to tourists.The untouched nature has been preserved there. In other areas of the park, through which hiking trails pass, there is a very rich flora and fauna. If you go up the mountains, you can see volcanoes, gorges and waterfalls.
Salt de Manana
These are geothermal springs in the southwest of Bolivia. They cover an area of 10 km² and are located at an altitude of 4800-5000 m above sea level. This area has sulfur fields, mud lakes and pools of boiling mud. Volcanic activity is observed here. After an attempt to establish industry here, holes remained on the territory of the springs. Steam jets come out of them, which reach a height of 50 meters.
Market of the Witches Mercado de Brujas
This is a market in La Paz, where shamans and witches act as sellers. They sell everything: love potions, amulets, healing herbs, charms and magical attributes. But even here you can bargain. Also here you can buy a toad to attract wealth or items for communicating with ancestors. And if that doesn't work, there are plenty of silver and wool jewelry.
Arkoiris waterfall
The waterfall is located in the Noel-Kempf-Mercado National Park. It formed on the Pauserna River. Its height is about 90 m, and its width is 50. The name of the waterfall is translated from Spanish as "rainbow". This is because after lunch the sun's rays fall on the waterfall in such a way that they form a beautiful rainbow. The waterfall can be reached by plane, along the river or through the jungle.
Oruro Carnival
It is a masterpiece of the intangible heritage of humanity, included in the UNESCO heritage list. Carnival has become the main cultural event in Bolivia. The holiday is based on the traditions of the indigenous Bolivian Uru people. Now the carnival is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Presentation. It is celebrated for three days and three nights, at which time 48 different dances are performed. This involves 28 thousand dancers and 10 thousand musicians.
