Originally published 27 October 2010

We organise trips all over the world and, we will admit, sometimes concentrate a little too much on the more ‘A-list’ destinations. To redress the balance we look at one of the more off-the-beaten-track destinations but which would still be of interest to the more intrepid Audley traveller. With this in mind we look at Bolivia.

Sarah

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Learn about local legends on a trip to the Sajama National Park.

Bolivia is a country that perplexes the South America team here at Audley. It has always been a firm favourite of ours and is quite popular on the backpacking circuit, yet in 2009 we sent just a handful clients to Bolivia for longer than just a couple of days, compared to the several hundred that visited Peru. However, once you’ve been, you cannot fail to be captivated by this unique country.

For me Bolivia represents everything I expected when I first went to South America: striking highland scenery, tropical rainforests rich with wildlife, imposing volcanoes, strong indigenous cultures, Spanish colonial cities, Inca and pre-Inca ruins and colourful markets. In fact, the only obvious thing this landlocked country lacks is a good beach (but even then you can find some golden sand on the shores of Sun Island in Lake Titicaca, although the water is icy!).

Bolivia is almost a microcosm of the whole continent. So why is it off most people’s travel radar? We understand that it is isn’t for everyone – it is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and the infrastructure is limited – but we know that there are many people out there who would love it, so coming up are just a few of the reasons why we think Bolivia deserves to be considered.

Cultural highlights

1. Sucre Bolivia’s
capital and home to beautiful whitewashed colonial architecture plus the colourful weavings and handicrafts of the local indigenous population.

2. The Witches' Market, La Paz
Selling good luck charms, you can even buy a llama foetus, traditionally buried in house foundations for good luck.

3. The ruins of Tiahuanaco
See the remnants of a culture that contributed greatly to the more famous Inca Empire.

4. Cerro Rico (Rich Hill), Potosi
Visit Cerro Rico (Rich Hill) silver mine, Potosí to don a head torch and crawl into the still-active shafts of the mine that funded Spanish expansion in the Americas.

Striking Landscapes

Wedged between Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru, Bolivia was something of a territorial whipping boy in a series of post-independence wars and ended up losing half of its territory. However, it managed to cling on to some of the most diverse landscapes in all of South America ranging from the high Andean regions to the lowland Chaco and Amazon jungle.

The Andean regions offer some excellent hiking and trekking if you’re feeling active, whilst the lowlands will reward even the seasoned wildlife enthusiast. Lake Titicaca, famous as the highest navigable lake in the world, has beautiful views to the Cordillera Real (Royal Range) of the Andes and has some spectacular sunsets, but Bolivia’s most striking scenery is found in the remote southwest, on the Salar de Uyuni.

The Salar is the world’s largest salt flat and would be at home in most science fiction films. Its lunar landscapes, blinding expanses of salt that disappear into the horizon, hotels made entirely of salt, crystal clear skies, jewel coloured lakes and surreal rock formations are mesmerising. Thanks to the area’s rich lithium reserves industrial development here is a threat, but for now the Salar de Uyuni remains one of the most isolated and underappreciated landscapes on earth.

Culture and History

Bolivia’s colourful history can be traced as far back as 7000 BC, so the richness of the culture here cannot be underplayed. Before the Spanish conquistadors arrived the Tiahuanaco and Inca civilisations flourished and today over 60% of the population have indigenous heritage. And with the president, Evo Morales, championing rights for the Indian majority, Bolivia is a country that is by and large proud of its ethnicity and diversity.

Wildlife

Although better known for its culture and history, Bolivia is one of the world’s most bio-diverse countries and is home to many endemic species. The Madidi National Park north of La Paz is one of the best places to visit Bolivia’s Amazon basin to spot toucans, macaws, monkeys and perhaps some of the larger mammals such as tapir, river otter and capybara.

Up in the Andean regions you will see llama, alpaca and vicuña grazing at altitudes over 4,000 metres, while the Salar de Uyuni is an important breeding ground for several species of flamingo, including the rare James flamingo. Avid birdwatchers could consider heading further off the beaten track to the eastern regions of Bolivia around Santa Cruz and the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park.

Find out more about tailor-made holidays to Bolivia

Bolivia

Travel to Bolivia and explore the still waters of Lake Titicaca and the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni. Visit La Paz, one of Bolivia's most beautiful cities, along with Santa Cruz and the Jesuit Missions.

Read more about Bolivia »

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