Exploring Bolivia: Locals' Favorite Destinations And Hideaways

Bolivia is a breathtaking country with some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in South America. From the Amazon jungle to the world's largest salt flats, Bolivia rewards travellers with a variety of landscapes. This quiet corner of South America sees fewer visitors than its neighbouring countries, so you can enjoy the views without the crowds.

The capital city of Bolivia is Sucre, known for its beautiful white architecture. However, the seat of government is La Paz, the world's highest city, which stands at a dizzying 3,600m (11,811ft) above sea level. La Paz is a bustling and dynamic metropolis where indigenous traditions coexist with the modernity of a big city. The lively centre combines colonial architecture with colourful modern buildings, art museums, a growing food scene, and vibrant nightlife.

The Salar de Uyuni salt flats are undoubtedly the pick of Bolivia's tourist sights. Formed by the disappearance of an inland ocean, the salt flats are usually visited on three-day 4WD tours from the town of Uyuni, with side stops at the deserts, geysers, hot springs, and colourful lakes in the surrounding area.

If you're looking for adventure, try the hair-raising bike ride down the so-called Death Road between La Paz and Los Yungas. Bolivia is also home to Madidi National Park, one of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems, forming part of the Bolivian Amazon.

La Paz: the highest city in the world, with a bustling food scene, a proud indigenous heritage, and the world's largest cable car system

La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the highest city in the world, sitting at an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level. It is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with 755,732 residents as of 2024. Its metropolitan area, which includes El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million.

La Paz is a bustling metropolis where indigenous traditions coexist with the modernity of a big city. The lively centre combines colonial architecture with colourful modern buildings from Bolivia's post-independence period. The city is renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and for its nightlife.

La Paz is also a foodie's paradise, with a growing gastronomic scene. Popular Cocina Boliviana, for instance, is a lunch-only joint with a set menu that sparkles with creativity. Another highlight is Ali Pacha, one of the most progressive restaurants in South America, serving vegan dishes made with roots, shoots, flowers, and fruits.

La Paz is also home to the largest urban cable car network in the world. The Austrian-built system, known as Mi Teleférico, has halved the commute for suburbanites and offers breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding mountains of the Cordillera Real. Eight lines are in operation, with three more in the planning stage.

La Paz is a unique destination with a rich culture and history. The city is host to several landmarks dating from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Plaza Murillo, and Jaén Street. Hundreds of different museums can be found across the city, including the National Museum of Art, which houses an impressive collection of Bolivian art, ranging from colonial times to contemporary works.

La Paz is an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Bolivia.

Salar de Uyuni: the world's largest salt flats, a truly otherworldly landscape

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, covering 10,582 square kilometres (or 4,086 square miles) in area. It is located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of 3,656 metres (11,995 feet) above sea level.

The Salar de Uyuni was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes that existed around forty thousand years ago but eventually evaporated. Today, it is covered by a few metres of salt crust, which serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine rich in lithium. The area's large size, clear skies, and exceptional flatness make it ideal for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites.

During the rainy season, a thin layer of water floats above the salt flats, creating a mirror-like surface that reflects the sky. This phenomenon, which usually occurs from December to February or April, attracts many tourists hoping to capture the perfect photo. The rest of the year, from May to November, is the dry season, when the flats are easier to traverse and offer unique opportunities for perspective-bending photos.

The Salar de Uyuni is a major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano. It is also a prime breeding ground for several species of flamingos and hosts around 80 other bird species. The surrounding area features red deserts, mineral-rich lakes, and flocks of flamingos and Vicuñas herds.

The town of Uyuni, located near the salt flats, used to serve as a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals to Pacific Ocean ports. Today, it is a popular gateway for tourists visiting the Salar de Uyuni. The antique train cemetery located 3 kilometres outside Uyuni is a fascinating attraction, featuring abandoned trains from the collapse of the mining industry in the 1940s.

The landscapes of Salar de Uyuni provide tourists with unique photo opportunities. One of the key attractions is Isla Pescado, or Fish Island, located in the northern part of the salt flats. The cacti on this island can grow up to 10 metres tall, piercing through the salt crust. The island also offers spectacular views of the sprawling flats and nearby Andean mountains.

Another popular way to experience the surreal beauty of Salar de Uyuni is by staying in a hotel made entirely from salt blocks cut from the flats. The first such hotel, Palacio de Sal, was built in the middle of the salt flat in the 1990s but had to be dismantled due to environmental concerns. A new hotel with the same name was constructed in a different location, featuring a saltwater pool and whirlpool baths.

Salar de Uyuni is a truly otherworldly landscape that offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for travellers seeking breathtaking scenery and unique photo opportunities.

Sucre: Bolivia's capital city, full of white stone architecture and parks

Sucre, Bolivia's capital city, is a place of white stone architecture and parks. It is a city of well-preserved colonial architecture and Republican-style buildings, with sugar-white houses, basilicas, and civic buildings that sparkle in the South American sunshine. The city was established in 1538, during the Spanish colonial era, as Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo (City of Silver of New Toledo).

The city's main plaza, Plaza 25 de Mayo, is a great place to start exploring Sucre. As with all Spanish colonial-era cities, Sucre was built around a beautiful central plaza to provide a place for citizens to relax or socialise. One of the country's greenest plazas, Plaza 25 de Mayo has numerous park benches shaded by tall trees. In the centre stands a statue of the Venezuelan war hero and Bolivia's second president, Antonio José de Sucre, after whom the city is named.

Facing the main plaza is Bolivia's most important historical building, Casa de la Libertad (House of Freedom). This former Jesuit church is where Bolivia signed its declaration of independence in 1825, breaking free from Spanish rule. The site is now a museum that hosts historically important artefacts such as the first Argentinian flag and the declaration of independence.

A short walk from the city centre is the picturesque Recoleta, a popular spot for locals to play football and socialise in the late afternoon. Opposite the plaza is a 17th-century monastery with a fine collection of religious art. The highlight, however, is the Mirador Café, where you can watch the sun set over the city while enjoying a drink.

Another must-see site in Sucre is the San Felipe de Neri convent, a former monastery turned school. Inside, you can see an interesting rendition of the Last Supper, painted with elements of the local culture. But it is the inner courtyard, surrounded by graceful arches, that truly captivates. From the rooftop, you can admire a 360° panorama of Sucre, earning it the nickname "The White City of the Americas".

For nature lovers, a short distance from Sucre is Cal Orcko, a paleontological park with an impressive 5,000 dinosaur footprints.

Potosí: a city with a rich history of silver mining, now a centre for adventure tourism

Potosí, Bolivia, is one of the world's highest cities, sitting at a lofty 4,090 metres (13,418 feet) above sea level. It is famed for its silver-mining history and is now a centre for adventure tourism.

A Wealthy Mining History

Potosí was founded in 1545 after the discovery of silver in the area. The city quickly became famous for its wealth, and its population boomed. By the early 17th century, 160,000 people lived in Potosí, including native Peruvians, African slaves, and Spanish settlers. The city was the largest in the New World and was the economic centre of the Spanish Empire. Silver from the city funded the Spanish empire's wars and facilitated the exchange of slaves, fabrics, and spices globally.

A Centre for Adventure Tourism

Today, Potosí is a growing city and an important administrative, mining, and tourist centre in Bolivia. The city is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and its unusual setting in the Bolivian Tin Belt. It features a rare cold highland climate with a long dry period and a short but strong wet season.

The Casa de la Moneda, or National Mint of Bolivia, is a popular attraction. The 18th-century building now houses a museum of local history, ethnography, and art. Visitors can also take a tour of the mines on Cerro Rico, or "Rich Mountain", to learn about the city's mining history and meet the miners who still work there.

Potosí is also a great base for adventure activities. The city is surrounded by natural attractions, such as the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and Madidi National Park.

Madidi National Park: one of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems, forming part of the Bolivian Amazon

Madidi National Park is located in the northeastern part of Bolivia and is one of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems. It is part of the upper Amazon river basin in Bolivia and covers an area of 7,319.7 square miles (18,958 sq km). The park combines with the nearby protected areas of Apolobamba, Manurip-Heath, and the Manu Biosphere Reserve in Peru to form one of the largest protected areas in the world.

The park boasts a diverse range of ecoregions, including the Bolivian montane dry forests, the Bolivian Yungas, the Tuichi River and its surrounding rainforest, and the glacier-covered peaks of the Andes Mountains. This variety of habitats has led to an incredibly rich biodiversity, with more than 20,000 species of plants and a vast array of wildlife. The park is home to 272 species of mammals, 213 species of amphibians, 204 species of reptiles, 496 species of fish, and an impressive 1,254 species of birds, which make up 14% of the world's bird species.

The elevation in the park ranges from 1,968 to 19,685 feet (200 to 6,000 meters) above sea level, and the climate varies accordingly. The higher altitudes are cold, while the mid-level elevations have a moderate climate, and the northern lowlands are tropical. The dry season in Madidi National Park lasts from May to September, while the wet season spans from October to March.

The park is accessible from San Buenaventura by crossing the Beni River via a passenger ferry from Rurrenabaque. It is also bordered by several other protected areas, including the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park in Peru. The area is under threat from development projects such as road construction, logging, and agricultural expansion, which could have a detrimental effect on the region's biodiversity.

Madidi National Park offers a unique opportunity to explore the Amazon rainforest and experience its vast array of wildlife. Visitors can meet pink dolphins, try piranha fishing, and visit indigenous communities that call the park home. The park is also known for its responsible tourism and community ecotourism initiatives, with several ecolodges located within and around the park, such as the Chalalan Ecolodge, which is owned and operated by the indigenous people of San José de Uchupiamonas.

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