Bolivia Travel Guide
Bolivia Essentials
Language: Spanish
Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
Rate:
Time Zone: GMT -4
Capital City: La Paz
Population: 10.9 million
Layout: See Map
Travel to Bolivia
La Paz is the loftiest capital city in the world at 3,632m above sea level, with the looming Mount Illimani in the background at 6,460m. La Paz boasts a number of excellent museums, including the Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas and the Museo de Metales Preciosos Pre-Columbinos.
Nearby Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of the Incas and is one of Bolivias most sacred and historic sites, attracting every year thousands of religious pilgrims who pay homage to the beloved Virgin of Copacabana. One of the highest navigable lakes in the world, the lake contains 36 islands and is a beautiful sapphire-blue colour. The main town here is Copacabana, which is home to a brilliant white Moorish cathedral.
Also near to La Paz are Moon Valley, a maze of miniature canyons and pinnacles; Zongo Valley, known for its ice caves and lakes; and Tiahuanaco, Bolivias most important archaeological site.
The remote states of Beni and Pando, bordering Brazil and the Amazon, are situated in the heart of the jungle and their dramatic colourful landscapes provide visitors with a different aspect of Bolivia. Land and river excursions are popular here and the national dishes are very tasty.
Santa Cruz, in the east, despite modernisation retains much of its colonial past and shares many historical links with neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. Bolivia's fastest growing city enjoys a tropical ambience and frontier feel and is used mainly as a base for exploring nearby rainforests and 18th century Jesuit missions.
Located to the southwest of Santa Cruz, Sucre is rich in museums, libraries and historical archives, of which the most revered are the Cathedral Museum, Colonial Museum, the National Library and the Recoleta Convent.
Just southwest of Sucre and situated at the foot of Rich Mountain, Potosí, known as the imperial city, was once the most important city on the continent and was famed for its mineral wealth. Today, it stands as a memorial to this history with the House of Coins and Oruro, a traditional mining centre.
Way down in the south of Bolivia near the Argentinean border, Tarija, where fine wines and the aroma of beautiful flowers are the norm, enjoys a quiet and unhurried atmosphere. Situated at 1,957m above sea level, Tarija is a very friendly city and enjoys an excellent climate.
Even farther southwest is the fiery red lake known as Laguna Colorada, set high up in a treeless landscape with gentle hills. Rare James' flamingos inhabit the lake, which can get as cold as 20 degrees below zero. South of here is the geothermal area of Sol de Mañana, with its geysers and mud pools. Not far away is the 5,000-metre altitude blue-green Laguna Verde lake, which has the 5,930-metre cone of Volcán Licancabur as a backdrop.
