Places and destinations-High. Isolated. Cold. Andes. Incas. Altiplano

All true. But Bolivia, named for Simón Bolívar, El Libertador, is also dense rain forest and grassy lowlands, salt plains, and pockets of Mediterranean-like climate, producing tropical fruits and vineyards. Until you see them for yourself it might be hard to believe that portions of Bolivia are compared to the Garden of Eden for the climate fertility and scenery. There's also an area called the Gran Chaco which is sparsely populated, dry and all but barren. See this interactive map from Expedia for cities and regions. Sponsored Links

Bolivia is one of the few countries left in South America with a very high percentage of native language speakers. You'll hear Quecha and Aymara as often as you'll hear Spanish and from speakers like this who retain a great deal of their traditional culture. Why not learn both Spanish and Quechua in Bolivia so you can appreciate the Culture of the Andes?

Getting There

Getting to Bolivia isn't as easy as in other countries as many areas are accessible only by air. But if you persevere you'll be rewarded with spectacular landscapes as well as colorful wildlife. Bolivia borders Brazil and Ecuador along the northern lowlands with a vast Amazonian tropical rain forest.

Check out the fares and discounts listed in Reservations for South America.

When to Go

Try winter! It's cold in the altiplano, but winter, May to October, is the dry season. During the summer months of November to April, travel is difficult due to possible washed out roads, heat, insects and rain.

Check today's weather in La Paz, Sucre, Rurrenabaque and in Santa Cruz.

Shopping Tips

Bolivian textiles, in wool, alpaca and llama wool vary by region and are true works of art. The most famous are the red and black designs from Potolo.

Music and musical instruments. Once you've heard traditional folksongs in the peñas, folk music shows, you'll want more.

Things to Do and See

There's much to see and do in Bolivia. All kinds of outdoor adventure like hiking, trekking, fishing, birding, wlidlife viewing (much more than the ubiquitous llama!) skiing, and climbing. With the Inca legacy, there is archaeological exploring and cultural possibilities to overwhelm the senses. The cities offer all the urban entertainment you'd find anywhere.

No matter where you go, take lots of photos!

Altiplano and Highland Valleys:

La Paz, one of the two capitals of Bolivia, and nicknamed the city that touches the clouds, is one of the highest cities on earth and the center of Bolivian legislative government, culture and tourism.

Sucre, the judicial capital, has a pleasant climate, many historical associations and is near some of the fossils left by the The Dinosaurs of South America. Sponsored Links

Lake Titicaca is a sacred lake in Incan mythology and favored destination for visitors to Bolivia and Peru.

Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca is known for its fiestas and festivals, primarily the festival of the Virgen of Copacabana and Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria .

Pairumani in Cochabamba is the estate of silver baron Simón I. Patiño. You'll see extensive gardens farmland and a family mausoleum.

Did you know that the silver mining center of Potosí was at one time a larger city than London? Of course that was several centuries ago, but it's still a busy up and down city with traditional red tile roofs. The silver mines are still producing under methods which haven't changed much since colonial days.

In the southern altiplano, the vast salars, or salt lakes, of Uyuni and Coipasa present vast areas of desolate country. Several lakes, known by their colors, such as Colorada, Celeste, Verde, Blanca and Amarilla, are havens for wildlife.

Tiwanaku is Bolivia's premiere archaeological site, with ruins of a civilization pre-dating the Incas.

Tarija and Tupiza in the southwestern corner of Bolivia offer oasis-like respite from the salars. Tarija, with its Mediterranean climate and architecture is known for colorful fiestas and unique music.

Yungas:

Coroico and Sorata, thought to have the most scenic location in Bolivia, are popular with trekers and hikers for the mountains, often cloud and mist covered, and the beautiful green valleys. The Yungas form a natural, geographic division between the altiplano on the west and the Amazonian rainforests on the west.

Amazon Basin:

The rainforest area occupies about half of Bolivia, and is largely undeveloped. There are mines in the area, and most of the transportation and towns service the mines. Tourism is not yet developed, but visitors wanting jungle trips will find them here.

Rurrenabaque, on the Río Beni is the base for many of these trips by motor launch to see flora and fauna. Rafting on Río Beni is exhilarating.

Parque Nacional Alto Madidi protects one of the most complete and varied ecosystems, largely intact, in Soth America.

Riberalta and Guayamerin are frontier towns, with the latter on the Brazilian border and consequently busy.

Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado is named for the Bolivian biologist and boasts some of the best scenery in Bolivia along with an amazing variety of wildlife and a favorite for Birding.

Santa Cruz (photos) has an excellent zoo, primarily housing South America birds and fauna.