11 Unmissable Experiences in Bolivia

The highest (administrative) capital in the world, La Paz rests in a deep valley that suddenly drops away from the windswept high-altitude plains and snow-capped mountains above. It’s a breathtaking sight to behold, best enjoyed from the city’s expansive urban cable car network.

Indigenous culture is alive and well in La Paz and nowhere is this more evident than the city’s colorful Witches’ Market. Among the exotic knickknacks on offer are psychedelic brews and gruesome dehydrated llama fetuses.

Set alongside the glistening waters of Lake Titicaca, the quaint lakeside town of Copacabana is a hit with pilgrims who come to bless their automobiles with holy water and endless crates of beer.

A brief boat ride from Copacabana lies the stunning Isla del Sol, a sacred island where the Inca believed the sun was born. Ancient archeological sites and ice-capped Andean peaks only add to the appeal.

As the jewel of Bolivia’s tourism crown, the otherworldly atmosphere of the Salar de Uyuni is bound to impress. Come during the rainy season when the flooded surface creates a dreamy mirror effect.

Surrounding the salt flats is the picturesque Southwest Circuit, a barren land of bizarre technicolored lagoons, towering snowy volcanoes, and belching sulfuric geysers.

Did we mention these lagoons have a flamboyance of pink flamingos who come to feast on the algae-rich waters?

The mining town of Potosí was once the economic stalwart of the New World Empire and is a true cornerstone of South American colonial history.

Cerro Rico’s riches saw the construction of one of South America’s most picturesque colonial cities, a whitewashed architectural masterpiece which evokes all the grandeur of imperialist excess.

A quick flight from La Paz sees travelers arrive at Rurrenabaque, an Amazonian ecotourism hub known for its steamy jungle treks and wondrous wildlife safaris.

With caymans, turtles, and capybaras galore, the pampas of northern Bolivia boast a plethora of exotic Amazonian animals.

All these incredible experiences and more can be had on an Intrepid tour of Bolivia. Click here for more information.