Bolivia is not considered a popular destination. Honestly, I hadn’t heard a lot about the area. But, after a recent visit to this beautiful country, I was amazed and suggest the South American getaway should be added to your bucket list. 

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Bolivia is roughly the size of California and Texas combined. Seasons are opposite from the United States. Summer is November through April. Winter, May to October. 

Three most visited cities are La Paz, Uyuni and Sucre. Each is very different. Here is an overview of their unique opportunities.   

La Paz

This vibrant, colorful, crazy, fascinating, gritty, and frenetic city will take your breath away figuratively and literally! Perched between towering Andean peaks, it sits 13,000 feet above sea level. 

Most flights arrive at El Alto International Airport (LPB), the highest international airport in the world. A quick cab ride delivers you to the city center where you’ll find numerous hotels. We stayed at Hotel Rosario La Paz  which was walking distance to all the sites.

Public transportation is stellar with the brightly colored aerial cable car system named teleféricos. An Austrian company built and installed the first-class line in 2014. There are 26 stations transporting passengers to all neighborhoods. They’re not only efficient, but provide a birds’ eye view of the city. A singe ride costs 3 bolivianos — roughly $0.43USD. 

For amazing outlooks of La Paz take the red, yellow and purple lines to the El Alto district.  

Wandering the streets of La Paz is a treat! Cholitas — local women — dressed in colorful pleated skirts worn over multiple petticoats, shawls thrown over their shoulder used to carry children or goods, and a bowler hat perched on top of their head who’s style and tilt signify marital status, sell their wares on sidewalks. 

Historical architecture dating to the 1700’s fill the squares. San Francisco Basilica and Plaza Murillo where the government buildings are housed are two iconic landmarks. 

Mercado’s — markets — are scattered throughout the city. Some are sprawling mazes of stalls, other are more organized and sell great souvenirs. All are perfect for people watching. You’ll find yourself immersed in the daily life of the residents.

Sample local foods. One must-try snack is a salteña. The sweet, buttery crust is similar to an empanada or chicken-pot-pie to go. They’re stuffed full with beef, vegetables or chicken. 

Another delicious snack is a cuñape. These cheesy rolls made with yucca flour are addicting!

For a real treat, dine at Gustu restaurant in Zona Sur. Head chef Marsia Taha worked at Noma which was voted best restaurant in the world for five years, before venturing out to open this dining treat in her hometown.

Make sure to visit Valle de la Luna — Valley of the Moon — located about five miles outside of town. The best way to get there is by taxi. 

The surreal landscape consists of eroded rock formations created by wind and rain over the centuries. Jagged spires, deep gullies and unusual clay formations give the area a moon-like appearance. 

There are two main walking loops which take anywhere from 15-45 minutes cover. Bring water and sunscreen because it’s dry and there’s no shade. But, the views are worth it.

Remember, altitude sickness is a thing! I advise you don’t hike or have any big plans the first day or two in La Paz to spend some time adjusting. 

To combat altitude sickness, drink warm cups of coca tea. Our hotel supplied it at the breakfast buffet. A nap will help. And drink tons of water! 

Uyuni

One of THE most beautiful places I’ve been is the Uyuni Salt Flats! My words will not do it justice, but I’ll try. You need to experience it for yourself.

It is located about 300 miles southwest of La Paz. You can fly or take an overnight bus. We did the latter. It took about nine hours and saved one night of accommodations. The fare ranges from $22USD to $38USD. Take a neck pillow and cozy blanket to stay warm and get some sleep. 

Salar de Uyuni — Uyuni Salt Flats — are 4,050 square miles of salt crust, 12,000 feet high in the Andes, and can be seen from space. The flats are left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago. It’s as thick as 30 feet in places, allowing cars to drive on the flats. 

We were there during the dry season (May), when the flats look like a white desert. The cool temperatures create geometric patterns on the salt crust. During the rainy season, the shallow accumulation of water creates a mirror like appearance. 

The endless horizon allows photographers to play with perspective and depth of field for fun optical illusions. 

In the center of the flats is a collection of international flags planted by travelers from around the world. These create a gorgeous colorful contract to the white expanse. 

Near the flags is Incahuasi, a coral island. Over 40,000 years ago it was submerged in the prehistoric lake. Now giant cactus cover the island, some 40 feet tall. The unique species is protected by Bolivian law and forbidden to be removed. A hike to the top takes about 30 minutes. There is a nominal ticket price of 30 boliviano ($4.35USD).

Using a tour company to visit the salt flats is highly recommended so you get the full experience. A one day excursion is eight hours. We used Hidalgo Tours and they were fantastic. Our driver/guide was extremely knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. 

Lunch is included with the tour and it’s quintessential South America food; shredded llama meat and beef served with potatoes, yams, quinoa, plus goat and sheep cheese. Sitting at a picnic table, covered with brightly woven textiles staring out at the never ending expanse of salt is surreal.  

Sunset is one of the most beautiful on the planet.

Towards the end of our day, the tour guide set out a table with snacks and drinks. We sipped and nibbled while watching le sol dip beneath the horizon.  

Stay at Uyuni’s Palacio de Sal hotel on the salt flat shores. It is constructed with more than 1 million salt blocks! Beautiful hardwood laid on top of salt floors create paths leading throughout the structure. Salt sculptures are displayed in the public areas. 

Our guest room had a salt brick dome ceiling above the bed. Make sure to visit the spa which has a heated pool with floor to ceiling windows for star-gazing at night. 

Sucre

Another bus ride northeast of Uyuni will take you to Sucre, Bolivia’s constitutional capital. The country has two. La Paz is the administrative capital. Sucre is a world UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by the Spaniards in 1538, the beautifully preserved architecture is indicative of Europe. 

White-washed colonial style buildings give the city it’s nickname casa blanca. Center city plaza is the meeting place for local families. 

Education is paramount in Bolivia. Sucre alone has four universities. Degree programs are the same as the United States — four year bachelors, 1.5 to two year master’s, and doctorate’s vary with needed research.

Sucre boasts a rich museum landscape that displays their heritage. Casa de la Libertad is the core site of Bolivia state formation where the country’s first constitution was drafted. Catedral Museum showcases religious art. A highlight is the Virgin of Guadalupe painting with real gemstones valued in the millions. Museum ASUR is dedicated to indigenous colorful weavings and has live demos. 

My favorite is Museo del Pan — Bread Museum — that tells the story of Sucre’s panaderia tradition from colonial times until today. 

The city is extremely walkable.

It splays out from the plaza many blocks past parks, historic homes, shops, and restaurants. Callejones de los Gatos neighborhood has pedestrian alleyways named after it’s resident felines. 

On the outskirts of Sucre is El Castillo de La Glorieta and gardens on 98 acres. You can take a cab to the landmark. Proprietor’s Don Francisco Revilla and wife Doña Clotilda built a pink castle with a mishmash of architectural styles in 1897. Three towers embellish the structure. One named Big Ben replicates it’s namesake in London. Their silver mine afforded them to travel the world gathering decorating ideas. 

The couple were extremely philanthropic, especially to local orphans for which they funded numerous shelters. 

Pope Leon recognized Francisco and Doña’s generosity by bestowing the titles Prince and Princess of La Glorieta, the only ones in Bolivian history. 

Entry into the castle is 20 bolivianos ($2.90USD), and includes a free guided tour. Spanish only, so brush up on your Español. There’s no cost to explore the gardens. 

My overview of these three cities just touches on a bit of the riches Bolivia has to offer. Tourism is growing, but many areas remain unspoiled and authentic. Local traditions are still remarkably intact. 

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