In this material, we have collected all the best sights of Bolivia with photos and descriptions that will really be interesting when visiting on their own or with the help of an excursion in Russian. An overview of the most beautiful and interesting places was compiled according to visit statistics for the past year.
Faraway countries beckon and charm a lot of people. And a visit to the South American continent will meet the expectations of travelers 100%. But - only if they prepare properly and make the right decisions. And for this you need to know the list of Bolivian attractions, for the sake of which it is worth flying across half the planet.
Potosi town
The story about what to see in Bolivia will not be complete without mentioning the monument from the UNESCO list. Silver ore was mined here in the 16th century. To supply water, a sophisticated complex of aqueducts and reservoirs was created. In the colonial part of Potosi, the mint is notable. Connoisseurs advise you to visit the Church of San Lorenzo and the houses where aristocratic families once lived. Barrios Mitayos was home to those who worked in the mines - and yet these areas are also distinguished by a pronounced flavor.
Urgent requirement: entry into Bolivia is open only with an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
Tiwanaku
Disputes about the dangers and benefits of the colonial period do not subside, but there is no doubt about the originality and brightness of the culture that existed before the arrival of the conquistadors. People continue to live in Tiwanaku. The local population speaks three Indian dialects. Experts have found that the peak of the city's power fell on the II-IX centuries AD. It is generally accepted that it was this region that became the backbone for the Inca state.
Uyuni Salt Flats
It is highlighted among other luxurious sites created by Bolivia's nature over millions of years. The views in the surrounding area are breathtaking. But vacationers complain about organized tours, or rather, related services. It is impractical to book trips to the salt marsh for many days, it is very hot, and salt baths dry the skin and mucous membranes.
The entire local population wears special masks and is completely wrapped up from the sun; the working day lasts at least 10 hours. During this time, you can collect a full body of salt. Unfortunately, such physical activities and work are paid for with minimal means according to local standards.
For photography, we advise you to go in February or March. In the spring-summer season (according to the northern hemispheric calendar), you need to stock up on thermal underwear and warm outerwear.
Lagoon colorado
This place rightfully contested the palm of the Uyuni salt marsh. Here, too, one must beware of the cold and the piercing cold wind. But the terrain justifies the risk and difficulty - there is an impression of being “on another planet”. The lagoon is surrounded by mountains.
Recommendation: observe maximum caution when visiting the country, because crime there has grown exponentially in recent years.
Illimani
This corner of South America and mountain ranges, peaks are inseparable from each other. But even among the mass of imposing rocks there is one that arouses special admiration. You won't need to travel far - Illimani is on the list of places that every tourist must see in La Paz and its environs. The mountain is visible from 100% of the city's territory. It is impossible to confuse it with others - there is snow on only one peak all year round. The remarkable peak makes up for the lack of sea coasts, especially when you consider the beauty of other parts of the mountains.
Museo del Tesoro
Once in Sucre, it is foolish to avoid visiting the Museum of Minerals and Gems. Visitors are introduced to the traditions of mining, processing of gems, and jewelry. The logical end of the tour is a store with jewelry from different eras. The museum is small, but the exposition was collected and presented with taste.
Schedule: Sunday to Saturday from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 6:30 pm.
Lake Titicaca
The body of water, which has no equal on the planet, definitely deserves to be included in the rating. Nowhere else is there so much water at a comparable height above sea level. The adjoining town of Copacabana is replete with tourist rental housing. Travelers sit in cozy cafes or stroll around the shops (the abundance of which compensates for the absence of large retail chains, which are almost non-existent throughout Bolivia). It is recommended to take a boat trip to the islands. Amazing views open at sunset.
Blue Lagoon
A mind-boggling mass of flamingos gather here. On the bluish surface of the water, they look incredibly photogenic. It is worth going here at the end of the tour of the Uyuni salt marsh. Or at the beginning of it - it already depends on taste and free time.
Recommendation: be sure to have an identity document with you. Bolivian police are wary of those who cannot present it immediately.
Fuerte de Samaipata
You don't have to limit yourself to the sights of La Paz - the old ruins of Samaipata are just as inspiring. There is no humidity in that area, the air is dry, and even the harsh climate of the highlands is easier to tolerate. A one-way trip takes 3 hours due to the poor quality of the roadway. It is advised to lay on the trip all day.
Portales Palace
Outwardly, the building looks like an old house in the familiar cities of Russia and Western Europe. The main attraction is not in the exterior, but in the remarkable past of the building. The interior introduces the design styles adopted long ago in Italian, Spanish and French architectural circles. The story about the prehistory of the palace is laconic, but the guides describe it aptly.
Advice: when traveling to distant regions of the country, take cash with you. The chance to use electronic payment instruments is not everywhere.
Ethnographic and Folklore Museum
It is advised to come here for 1 - 2 hours. The exhibits are presented in a significant number. You can learn the nuances of the old Indian culture and the features of the traditional costume. The local collection of masks amazes the imagination. The museum staff thought about the lighting and video sequences. Not the Louvre or the Hermitage, of course, but they are not much inferior to the recognized leaders.
Inkalyakhta
Located high in the Andes, the city is also a heritage of ancient culture. The name is given in the Quechua language and literally means "revenge of the Incas". In the late Middle Ages, Inkalyakhta proved to be an impressive center that dominated the surrounding area. Within the city limits, there are a lot of temples and other luxurious buildings. But since Inkalyakhta was founded only in the 1470s, he no longer had much time for development. And the more valuable is each saved monument.
Fact: Although Bolivia is home to the potato crop, corn is highly developed and highly prized.
May 25 square
A key place in the capital of the country should be visited by any traveler. The center of the square is a monument to General Sucre (after whom the city was named). The buildings of the city administration and the symbolic House of Freedom are located around. Palm trees are everywhere - near cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The square is invariably crowded with people, and shoe shiners who are rarely even 16 years old willingly come here.
Gate of the Sun
The list of attractions that characterize the culture of Bolivia definitely includes one of the most prominent archaeological sites on the planet. The height of the building is 3 m, and its width is 4 m. After the construction, the gate was covered with extraordinary inscriptions.Experts managed to decipher these inscriptions and establish that they contain the old Indian calendar, consisting of 290 days. The builders covered the gate with gold leaf. But it is clear that it was stripped long ago and hastily melted down by the Spanish invaders.
Dinosaur wall
The prehistoric monument was discovered by accident, when in 1994 (according to other sources, in 1985), a limestone quarry was developed. Paleontologists immediately began to study such a unique find - and calculated that there are thousands of traces of extinct dinosaurs. Their preservation became possible thanks to a thick layer of volcanic dust, which reliably covered the rock from weathering. On ancient trails, traces of both adults and cubs can be traced. In the Cretaceous period, the current 80-meter-high rock was a lake shore. On wet ground, the prints persisted for a long time; with the onset of dry season, they were preserved. The process was completed by tectonic shifts that turned the horizontal into a vertical.
Fact: Bolivia has 37 official languages, 33 of them are variations of the Guarani Indian language.
Mining Museum
One of the key objects of tourism in Bolivia is the exposition, which tells about the most important industry of the country both in the past and today. Look for a museum in the city of Oruro, in a former mine. The duration of the tour is 40 minutes. The guide tells about the conditions in which those who came there worked, pays attention to the life of the former miners. They will show both the equipment they used, and decrepit, worn-out trolleys, and a selection of minerals.
Lunar valley
The name of the area gave a visual resemblance to the surface of our planet's natural satellite. The cliffs are intertwined with depressions, craters and elevated areas. The relief here is phenomenally intricate. Even trained tourists with many years of hiking experience can get lost. Therefore, the territory was delimited by fences and routes that were safe for movement were allocated. Some of the stones outwardly resemble various animals. The visit time, depending on the route, is 15 or 45 minutes. There are no inspectors, and tourists themselves monitor their safety. Some people find that the valley looks like Tibet. In addition to unusual mountain forms, it will delight you with non-standard, catchy color transitions.
Noel Kempff Mercado
Describing the sights of Bolivia with photos and descriptions, one cannot pass by the graceful national park. The area of his lands exceeds 1.5 million hectares, or 15,838 square kilometers. The organization of the protected area here is not accidental - it is in this area that the sources of the Amazon are located. On the territory of the park, visitors will find both Amazonian forests and dry savannas, and other natural zones. The height difference is from 200 to 750 meters. Geologically, the territory of the park is composed of sandstone and quartzite, which appeared in the Precambrian period. Sheer cliffs are punctuated by rolling plains and steep slopes.
Fact: There is no McDonald's or any other fast food restaurant in the country. The reason is the extraordinary commitment of the local population to the traditional style of cooking.
Koipasa
An excellent salt lake in South America is known even to lovers of geography much less than its North American counterpart. And this is very in vain! The reservoir is located in the western part of the Altiplano plateau - one of the driest regions of the planet. A round bowl measuring about 27x29 kilometers in area reaches 806 square meters. There is a volcanic cone nearby, as well as a stratovolcano. There is no water runoff from the lake, and therefore it is highly saline.
Death road
Among the interesting facts, it is worth mentioning the most dangerous highway on the globe. The Alpine Road of Death, 2-3 meters wide, is regularly enveloped in fog, and the number of road traffic accidents here is measured in the hundreds a year. The highway connects La Paz, which dominates Bolivian cities in terms of population, and the administrative center of Coroico. Therefore, it is impossible to stop moving along it. The official name of the highway is Camino - Los Yungas. The hazard is partially reduced by special left-hand traffic and reconstruction; it has been conducted with varying success since the 2000s. The descent of cars takes place along the outer edge of the Death Road, and further from the abyss, cars go up.
