Although Bolivia is a landlocked country, the landscape certainly does not miss a coastline. Salt flats that stretch to the horizon, golden deserts, moon-like valleys, dense jungle, snowy Andean peaks and the clear waters of Lake Titicaca make Bolivia a spectacular country to visit.
A tailor-made itinerary to Bolivia is certainly for those seeking adventure and happy to settle for simpler accommodation and long journeys. However, you will be rewarded with striking landscapes along the way, from snow-capped peaks, smouldering volcanos, emerald-green lagoons and otherworldly rock formations.
Acclimatise to Bolivia’s dramatic heights in the bustling capital, La Paz, soaring 3,500 metres above sea level. Take a city tour to visit the fascinating witches’ market, the colonial centre and take a cable car ride to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of this impressive city. As you climb the streets of La Paz you’ll notice cholitas – indigenous women who wear bowler hats and pleated skirts, wrapped in woollen shawls with tassels that can reach down to their knees.
From La Paz, you can travel by road to Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest lake navigable to large vessels, sitting at 3,810 metres above sea level. Arrive first to the lakeside town of Copacabana to take a hydrofoil cruise to see the fascinating Uros-Iruitos floating reed islands. You can also visit the sacred Sun and Moon islands where you will find the ‘Inca staircase’, a set of 206 stone steps which lead up to the town and to the sacred ‘fountain of youth’. In the evening, you can stay on the shores of the lake at Inca Utama and admire the southern constellations from their observatory.
In the south of the country, along the Chilean border, you can travel to Uyuni. Here is where the world-famous salt flats bleach the landscape and picturesque cacti cling to the only form of land at the heart of the pan. Mineral-rich lakes and lagoons are home to a flamboyance of flamingos that add a splash of colour to the dried backdrop. We recommend spending a couple of days in Uyuni, as the journey here is long and there is a lot to discover. A highlight is certainly a stay at Luna Salada, an extraordinary hotel built with blocks of salt.
Speak to our travel consultants about the option of going further afield in Bolivia, such as the colonial city of Sucre, the lowlands around Santa Cruz, the Madidi National Park in the Amazon basin or venture south into Chile to explore the Atacama desert.