THE MOST UNDERRATED COUNTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA
With Peru to the west and Brazil to the east, Bolivia is often forgotten among its tourist-ladden neighbors, but don’t let a lack of notoriety fool you. From its picturesque landscapes to its indigenous people, this country will blow you away. If Bolivia isn’t on your radar, here’s a few reasons why it should be:
Bolivia is breathtakingly beautiful
Bolivia is home to the highest capital city in the world – La Paz. The city is built on a canyon, overlooking the valleys of the Andes, making it one of the most unusual urban areas in South America. The city’s cable car, the longest in the world, provides 360 degree views of the city’s breathtaking topography. La Paz, however, is only a teaser to what Bolivia has to offer.
Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, is the most beautiful natural wonder I have ever witnessed. Within a few minutes of driving on the salt flats, you are seemingly alone – not a soul in sight. Outside of the clouds that hover over the salt, you will find pure nothingness in the distance. The sheer vastness of the salar creates opportunities for perspective both in photography and thought.
Travel a little further south and discover the more remote areas of the Andean Plateau. The landscapes are varied and photo opportunities are endless. Laguna Colorada, a red-colored lagoon populated by hundreds of flamingos, is unlike anything you've ever seen. The entire region is filled with bright waters, active geysers and volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, and the Dali desert, the inspiration for Salvador Dali’s surrealist art, most notably The Persistence of Memory.
Bolivia’s culture is unique and vibrant
Enter the streets of La Paz and be transported back in time as you discover the Bolivian witchcraft culture. The people of Bolivia continue to follow many of the indigenous traditions passed from prior generations. In the markets, you will find unusual products, from dried llama fetuses to aphrodisiacs, all with ancient Aymara meanings and ritual purposes. Unlike Peru, many Bolivian women continue to wear indigenous garb in day to day life.
Take a walk along La Paz’s vibrant streets and you will find many women adorned in black top hats and long frilly skirts. In the district of El Alto, experience reinvented Bolivian culture as indigenously dressed women, called “Cholitas” partake in comical wrestling among an audience of locals.
Bolivia is the cheapest country in South America
South America is composed mostly of developing countries but tourist prices remain high when compared to Asia and parts of Africa. Bolivia is one of the few South American countries that offers a strong balance between both affordability and infrastructure. Cabs from one part of town to another cost only a few dollars and food can be quite cheap if you avoid the more touristy spots.
Bolivia has not been ruined by tourists
La Paz is slowly becoming a new home to backpackers. The tourist infrastructure is not as developed as Peru or Brazil but it will be there in the next decade. Outside of La Paz, the Andean plateau remains largely untouched. You can drive for hours and see only one or two other jeeps in the region. Even Uyuni, with questionably the most beautiful natural wonder in the world, remains a sleepy town. The shops close early in the day and finding an English speaking tour guide in Uyuni can be quite difficult.
Of course, this is simply a glimpse of what this beautiful country has to offer. The next time you consider a trip to South America, don’t overlook Bolivia. While its natural wonders will always exist, the pure rawness of the people, places and culture may never be as it is now.
