Bolivia holiday

Pictured below is a young girl on the Islas del Sol, one of 36 islands that dot the crystal-clear waters of Lake Titicaca, a high-altitude freshwater sea that laps the shores of both Peru and Bolivia in South America.

The Islas del Sol is one of the two islands said to be the legendary sites of the Inca's creation myths.

(Read more...)

Note: A left-wing government was elected by the Bolivian people in late 2005 with economic and drug policies in conflict with the United States. In September 2008, violent clashes in Bolivia have claimed almost a dozen lives and injured about 20 others, with Bolivia and US expelling each other's ambassadors. Anti-government protesters have gone on the rampage mostly in the pro-autonomous east of Bolivia. Pro and anti government crowds have clashed mostly just outside Cobija, capital of the eastern province of Pando. Travellers should avoid protesting crowds.

If you've got tickets to Bolivia, prepare for a cheap holiday through the highest altitude country in South America.

Prepare also to mix with the most authentic Indian community in Latin America. More than half the people in Bolivia live by traditional means and with traditional beliefs, the modern world a plane ticket away.

At an altitude of 3808 metres and covering 8100 square kilometres, Lake Titicaca is traditionally regarded as the highest navigable lake in the world - although there are actually some higher ones in Peru and Chile.

The lake is 233 kilometres from the north-west to the south-east and 97 kilometres from the north-east to the south-west.

Lake Titicaca has clear, sapphire-blue water and is revered by the Indians who live on its shores.

Half the lake lies within the border of Bolivia and Copacabana is the principal settlement. The other half is in Peru, where Puno is the main town.

Cheap tickets buy a boat cruise which can be a relaxing and scenic journey from country to country, soaking up numerous aquatic tourist attractions on the way.

Travellers should wear protective headgear or sunscreen while at Lake Titicaca because the thin air and high altitude provide plenty of ultraviolet radiation.

Anti-government protests, strikes and violence have marred Bolivia's landscape during 2005, often crippling transport, and tourists are advised to contact their relevant embassies to determine whether holiday travel in Bolivia is worthwhile. Roadblocks have caused some petrol and food shortages in La Paz.

Tourists or Westerners are not the target of public anger so daily travel is no more dangerous in Bolivia than in past years. Public protests are mostly plannned and advertised but they can degenerate into riots and should be avoided.

It's possible to have cheap holidays in Bolivia because the country is poor. Poverty is endemic, particularly in the west of Bolivia.

However, poverty leads to crime and there are various precautions tourists should take and areas they should avoid if they don't want disappointment or danger.

Female tourists should be careful and it's worth checking with your embassy for information about areas in Bolivia considered unsafe for travel.

The democratic Republic of Bolivia covers 1,098,580 square kilometres sandwiched between Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Chile in central South America, and is home to about 9 million people.

About 2.5 million people live in the capital city of La Paz.

Roughly 60% of Bolivians are either Quechua or Aymara Indians, 30% of the remainder being mestizo (mixed blood) and 15% European with Spanish the strongest bloodline.

Almost everybody in Bolivia is Roman Catholic, although Christianity has its own local flavour.

Spanish is the universal language but most Indians speak Quechua or Aymara. Bolivia is a country where English speakers can be left floundering during their holiday travel.

Tourists who are citizens of most western countries can enter and travel in Bolivia without a visa for up to 30 days or 90 days.

Bolivia has various nasty bugs in certain areas including cholera, malaria and polio, but the most common ailment for tourists on holiday is altitude sickness.

The wildlife of Bolivia is astounding, particularly in the jungle lowlands which are largely undeveloped.

Top

Bolivian civilisation began about 21,000 years ago. Along with the Incas, the most prominent pre-Columbian culture was the Tiahuanaco tribe who settled around Lake Titicaca between AD 600-1200.

Spanish troops invaded Bolivia in 1531 and quickly took the country, soon discovering silver deposits that would be mined by slaves to prop up the Spanish economy for the next 200 years.

Bolivia's peasants revolted and the country became an independent republic in 1825.

Territorial wars with neighbouring countries in the 19th and early 20th Century saw Bolivia become landlocked.

Military coups and civil unrest were common from the 1930s to the 1980s. This political turmoil has left Bolivia with a stagnant economy and high unemployment.

Bolivia is a fascinating blend of the new and old, its streets teeming with a mix of traditionally dressed peasants, the women wearing bowler hats, and suited businessmen plugged into the modern world.

Bolivia's capital of La Paz is 4 kilometres above sea level and is built into an enormous canyon floor. The 6460 metre Ilimani mountain peak stands sentinel some 60 kilometres to the east.

La Paz is the most traditional Indian city in South America and most of the locals - the easy-going Los Pacenos - are extraordinarily friendly. La Paz is one of the safest South American capitals but backpackers and tourists should still be cautious, particularly in the travel hotspots.

Holiday tourists often find the best area for a cheap meal and a roof is between the Prado and Calle Manco Capac.

For something different, head south of La Paz to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's biggest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometres. This massive area was a lake until about 40,000 years ago when the water evaporated. The Salar boasts lunar landscapes with bizarre rocks resembling animals, trees and volcanoes. Snow-capped mountains occupy the horizon and about the only living things are llamas, flamingoes and giant cacti. Highlights of the Salar include the Train Graveyard, the Valle de Rocas, Laguna Hedionda, Laguna Colorado, Eduardo Avaroa, the Termas de Polques hot springs and the Sol de Manana volcanic zone boasting a series of sulfur pools and geyser basins. A shallow pool of clear water often covers the lake surface in the wet season and it's a good idea to bring along some sunglasses to cut the glare of the salty landscape. It's also smart to bring a sleeping bag, warm clothing and sun protection. The easiest and cheapest way to see this spectacular area is to go to the desert town of Uyuni, some 546 kilometres south of La Paz. The Panamericana bus company provides a daily service to Uyuni, costing up to US$10 in 2008 and taking about 13 hours. To arrange a 4-wheel drive guided tour, there are plenty of tour agencies around the town's main square or you can negotiate with the many hawkers promoting trips around the central bus station.

Other tourist attractions during your holiday travel through Bolivia are the city of Cochabamba (said to have the best climate in the world), various scenic mountain lakes, the Zongo Valley Ice Caves, jungle villages and the city of Santa Cruz, which is within the rainforests and offers plenty of tropical adventures.

As in Brazil, it's possible for tourists to hire tickets for comparatively cheap river boats in the tropical jungle lowlands of Bolivia so they can experience the primordial, solitary heart of the Amazon and its tributaries.

The Madidi National Park in north-west Bolivia is 1.8 million hectares of pristine rainforest and jungle. The park is often touted as one of South America's most intact ecosystems, boasting everything from lowlands to soaring Andean peaks and a startling variety of Amazonian wildlife. An exciting way to travel through Madidi National Park is along the Tuichi River, many tourists staying in the town of San Jose. The upriver journey is cheap but can be slow and seem perilous.

Top

If you have a ticket for a holiday in Bolivia, be mindful that the country has different altitudes and different climates. The summers are wet and the winters are dry.

Also be aware that summer can provide delightful weather in the highlands of Bolivia but little more than sticky, muddy, bug-infested misery in the jungle lowlands.

Tourists should bring a holiday wardrobe catering for all climates and be mindful that much of Bolivia is fairly cool with very cold, sometimes snowy weather in the highlands.

Most tourists enjoy their holiday in Bolivia during the winter months between June and September, when accommodation can be scarce.

There are plenty of religious festivals in Bolivia, highlights including the week-long Fiesta de la Virgen de Candelaria celebrated at Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the week before Lent.

Bolivian beers, wines and spirits are very strong and you're likely to stumble back to your hotel bed to suffer a holiday hangover.

If you travel to Bolivia, budget for a cheap holiday around US$25 per day or a comfortable vacation upward of US$40 per day.

Be aware that direct flights to La Paz and Santa Cruz are expensive and cheap tickets usually aren't available. It's often cheaper to travel to a neighbouring country and cross the border into Bolivia by land or water at Lake Titicaca.

Bolivia has generally poor roads, many of which aren't paved. Transport is cheap but often chaotic and slow throughout the country. Rural highway accidents are well above average in Bolivia because often overcrowded vehicles are often driven at high speeds on poorly maintained mountain roads.

American dollars are traded just about everywhere but tourists shouldn't rely on their credit cards outside the major cities.

Top

The tropical pampas and rainforests of Bolivia are becoming a lure for adventure travellers who want a touch of danger in their holiday.

You can legally chew coca leaves, which provide the base ingredient for cocaine. Bolivians consider the plant sacred and it is a mild stimulant.

Northern Bolivia is a patchwork quilt of grassy plains and rainforests, many of which have so far escaped the deforestation plaguing other parts of the Amazon basin.

A popular destination for adventure holiday tourists is the northern town of Rurrenabaque, nestled against the banks of the Rio Beni.

Rurrenabaque can be reached via a hair-raising bus trip from La Paz, considered one of the most dangerous road journeys in the world.

A safer but more expensive alternative for tourists is a plane ticket from La Paz to Rurrenabaque with Transport Aero Militaire Airways.

The jungle and pampas lowlands of Bolivia are almost always hot and humid. The main threat to tourists doesn't come from large animals but from mosquitoes, of which there are constant swarms.

Smart travellers holiday in Bolivia with plenty of insect repellent and wear sufficient clothing to protect their skin, despite the heat.

The larger animals of the Bolivian rainforests are mostly nocturnal and it can be a nerve-jarring thrill listening to various creatures rustling through the dark undergrowth.

Some of the most popular animals in Bolivia are the world's largest snake, the anaconda, and Amazon basin alligators which can safely be observed during organised tours.

Piranha fishing is another highlight of a holiday in this spectacular country.

Facts about Lake Titicaca in Bolivia

Isla Del Sol island travel tips

For holiday tickets to Bolivia, hotels, car rentals, etc, visit our Travel Shop.

To explore this site... select a travel destination from the menu bar below

Copyright 2009. All text and graphics on or related to this page are under strict international copyright and their use for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited without prior permission. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer and copyright

This website produced by Scribeworks 2000-2009