DISCOVER Bolivia

Home Bolivia Bolivia Travel Guide

Every Place Has a Story

Bolivia Travel Guide

Bolivia is one of South America’s most underrated and fascinating destinations. Raw, wildly diverse, and deeply rooted in indigenous culture, this incredible country offers everything from some of the most surreal landscapes I’ve ever seen to vibrant cities perched high in the Andes.

With elevations reaching well over 3,600 meters above sea level, traveling through Bolivia quite literally takes you to new heights.

This Bolivia travel guide will help you understand the country’s regions, highlights, and must-see places, so you can plan an unforgettable journey traveling through Bolivia, one of the most unique destinations in South America.

La Paz Valle de las Ánimas Salar de Uyuni REA National Reserve Altitude Sickness

La Paz Valle de las Ánimas Salar de Uyuni REA National Reserve Altitude Sickness

Bolivia Travel Guide - Map and itinerary

One country, many experiences

Discover the Different Sides of
Bolivia

High-Altitude Cities & Culture – La Paz, El Alto, Sucre, Potosí, Uyuni

Salt Flats & Surreal Landscapes – Salar de Uyuni, REA National Reserve

Lake Titicaca & Island Life – Copacabana, Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca

Amazon & Wildlife Adventures – Madidi National Park, Yacuma River

The most dramatic cityscape

La Paz

La Paz is unlike any other city in the world and it will quite literally take your breath away. And I mean that literally. Sitting at over 3,600 meters (12,000 ft) above sea level, it is the highest administrative capital on Earth.

Parts of its metropolitan area rise beyond 4,000 meters (13,000 ft), making it one of the highest urban regions on the planet. The city stretches dramatically across a wide canyon, with colorful houses clinging to steep hillsides and snow-capped Andean peaks rising in the background.

I would describe it as chaotic, vibrant, and full of character. La Paz is the cultural and political heart of Bolivia.

Witches’ Market

Why Visit La Paz?

Dramatic High-Altitude Setting – Built inside a wide canyon at over 3,600 meters, it offers one of the most striking cityscapes in the world, surrounded by snow-capped Andean peaks.

Deep Indigenous Culture – Experience Bolivia’s rich Aymara heritage through traditional markets, daily rituals, local clothing, and centuries-old customs that are still part of everyday life.

Gateway to Iconic Landscapes – La Paz is the perfect starting point for trips to Lake Titicaca, Valle de las Ánimas, and other breathtaking regions across Bolivia.

Mirador Killi Killi
Mirador Killi Killi

Mirador Killi Killi
Mirador Killi Killi

Best Things to Do and See in La Paz

Mirador Killi Killi – Enjoy one of the best viewpoints in the city, with sweeping views over La Paz’s canyon layout and Mount Illimani rising in the background.

Witches’ Market – Explore one of La Paz’s most unique markets, where traditional Aymara rituals, herbs, talismans, and local crafts reflect Bolivia’s deep indigenous culture. Ohh and don’t miss a walk along nearby Calle Sagárnaga!

San Francisco Basilica – Visit one of La Paz’s most important landmarks, known for its impressive Andean-Baroque architecture and its central role in the city’s history and daily life.

Plaza Murillo – Visit La Paz’s main square, home to the city’s key government buildings, including the Cathedral, Palacio Quemado, and the Legislative Palace with its iconic backward-running clock.

Chualluma
Mi Teleférico

Chualluma
Mi Teleférico

Chualluma Neighborhood – Explore one of La Paz’s most colorful areas, where vibrant street art, hillside views, and local life create a raw and authentic atmosphere.

Mi Teleférico – Ride the famous cable car system connecting La Paz and El Alto, offering breathtaking panoramic views over the city and the surrounding Andean mountains.

Calle Jaén – Walk along this beautifully preserved colonial street, home to colorful houses, small museums, and some of the oldest architecture in La Paz.

Valle de las Ánimas (Day Trip) – Take a short trip outside La Paz to explore these dramatic rock formations shaped by erosion, creating a surreal landscape that feels almost otherworldly.

Looking for a La Paz Travel Guide & Tips?

More About La Paz

A unique natural formation

Valle de las Ánimas

Located just outside La Paz, Valle de las Ánimas is a dramatic natural landscape known for its towering, needle-like rock formations shaped by centuries of erosion.

Set high in the Andes, the valley offers a striking contrast to the city and feels almost otherworldly. The site is only around 30 minutes by car from La Paz, making it an easy and rewarding full-day escape into Bolivia’s raw and untamed nature.

Why Visit Valle de las Ánimas?

Unique Rock Formations – Discover towering, needle-like rock spires creating one of the most striking and surreal landscapes.

Perfect for Hiking & Photography – Walk through the valley’s trails and viewpoints while enjoying the quiet atmosphere and wide-open spaces.

Easy Day Trip from La Paz – It's is an ideal escape into nature without long travel times.

Valle de las Ánimas translates to “the Valley of Souls.” When the valley was first discovered, locals believed the towering rock spires were petrified souls, frozen in time and watching over the landscape.

Best Things to Do and See in Valle de las Ánimas

Trailhead at Ovejuyo – The main entrance to the Valle de las Ánimas hike begins on the edge of the small town of Ovejuyo, with local minibuses from La Paz stopping near the trailhead, which is just a short walk from where you get off.

Day Hike Length & Time – The hike through the core trail is roughly 5–6 km (3–4 miles) and typically takes around 2–4 hours to complete on foot, depending on your pace and how often you stop for photos.

Loop & Longer Routes – For more adventurous hikers, there are longer circuits of approximately 9–10 km (6 miles) that can take 4–5+ hours and give a broader sense of the region.

Looking for a Valle de las Ánimas Travel Guide & Tips?

About Valle de las Ánimas

THE WORLD’S LARGEST SALT FLAT

Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world! And also one of the most surreal places you can visit on Earth.

Stretching endlessly across southern Bolivia, this endless white landscape feels completely unreal, especially during the rainy season when it turns into a giant natural mirror, while in the dry season its cracked salt surface forms geometric patterns that stretch for miles in every direction.

It’s one of Bolivia’s most iconic destinations and a true highlight of any trip.

Why Visit Salar de Uyuni?

Surreal Mirror Effect – During the rainy season, a thin layer of water transforms the salt flat into a giant natural mirror, reflecting the sky and creating one of the most breathtaking sights in the world!

Gateway to Otherworldly Landscapes – Salar de Uyuni is the starting point for exploring Bolivia’s high-altitude deserts, colorful lagoons, and volcanic landscapes in the south.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience – The impressive scale, silence, and isolation make visiting Salar de Uyuni a truly unforgettable experience unlike anywhere else on the planet.

The famous mirror effect on the Bolivian salt flats can be seen during the rainy season, which usually runs from January to March. During this time, a thin layer of water covers the surface of Salar de Uyuni, creating a surreal natural mirror that reflects the sky almost perfectly.

Stairway to Heaven
Uyuni Salt Flats

Stairway to Heaven
Uyuni Salt Flats

Best Things to Do and See in Salar de Uyuni

Stairway to Heaven – Climb the iconic salt stairs in the middle of the flat for elevated views across the endless white landscape.

Incahuasi Island – Stop at this cactus-covered island in the middle of the salt flat to walk among giant cacti and enjoy panoramic views over the vast white expanse.

Salt Sculptures on the Flats – Stop at an area on the salt flats featuring large salt sculptures, including pyramid-like structures, a giant hand, and animal figures, creating a popular and surreal photo stop. (I couldn't find an official name for this spot, but tour operators will definitely know exactly where it is.)

Sunrise & Sunset – Watch the colors of the sky change across the salt flat during sunrise or sunset, one of the most magical moments to experience Salar de Uyuni.

Hotel Luna Salada – Visit or stay at this famous salt hotel built almost entirely from salt blocks, offering unique interiors and views directly over the surrounding salt flats.

Rental cars are not allowed on the salt flats. Driving on Salar de Uyuni is only permitted with authorized tour operators using specialized 4x4 vehicles. To explore the salt flats safely and responsibly, joining an organized or private tour is essential.

Hotel Luna Salada
Salt Sculptures

Hotel Luna Salada
Salt Sculptures

Looking for a Salar de Uyuni Travel Guide & Tips?

More About Salar de Uyuni

Where nature feels otherworldly

REA National Reserve

Tucked away in the far southwest of Bolivia, Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is one of the most remote and visually striking regions in the country.

This high-altitude reserve is a surreal world of colorful lagoons, steaming geysers, volcanic deserts, and wide, really quiet open plains where flamingos roam freely. Sitting at over 4,000 meters above sea level, the landscape feels raw, untamed, and it's like being on another planet. A place where nature dominates completely and human presence feels small.

Exploring the REA National Reserve is not just a journey through dramatic scenery, but an unforgettable expedition into one of Bolivia’s wildest and most extraordinary environments.

Why Visit the REA National Reserve?

Otherworldly Landscapes – Explore a surreal mix of colorful lagoons, volcanic deserts, steaming geysers, and so much more that feel unlike anywhere else on Earth.

True Sense of Remoteness – Travel through wide-open landscapes with little to no traffic, where long stretches pass without seeing another vehicle, creating a rare feeling of total isolation.

Unique Andean Wildlife – See flamingos, vicuñas, and other Andean wildlife thriving in one of South America’s most remote and breathtaking high-altitude ecosystems.

We once stopped for over two hours to film and photograph the surroundings, without a single car passing by, a moment that made it feel as if we weren’t tourists at all, but quiet guests in a world that exists entirely on its own.

Laguna Colorada
Desierto de Dalí

Laguna Colorada
Desierto de Dalí

Best Things to Do and See in the REA National Reserve?

Laguna Colorada – Visit the famous red-colored lagoon, home to hundreds of flamingos, where mineral-rich waters create intense colors that change with the light and wind.

Sol de Mañana Geysers – Walk through a geothermal field with clouds of steam rising from openings in the ground, bubbling mud pools, and sulfur-scented air, showcasing the region’s raw volcanic activity.

At the Sol de Mañana Geysers, the air smells strongly of rotten eggs due to the high sulfur content released from the geothermal activity. When the scent started to become a bit overwhelming, we decided it was time to hit the road.

Laguna Verde – Admire the striking emerald-green lagoon at the foot of Licancabur Volcano, known for its vivid colors and dramatic high-altitude setting.

Desierto de Dalí – Explore a surreal high-altitude desert of smooth plains and scattered rock formations, where the landscape resembles a dreamlike painting set against the Andean backdrop.

Sol de Mañana
Siloli Desert

default

Sol de Mañana
Siloli Desert

Siloli Desert & Rock Tree – Explore the vast Siloli Desert and see the iconic Rock Tree (Arbol de Piedra), a wind-shaped rock formation standing alone in an otherworldly landscape.

Termas de Polques – Relax in natural hot springs set beside the Salar de Chalviri, surrounded by steaming geothermal landscapes and snow-capped volcanoes at high altitude.

Wildlife Spotting – Look out for flamingos, vicuñas, and other Andean wildlife roaming freely across the reserve’s open plains and lagoons.

Entry fee

To enter the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa (REA), we had to pay an entrance fee of 150 Bolivianos (€18 / USD 21) per person, so we made a quick stop at the checkpoint to purchase our tickets. The fee is issued by SERNAP, Bolivia’s National Service of Protected Areas, and is paid directly at the barrier when entering the reserve. Our ticket was valid for four days and granted access to the protected areas of the reserve in the department of Potosí, southern Bolivia. And most importantly, bring some cash!

REA National Reserve
Desierto de Dalí

REA National Reserve
Desierto de Dalí

Southern Bolivia is a true off-the-grid adventure. Expect long driving days with no cellular coverage, very basic accommodation, and high-altitude conditions throughout the region. Roads are mostly unpaved and unmarked, some sections are rocky tracks rather than proper roads.

In the Heart of the Heights

Dealing with the Altitude

One thing many people worry about before visiting Bolivia is altitude sickness, and it’s a completely valid concern. At well over 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) in cities like La Paz, it’s very common to feel the effects of altitude at first, especially before your body has time to adjust.

The most important thing you can do to help your body adjust is to drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated makes a huge difference. Locals also strongly believe in coca leaf tea as a natural way to support your body at high altitude. Avoid alcohol at the beginning, as your tolerance can be much lower at this altitude.

REA National Reserve

When planning your trip to Bolivia it is best not to schedule anything too demanding for the first day or two. Taking it slow and allowing your body time to adjust can make the experience much more enjoyable.

A small tip that might help is that I bought coca leaf capsules at the airport in Peru (Lima) and took them before arriving in Bolivia. I cannot say for sure if that is what helped but it definitely gave me peace of mind.