My time in Bolivia was not quite what I’d signed up for. We knew we were going at a time of political strife, but we didn’t realise quite how bad it was going to get. Even when we made the decision to leave, it took us a whole week to get to the airport and actually find a flight out. I couldn’t wait to flee the country, which is a bit sad because I really think it had the potential to be amazing. The people we met along the way were genuinely some of the nicest people I have ever met. The landscape is stunning – especially the salt flats and wow, it is so cheap!
My blog posts
- A three day salt flats tour (Chile–>Bolivia)
- Photos from the salt flats tour
- The nightmare that became our reality
- Capital: La Paz
- Population: 11 million
- Currency: Bolivian bolivano
- Language: Spanish, although apparently there are over 30 indigenous languages
- Highlights:
- Sucre: literally translates to sugar, Sucre is a beautiful, old white city that has been dubbed the ‘unofficial capital’ of Bolivia.
- Salar de Uyuni: the place to go for the famed salt flats tour
- Bolivia is home to the Amazon… for the more adventurous!
- Potosi: one of the highest cities in the world. Potosi is famous for its silver mines and the horrific underground conditions experienced by the workers. Not for the claustrophobic!
- Did you know?
- Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest lake, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat… and Sajama National Park is the worlds highest forest.
- Bolivia is one of only two land-locked countries in South America (Uruguay is the other)
- Useful tips:
- Be prepared for a drop in the standard of cuisine. Bolivia isn’t particularly famed for it’s food.
- Bolivia is a country at altitude. Be prepared (either with drugs or time) for some possible altitude sickness.
