Part of our Bolivia guide.
Places and guides from our Bolivia coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: A Two-Week Bolivia Itinerary For Adventurers, Which Countries Border Lake Titicaca?, Mysteries Of The Isla Del Sol Inca Trail, What Things Cost In Bolivia, Hidden Gems In Bolivia, and Where To Stay In Bolivia.
Copacabana And Lake Titicaca - What To Do, See And Know
The town of Copacabana sits on the shore of Lake Titicaca at 3,841 meters (12,602 feet) above sea level. From here you can visit the lake’s islands, see the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, and hike Cerro Calvario for views over the water. Boats cross to Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, where Inca ruins and terraces line the trails. The lake is the highest navigable lake in the world, shared with Peru. Allow a full day for the island circuit; the last boat back usually leaves in the mid-afternoon. Altitude affects most visitors at this elevation, so plan a slow first day and drink plenty of water. The town’s market sells local crafts and the lake’s trout, often served fried with rice and potatoes.
Bolivia
Bolivia offers destinations and experiences in Bolivia from the surreal salt flats of Salar de Uyuni to the city of La Paz. The country’s geography includes the Andes, the Amazon basin, and the Altiplano. La Paz sits at roughly 3,650 meters and is the world’s highest administrative capital; its cable-car system, Mi Teleférico, connects the city to the neighboring city of El Alto. The Uyuni salt flat, at 3,656 meters, covers over 10,000 square kilometers and is accessible by tour from the town of Uyuni. Tours typically run three days and cross the flats to lagoons colored by minerals, geysers, and hot springs. Bolivia also has the Yungas Road, known as the “Death Road,” now a mountain-biking route from La Paz to Coroico. The country’s official languages are Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and Guaraní, and its currency is the boliviano. Many travelers also look into how to apply for a Bolivia tourist visa, as requirements differ by nationality. For those planning a longer trip, a two-week Bolivia itinerary for adventurers can cover La Paz, Uyuni, Potosí, and Sucre. The best time to visit the salt flats is the dry season, May to October, when the surface is solid; the wet season, November to March, creates the mirror effect. Prices for a standard three-day Uyuni tour start around 1,000 bolivianos per person, including meals and basic accommodation. The journey from La Paz to Uyuni takes about 10 hours by overnight bus or 45 minutes by flight. Altitude sickness is a concern in most tourist areas; coca tea is widely available and used to ease symptoms. Bolivia remains one of the more affordable countries in South America for accommodation, food, and transport.
