• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
+44 (0)20 7604 4408
Nomadic Thoughts
  • Inspiration
    • Introduction
    • Accommodation
    • Activities & Sports
    • Beaches
    • Culture
    • Deserts
    • Family Holidays
    • Gastronomy
    • Mountains
    • Special Events & Festivals
    • Wildlife
  • Destination
    • Introduction
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Caribbean
    • Central & North America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • South America
  • Experience
    • Introduction
    • Adventure
    • City Breaks
    • Cruises
    • Honeymoons
    • Luxury Holidays
    • Sabbaticals
    • Self-Drive Holidays
    • Spa & Treatments
    • Total Escape
    • Train Journeys
  • Expertise
    • Introduction
    • About Us
    • AITO Member
    • Award Winners
    • Consumer Protection
    • Contact Us
    • Jono’s Travel Blog
    • LGBTQ Travellers
    • Make An Appointment
    • Our UK Holiday House – Brecon Beacons, Wales
    • Pre-Departure Info
    • Sustainable Tourism
    • Travelling Solo
    • Travel Presentations
    • Useful Links
    • Welcome
    • What Our Clients Say
    • Where To Go When
    • Why Nomadic Thoughts?
    • World Weather Guide
    • EU General Data Protection and Nomadic Thoughts Compliance
  • Blog
  • Discover
  • Menu Menu
PreviousNext
123456789

Bolivia

Top tip: Short paces in the altitude sun

Geography

Geography


Bolivia is a landlocked country sharing frontiers with Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. There are three distinct types of landscape. The first is the high plateau known as the ‘Altiplano’, a predominantly barren area about 4000m above sea level. It comprises 10% of the country’s territory and 70% of the population, nearly one-third of which are urban dwellers. The second is a fertile valley situated 1800m above sea level. The third area comprises the lowland tropics which stretch down to the borders with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Bolivia has a temperate climate but the temperature varies wildly between day and night. The rainiest period is from November to March, which, in extreme circumstances, may induce landslides in mountainous areas, and make roads impassable. The northeast slopes of the Andes are semi-tropical. Visitors often find La Paz uncomfortable due to its high altitude. Mountainous regions can be extremely cold at night.


Facts and Figures


Area 1,098,581 sq km (424,164 sq miles).
Population 10,907,778 (2010)
Capital Legal: Sucre – population 223,436 (2000). Administrative: La Paz. Population: 877,363 (2008)
Language The official languages are Spanish, Quechua, Aymará and Tupi Guaraní. English is also spoken by a small number of officials and businesspeople in commercial centres.
Religion Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority.
Time GMT – 4
Highlights

Highlights


La Paz, situated at 3632m (11,910ft) above sea level, is the world’s highest capital city. Mount Illimani stands in the background. The city contains many museums and is well provided with comfortable and modern hotels. Nearby attractions include Lake Titicaca with its fascinating Uros reed islands, Yungas valleys, the Chacaltaya skiing resort and the exceptional rock formations in the Moon Valley. Cochabamba, known as the garden city, is 2558m above sea level and boasts a long tradition of local culture and folklore.

Potosi, at the foot of the famous Rich Mountain, is known for its mineral wealth – today you can take a guided tour of the mines. Oruro is a traditional mining centre with many relics of a colonial past. It has a famous carnival during the months of February/March every year. Sucre, in the state of Chuquisaca, played an important part in the struggle for independence and is rich in museums, libraries and historical archives. Tarija enjoys and excellent climate and is festive and hospitable. Graced with beautiful flowers and magnificent wines it is an excellent place to unwind. The states of Beni and Pando, situated in the heart of the Bolivian jungle are colourful and teeming with wildlife, and peppered with eco-lodges. Visit the highest salt flats in the world, Salar de Uyuni and witness their perspective altering vastness.

Bolivia, mineral rich but economically still struggling, is one of the most rugged of Latin American countries. It is geographically incredibly diverse; standing in the steaming Amazon basin it is almost impossible to imagine that the same country could be home to the dizzying heights of the Altiplano, with its thin, whipping winds and plains strewn with wild llamas. Much of Bolivia’s landscape is untamed, and offers enormous opportunities for the most intrepid amongst you. With an enormous indigenous population, Bolivia also has a fascinating cultural heritage. The bright fabrics, thick black braids and wide smiles of the Bolivians will greet you with curiosity and unparalleled generosity.

History

History


Bolivia was originally inhabited by the ancient Aymara civilisation that lived on Lake Titicaca. Later this civilisation was conquered by the Incas, who were themselves conquered by the Spanish in 1538. In 1825 Simon Bolivar led the country to independence. Bolivia entered an unprecedented era of political stability, ending a record of military coups and recurrent internal strife which was little short of ludicrous: there were 192 coups in the 156 years from independence to 1981, an average of one every ten months. The government, while dramatically reducing hyper-inflation, received some domestic criticism for its participation in the US-sponsored ‘war on drugs’ in Latin America, but its dependency on American aid has secured its collaboration.

Presidential elections took place in December 2005 against a backdrop of political turmoil and social unrest. Evo Morales, a leftist and Bolivia’s first indigenous president won a decisive victory and was inaugurated in January 2006. Soon after Morales’ appointment, the IMF announced a US$2 billion debt-forgiveness plan for Bolivia. Morales was quick to set about change, carrying out some hefty initiatives: in May 2006 he nationalized Bolivia’s energy industry, and in July 2006 he formed a National Constituent Assembly through local elections to set about rewriting the country’s constitution.

While Morales is considered by some to be a populist leader, he is seen also as antagonistic to the US, especially in his ties to the leftist governments of Venezuela and Cuba. Furthermore, he has set about redefining indigenous identity and empowering the underprivileged indigenous majority, giving rise to what some sociologists and anthropologists are predicting will be the next cultural revolution.

Interested in Bolivia? Call +44 (0)20 7604 4408 for expert holiday advice

+44 (0)20 7604 4408



Travel News
Thoughts

Destination
Introduction
Africa
Algeria
Botswana
Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
Egypt
Ethiopia
Kenya
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Reunion
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Bhutan
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tibet
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Caribbean
Anguilla
Antigua
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Curacao
Grenada
Jamaica
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Central & North America
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
United States of America
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Middle East
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Oman
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Oceania
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Tahiti
South America
Antarctica
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Venezuela

For expert, first class holiday advice contact us today:
+44 (0)20 7604 4408
Email us now


  • AFRICA
  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Comoros
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Reunion
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • ASIA
  • Bhutan
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Tibet
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam
  • CARIBBEAN
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Curacao
  • Jamaica
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • OCEANIA
  • Australia
  • Fiji
  • New Zealand
  • Tahiti
  • EUROPE
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Turkey
  • NORTH AMERICA
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • United States of America
  • SOUTH AMERICA
  • Antarctica
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • Venezuela
  • MIDDLE EAST
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
© Nomadic Thoughts Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact +44 (0)20 7604 4408
Scroll to top
This site uses cookies: Find out more.