Bolivia

The majority of the people in Bolivia are of Indian heritage. In the 14 th century Bolivia was taken over by the Incas who spoke Quechua. They remained in control of the country as part of the Incan empire until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16 th century. At that time the country was known as Upper Peru or Charcas. The Spanish gained much wealth from the silver mines and minerals in Bolivia and many of the Indian inhabitants were used as slaves. The Spanish gradually lost power and the country gained its independence in 1809, becoming known as the republic of Bolivia (after the notorious independence fighter and liberator Simon Bolivar) approx. fifteen years later. Throughout the years Bolivia lost huge parts of its land to neighbouring countries and experienced more political instability.

Among the many attractions are the markets where you can mingle with the inhabitants and admire their beautiful hand-woven colourful clothing.

The capital city, La Paz , the administrative capital, is located in the highland area of the eastern part of the country. The city has views up to the Andean peaks reaching to 21,000’. Visitors can stroll through the plazas of colonial architecture and pick up souvenirs of handcrafted silver and brightly coloured clothing. There are many places to visit within reach of La Paz , including the Valley of the Moon, which has a mystical atmosphere.

Bolivia is a sought-after destination for the adventurous who enjoy touring a country with such rugged terrain and fascinating landscapes. The lack of modernisation and development in a country which has remained quite unchanged can be appealing. The north-east part of the country comprises Amazon Basin and a tour through this area will take you through forest canopies and lush jungle terrain filled with all the wildlife you would expect from a rainforest. Tours of the country can be made by guided tours, hiking, canoe or mountain bike to name a few. Those interested in history will enjoy exploring the final route taken by Che Guevara.

A highlight of a trip to Bolivia is a visit to the famous Lake Titicaca , which is the 2 nd largest lake in S. America being over 100 miles long and 45 miles wide. The south shore of the lake offers accommodations for visitors at Copacabana. Isla del Sol is the larger of the dozens of islands of Lake Titicaca and has the ruins of an ancient temple. The lake was a place of myth of the Incan Indians and there remain many fascinating remnants of their temples and ritual sites where they worshipped their gods.

For the hardy there are treks through the mountains with Llama’s to carry your gear, or guided tours by boat. For mountaineering enthusiasts there are some challenging climbs to high peaks with amazing views as a reward. Or hike to the ice caves of the Zongo Valley. Another must-see is Sorata, which has beautiful landscapes and an underground lake.

Climate / Weather
Bolivia has several climate systems, varying from humid and tropical to semi-arid and cool, depending upon the area and the elevation. It is mainly tropical to the south of the country, and cooler in the mountains. The best time to visit is approx. May-Nov. The wet season is mainly from Dec-April. The high La Paz area has a cooler climate with average high approx. 55F.

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.

* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.