The Perfect Backpacking Guide to Bolivia

Bolivia is a country located in South America. Bolivia is a highland country, most of the largest cities are located in territory lies of Andes Mountain. Some of its cities are some of the highest elevation cities in the world. This country has a large number of resources in business investment, farming, and mining. Bolivia is well known as a mountainous western region which considered as one of the inhabited countries in the world. This country is rich in history as well as place destination. In this article, join us as we visit tourist attractions in Bolivia. This backpacking guide to Bolivia will provide you with backpacking tips and more as you learn about this beautiful country.

Looking for your next travel destination? Take a look at our backpacking guide to Turkey.

The Best Places to visit in Bolivia

Bolivia is considered as one of the most remote countries in the world. But if you want to experience extreme adventures, magnificent landscapes, and ethnic culture, Bolivia is the place that you’re looking for. Here are some places you should visit if you go to Bolivia:

• Tiwanaku

The top tourist attraction in Bolivia. In the history of the Inca Empire, Tiwanaku is one of the important precursors between the 7th and 9th centuries. This place is located at the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is also called Tiahuanaco and it represents an achievement of cultural architecture in pre-Inca South America.

• Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, where the Tiwanaku lies. This place has a beautiful resort which favorite by many tourist and locals called Copacabana.

• Salar de Uyuni

Thus 4,000 square mile salt that is formed by a prehistorical lake is known to be one of the flattest places in the world. Usually, travelers use a 4 by 4 vehicle to travel around this flat salt and see the spectacular structure of salt bricks. You will see the beauty of this place after a rain, as you can see the reflection of the sky when the water stays on the top of this cemented salt.

• Sucre

Sucre is known to be the City of Four Names because it is also called as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca. This place is built in a Spanish colony and represents the life of Spanish aristocrats in the 16th century.

• Madidi National Park

This place is known as the most biologically diverse park around the world and over 7,000 square meter length. You can found here in Madidi National Park some titi monkey, giant otter, jaguar and 11 percent of 9,000 species of birds.

• Cerro Rico

This rich mountain is over the city of Potosi, called Cerro Rico, and become the travel destination of people who want some adventure. You can also visit here the mines and the housed of royal mint and now a museum called Casa Nacional de Moneda.

• Reserva Eduardo Avaroa

Reserva Eduardo Avaroa is considered as planets most unusual landscapes. This place is built to protect the endangered vicuna and the llareta plant, this is also the refuge of many endangered species including flamingo. You can see here the bright white salt and rainbow-colored lakes of Los Lipez that make you feel like you’re in a beautiful different planet.

• Oruro Carnival

Every year, the city of Oruro hosted the Carnaval de Oruro, this is folkloric and cultural events in all South American countries. This is joined by over 28,000 dancers and 10,000 musicians that perform a variety of ethnic dance and music. This is always happening before the Ash Wednesday and begins with the diablada or devil dance.

• Yungas Road

Yungas road mark as the World’s Most Dangerous Road. This road runs from La Paz climbs about 15,000 feet going to the town of Coroico. Yungas road is proved to be dangerous especially big traveling vehicles but for bike mountaineers, this becomes their favorite travel attraction.

• Jesuit Missions of Chiquios

Jesuit missions consist of six mission town and the best known of these is the San Jose de Chiquitos. This six mission town founded in the 17th and 18th century by a Jesuit priest and represents the beautiful example of Spanish frontier architecture.

Truly, this country proves its historical and adventurous places through architectural designs and mountainous views. Not just that, you can’t fully experience Bolivia without trying their mouthwatering local delicacies. Heres some famous Bolivian food.     

5 Must Try Food Delicacies in Bolivia

• Mondongo

This is made of spicy pork stew with ground garlic, pepper, and locoto. Mondongo is a popular weekend food and a famous dish from Sucre.

• Fricase

Fricase is a highland main dish and a local hangover soup. This food is originally a French dish but with a twist. Fricase is either spicy pork or chicken soup composed of choclo, cumin, oregano, onion, garlic, black pepper, and breadcrumbs.

• Majadito

Majadito is a lowland dish of Santa Cruz and a portion of tropical food. This is a combination of cooked rice with annatto, beef jerky flavor, chopped tomato, fried egg, and some onion, garlic, and pepper.

• Anticucho

This is a popular late night snack, and you can see this in many streets in the city of Bolivia. Anticucho is an exotic food, a grilled cow heart with a side dish grilled potato in spicy peanut sauce.

• Salteñas

This is a famous Bolivian empanada typically served in breakfast, it is baked pastry with carrots, potatoes, peas, and meat combined with sweet and spicy gravy flavor. Salteñas is adopted from Argentina.

Even if Bolivia is not one of the most famous culinary destinations, they also have delicious local delicacies that can be proud of. When you visit Bolivia, never leave without trying this delicious and spicy local food delicacies.

In traveling to a different country, you must importantly consider such a thing as a weather condition. Bolivia has two basic weather pattern, the wet and dry season. The wet season start at the month of November to April while dry season starts from May to October. This will help you to choose and decide on the things you must bring in exploring Bolivia.

The Best Backpacking Tips while visiting Bolivia:

• Clothes

In Bolivia, sometimes the weather suddenly changes. You can bring a flexible wardrobe that can be used in any weather condition. Don’t forget to bring jackets or winter gear, because of most of the time in evening the temperature drops in zero degrees. This country doesn’t require any traditional clothes, just bring jeans, top and comfy shoes that will accompany you to your travel

• Luggage

Besides your luggage that contain your clothes, bring some carry-on backpack that perfectly suits you to carry your electronics and other necessary items. A perfect backpack will give you comfort in exploring the cities of Bolivia.

• Shoes

Bolivia consists of many mountains that you can explore or hike and long walk travel cities.  You don’t need heels, just bring comfy sneakers or hiking shoes, some flip flops, flats or sandals.

• Accessories

Because of unpredictable weather condition in Bolivia make sure to bring simple accessories that can protect you from suns heat, rain and sweat like sunglasses, hat, umbrella, scarf, and towels.

• Technology

Don’t bring a lot of technology that in the end may cause you trouble and not useful. Just have your cellphone, pocket wifi, camera or laptop if needed.

• Miscellaneous

Never forget to bring toiletries, some medicines and other miscellaneous items that you will need like earplugs, laundry bag, flashlights, sunblock and in case of emergency kits.

Backpacking Trip to Bolivia Conclusion

Travel is more enjoyable if you pack light, enough and useful things. Your thing is your partner and accompaniment in your journey so that you must bring necessary things that will give you ease to explore and make an adventure. Traveling is really fun, this is a journey where you can find peace, appreciate the beauty and meet new people. But traveling is not easy, you need money and other resources to make it possible. Traveling is not just find adventure, plan itineraries and book flights, never forget to consider also to learn their culture, traditions, laws, and regulations, language and behavior. I hope this article helps you to overview and considered Bolivia as your next adventure.