Bolivia is a country of contrasts and superlatives, and it is situated in the center of South America. It is a nation that has the towering Andes breaking into the vast Amazon jungle, where the primitive native culture flourishes in a sophisticated metropolis, and landscape seems so foreign it might be on a different planet. Bolivia is an adventure like no other to the adventurous traveler. The list of amazing Tourist Attractions in Bolivia is long and memorable; starting with the biggest salt flat in the world to a gravity defying capital city. This guide is going to tour the 10 best attractions that one must visit to make this country an incredible destination.
You need to get your travel papers straight first before you can set out to visit these spectacular Tourist Attractions in Bolivia. Majority of the visitors will require a Bolivia travel visa. This may take many forms, and require checks long beforehand. As an example, when you are seeking a Bolivia visa in Oman, you would have to call the closest Bolivian embassy or consulate. To have a stress-free adventure in Bolivia, the first thing is to make sure that your Bolivia Visa is secured early enough.
And now we shall see the miracles in store.
Salar de Uyuni: The Biggest Mirror in the World.
The biggest salt flat which covers more than 10,000 square kilometers is the crown jewel of Bolivian tourism, the Salar de Uyuni. Going here in the rainy season (December-April) is an once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon: a thin sheet of water has turned the great plain in perfect, surreal reflection of the sky. During a dry season the geometric patterns of salt form a stark landscape in the form of hexagons. The Isla Incahuasi, a rocky island with giant cacti is an experience not to be missed and it provides a panoramic view of the endless white expanse. It is, by all means, the most traditional of all the Tourist Attractions in Bolivia.
La Paz: the Capital of the high altitude.
La Paz is not merely a city but it is an experience. It is the largest administrative capital in the world, located in a canyon with an altitude of more than 3,600 meters. The special topography is better seen by the Mi Teleferico which is the longest and highest urban cable car system in the world giving the spectacular aerial views of the city which sprawls against the background of the mighty Illimani mountain. Take a hike through the market of the witches (Mercado de Las Brujas) where the traditional healers provide the potions and the dried fetuses of llamas to perform rituals and walk the colorful streets of the historic center.
Tiwanaku: Archaeological mystery Pre-Inca.
Tiwanaku is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is the ruins of an enigmatic city that was the capital of a mighty pre-Inca empire. It is found close to the southern side of Lake Titicaca, and the fact that it is old and has great building methods is a mystery to archeologists over years. Wonder at the huge stone blocks of the Akapana Pyramid, the carved Gateway of the Sun, as well as the mysterious monoliths that are the silent witnesses of a high-level civilization that existed a millennium ago.
Lake Titicaca: Aplace of Sunbirth.
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world which straddles the border with Peru. The mythological Inca attributes its intense blue waters and its calm beauty with it being the place where the sun was born. One of the best things to do is to visit Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) which is a sacred place that is trusted to be where the first Incas originated. Take a walking adventure across the island and explore ancient ruins, old villages and beautiful views of Cordillera Real mountain range as seen through the calm surface of the lake.
Sucre: White city of Bolivia.
The Bolivian capital, Sucre, is the official capital of Bolivia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is recognized by its similar colonial architecture. Its shinning white and red-tiled roofs have given it a title the city of whiteness La Ciudad Blanca. Explore the quiet plazas, the House of Liberty where the declaration of independence of the country was made, and the interesting Cretaceous Park, where the greatest number of dinosaur footprints in the world is located.
The Yungas Road: "The Worlds Most dangerous road.
Adrenaline junkies will have to go through the Yungas Road mountain biking. This gravel road, barely wide enough, and winding around the slopes of the mountain, is known as Death Road, and hundreds of meters of the abyss drop right beneath it. A new and safe road has been constructed to traffic, but the old road has become a biking adventure recognized the world over and descends off of the high-altitude Andes, to the green forest-filled land of Yungas.
Madidi National Park: A Biodiversity Hot spot.
Go deeper to the Amazon Basin to Madidi National Park, which is also among the most diverse places in the planet. This huge reserve is full of ecosystems, Andean peaks to tropical rainforests. Go on a led jungle tour to see capybaras, monkeys, pink river dolphins, astounding number of different species of birds and even jaguars. It is an adventure in nature that brings out the wild side of Bolivia.
Potosi: Interior Mountain that eats men.
One of the cities that are constructed on affluence and tragedy, Potosi is located at 4,090 meters. The silver mined in the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) made it one of the biggest and richest cities of the world in the 16 th century. You can, even to-day, make a sobering visit of the still-operative cooperative mines to see the huge human price of this riches. The majestic colonial style of the city such as Royal Mint (La Casa de la Moneda) is a monument to the wealthy and dark past of the city.
Uyuni Train Cemetery: An Antique Dilapidation.
This strange and curious cemetery is a final resting place of the historic steam locomotives of the 19 th century and is found on the periphery of the town of Uyuni. The trains were not used once the mining downfall and decayed into a pool of rust and skeleton hulks. It is a tourist and photo friendly detachment on the road leading to the Salar de Uyuni that provides an insight into a former industrialized past in the backdrop of a stark desert.
Sajama National Park: Hot Springs and Peaks of the Volcanoes.
It is the location of the highest mountain in Bolivia, the inactive volcano Nevado Sajama, and this national park is an unbelievable Andean landscape, without the hord of people. Hot springs, geysers, timber of the largest-growing trees on earth, the Quenua, all make the landscape bubbly. It is a place of heaven of trekkers and those who need peace in some of the most dramatic scenery of nature that Andes can give.
Conclusion
Bolivia is a nation that is a challenge and a reward at the same time. Its scenery is cruel, its past is deep and its tradition is vivid. These are only the best Tourist Attractions in Bolivia. Every location gives a different glimpse into the soul of this complicated and fascinating country.
Therefore, cross the Bolivia Visa, unstrap your spirit of adventure and be astonished. Covering the silent and thoughtful majesty of the Salar de Uyuni, to the high altitude streets of La Paz, a Bolivia expeditious is not just a journey, it is a metamorphosis.