Landlocked Bolivia is one of the most quintessentially South American countries. It has a variety of awesome landscapes: the harsh plains of the altiplano, dramatic desert, hairpin-bend valleys and canyons, and subtropical lowland and jungle. Its people are equally colourful; their lifestyle has changed little since the time of the Spanish conquest.
La Paz is a fascinating metropolis and the world’s highest capital. Nearby, the Yungas is a dramatic stretch of mountain forest, offering great hiking opportunities such as the Choro Trek. Further north, the Bolivian Amazon beckons: the remote Madidi Rainforest Reserve has more species of flora and fauna than anywhere else on the planet!
Well-preserved colonial delights include Sucre with its whitewashed houses and the grandiose architecture of Potosí, once one of the richest cities in the world.
From the easterly city of Santa Cruz, visitors can view wildlife in Noel Kemppff National Park or visit nearby Jesuit missions.
In the far south, the surreal Salar de Uyuni is in a remote and an incredibly beautiful land of salt flats, colourful lakes and cactus islands. From here, it is possible to continue into the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Bolivia can also be combined with a trip to Peru, with both countries sharing mystical Lake Titicaca, with its vivid blue shimmering waters and tranquil islands such as Taquile, Uros and Isla del Sol.