Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, however, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have anything to offer. You can visit in Bolivia many must-see destinations. This country is full of various traditions, kind people and, at least so far, has not been corrupted by tourism. Here we bring you our list of 8 best places to visit in Bolivia, which you definitely shouldn’t miss. As travel tips from Bolivia, we include all the recommended hotels and hostels where we slept.

Traveling in Bolivia is very simple and most travelers only country quickly passes through the route Peru – Bolivia – Chile. Here is our list of the best destinations in Bolivia that you must visit. And if you are also going to Peru, here is our tip for getting safely from La Paz to Cuzco. Don’t forget that half of Bolivia is at high altitude – here are our 5 tips on how to deal with altitude sickness.

1. La Paz

La Paz is the economic and political center of Bolivia, although Sucre is officially the capital. It’s important to note that La Paz is a large South American metropolis and you definitely shouldn’t miss a few very unique places here. Stopping at the witch market and a ride in the local cable cars (Teleférico) is almost mandatory for all visitors. The town is set in a small valley at an altitude of between 3600 and 4000 meters above sea level and offers countless breathtaking views. La Paz also serves as a good starting point for both short and long trips to the surrounding area. The ones we probably liked the most were the Moon Valley or the bike downhill the famous Death Road. If you want to explore La Paz, you can choose a walking tour starting at $ 3.

Recommended hotels and hostels in La Paz:

• YORK Vintage B&B – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com
• Landscape – International B&B – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

2. Salar de Uyuni

This is probably the most visited place in the whole of Bolivia and there isn’t a traveler visiting the country who would miss it. The largest salt plain in the world spreads over an area of 10 000 km²; long ago it used to form a bottom of a large prehistorical lake. The salt plain is truly enormous and absolutely unique. Nothing can prepare you for seeing the vast expanse of brilliantly white salt crust that attacks your every sense. What you should most certainly see is the salt hotel, as well as the islands covered with cactuses. In the other direction from the city of Uyuni lies another mandatory stop – the train cemetery, where hundreds old, rusty locomotives and trains cars lie left to their fate and it is trully one of the best places to visit in Bolivia.

Read about our 3D/2N tour from Uyuni to visit Salar de Uyuni and much more.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Uyuni:

• Hostal Castillo de Liliana – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

3.Reserva Eduardo Avaroa

If you have some time to spare in Uyuni, head out to explore the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa national park. You can combine this trip with a transfer to the Chilean city of San Pedro. There are several differently colored lagoons waiting for you to discover in the national park – Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorado, Laguna Salada, Laguna Busch and Laguna Hedionda, where visitors are often able to watch thousands of nesting flocks of flamingos. There are also surreal deserts, geysers, and hot springs, in which people can bathe day and night – while watching the incredible night sky. It’s however important to expect the low temperatures, which may drop to -10°C during the winter nights. The best way, how to visit these places is during a 3-day tour from Uyuni.

Read about How to plan a visit Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia.

4. Potosí

The city of Potosí is situated at an altitude of about 4000 meters above sea level and is famous for its Cerro Rico Mountain. In the 16^th century, Spaniards found a great deal of silver in the mountain and the city was struck by a silver fever. In order to secure enough workers, the Spaniards brought a large number of slaves to the city. Today, most of the silver has been mined already, but there are still more than 800 active mines in the mountain where 5000-6000 miners work daily. One of unique tourist attractions of Potosí is visiting an active mine. It’s a very interesting experience and we recommend choosing your tour operator very carefully and maybe spending a little more to ensure safety.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Potosí:

• Hostal Eucalyptus – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

5. Copacabana/Titicaca

The name Copacabana is well known because of the famous Rio de Janeiro beach, but the original owner of the name is a small town on the shores of the Titicaca Lake with a gorgeous cathedral of the same name. Overlooking the small town is the Cerro Calvario Mountain, which boasts an amazing view of the entire Copacabana and the Titicaca Lake as well. This place has a very pleasant travel atmosphere. Almost everyone who stops here is traveler returning from Cusco to La Paz enjoying a relaxed atmosphere. If you have the time, you mustn’t miss out on a trip to the Isla de Sol and Isla de Luna islands.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Copacabana:

• Hostal Villa Imperial – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

6. Sucre

Sucre is officially the capital of Bolivia and is also sometimes called “The White City”. Sucre has the incredible charm of a colonial Spanish town, so it’s no wonder that since 1991 it has its place on the UNESCO list. When you are in the city, don’t forget to visit the cathedral and the cemetery. Yet the main attraction lies just outside the city. It is a mountain called Cal Orck’o, which is entirely covered with fossilized dinosaur traces. This remarkable paleontological site boasts several of the world’s best. We recommend taking advantage of the free tours, which take place every day from 12 PM to 1 PM. You also can’t miss seeing the eccentric pink Castillo de La Glorieta castle just outside the city.

If you don’t have enough time, visit at least Sucre and Uyuni, because they are the best places to visit in Bolivia.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Sucre:

• Hostal Recoleta Sur – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

7. Santa Cruz de la Sierra

The city of Santa Crus is located in the tropical Amazonian part of Bolivia, which is why its climate is much different from all the previous places mentioned. Thanks to its location at the foot of the Andes and pleasant weather, it’s the largest city in Bolivia. That’s why you’ll feel comfortable staying here, like staying in a small town. Santa Cruz is said to be the centre of the Bolivian nightlife, which is why you mustn’t miss the Monseñor Rivero Street. However, if you prefer nature, you should visit the Parque El Arenal or Jardin Botanico parks, and see the local monkeys and sloths.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:

• 360 grados – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

8. Cochabamba

The city of Cochabamba is said to be the gourmet metropolis of Bolivia so it’s no wonder that the country’s best restaurants can be found here and the local gastronomical scene is truly very diverse. The city has its own very specific atmosphere and a pleasant climate. Another thing to see is the giant statue of Christ, located on one of the hills around the city, which is actually even slightly larger than the famous statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. We recommend visiting the statue during the weekend when they allow visitors to look inside as well. In addition, you mustn’t  miss visiting the opulent villa Palacio Portales de Bolivia.

Recommended hotels and hostels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:

• Hotel Ginas – Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com

READ NEXT : Homestay on the islands of Lake Titicaca

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