last edited Dec 11, 2019
What to See in Bolivia
Location
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bolivia has 7 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:
Cordillera and Altiplano
- Inca Trails of the Andes (2014):
- Potosí (1987):
- Sucre (1991):
- Tiwanaku (2000):
Amazon and Eastern Plains
- Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (1990):
- Samaipata Archaeological Site (1998):
Cordillera and Altiplano
- Coroico :
- La Paz :
- Oruro :
- Potosí :
- Sorata :
- Sucre :
- Tarabuco :
- Tarata :
- Tarija :
- Tiwanaku :
- Totora :
- Tupiza :
- Uyuni :
Natural Heritage
- Yungas :
Amazon and Eastern Plains
- Trinidad :
Natural Heritage
Must-see & highly recommended
Lake Titicaca
★★★★ Straddling Peru and Bolivia, it is the largest navigable lake in the world. While it is usually visited from Peru, it can also be accessed…
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
★★★★ A UNESCO-listed site, this remarkable park bordering Brazil is home to stunning waterfalls and countless animal and plant species.
Potosí
★★★★ This stunning UNESCO-listed city perched at 4,000 m is famous not only for its Spanish colonial architecture but also for its mines, which…
Eduardo Avaroa Reserve
★★★★ In the Sud Lípez region, on the borders with Chile and Argentina, enjoy stunning landscapes of lakes and volcanoes as well as colonies of…
Salar de Uyuni
★★★★ The world's largest salt desert and a must-see on any trip to Bolivia. Explore it and its surroundings over several days.
Southern Lipez
★★★★ In the far southwest of the country, this is a stunning desert region where lakes (including the famous Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada)…
Recommended
"Death Road"
★★★ Also known as the "Yungas Road". Between La Paz and Coroico, this impressive route—which you can also descend by bike—offers a…
Inca Trails of the Andes
★★★ Also known as Qhapaq Ñan. These are the remains of the roads (23,000 km) built by the Incas over several centuries to consolidate their…
Royal Cordillera
★★★ Close to La Paz and Lake Titicaca, this mountainous and glacial range is a great region for trekking and mountaineering. Several peaks…
Isla del Sol
★★★ The large island on Lake Titicaca is home (along with its neighbor Isla de la Luna) to a multitude of small pre-Columbian ruins.
La Paz
★★★ The world’s highest capital city (4,058 m). Beyond its stunning views, the city boasts numerous colonial-era buildings and a "unique…
Bolivian Pantanal
★★★ A vast area of lakes, rivers, marshes, and lagoons extending from the Brazilian and Paraguayan Pantanal. The region is home to…
Amboro National Park
★★★ This park, which descends from the Andes to the Amazon rainforest, is home to a very rich fauna and flora.
Madidi National Park
★★★ A vast park in northern Bolivia stretching from the Andean glaciers to the edge of the Amazon rainforest. It boasts rich and diverse…
Sajama National Park
★★★ This is a high-altitude desert area with volcanoes and geysers, bordering Chile.
Salar de Coipasa
★★★ A salt desert less well-known than that of Uyuni, though it borders it.
Sucre
★★★ The constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre is a UNESCO World Heritage site with numerous colonial-era buildings.
Yungas
★★★ A set of stunning intermediate valleys between the Amazon and the cordilleras. The vegetation is dense, with numerous waterfalls and great…
Worth a look / Other
Huayna Potosi
★★ A 6,088 m ice-covered summit near La Paz. The ascent of this well-known mountain in the Royal Cordillera is typically completed in two days…
Licancabur
★★ It’s a striking 5,916 m volcano on the Chile-Bolivia border, and you can climb it from the Bolivian side.
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
★★ These are UNESCO-listed Spanish-era missions spread across several villages (Concepción, San Ignacio, San Javier, San Miguel) in the…
Carrasco National Park
★★ A mountainous park in the Cochabamba region featuring canyons, rivers, and valleys perfect for hiking and rafting.
Rurrenabaque
★★ A small town on the edge of the Amazon that has become a tourist base for anyone wanting to explore the surrounding forest or rivers.
Samaipata
★★ A large town near Santa Cruz, surrounded by a UNESCO-listed pre-Columbian site, as well as caves, waterfalls, and areas ideal for trekking.
Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
★★ The most prosperous and lively city in Bolivia, with many beautiful buildings.
Tarata
★★ A town in the Cochabamba region that has retained all its colonial charm.
Tiwanaku
★★ A UNESCO-listed site, this remarkable remnant of the eponymous civilisation holds the ruins of the pre-Columbian City of the Sun. It is…
Totora
★★ A Quechua town in the Cochabamba region with well-preserved colonial architecture.
Tupiza
★★ This town in southern Bolivia is surrounded by stunning gorges and mountains, where small mining villages nestle. You can hike or ride on…
Moon Valley
★★ On the outskirts of La Paz, this tiny valley features striking rock formations shaped by erosion.
Chacaltaya
★ At an altitude of 5,421 m, this was the world's highest ski resort until it closed a few years ago. It is now a destination for hikers, not…
Cochabamba
★ The fourth-largest city in Bolivia. For tourists, it is best known for its enormous Christ statue overlooking the city.
Copacabana (Bolivia)
★ The lakeside town on the shores of Lake Titicaca serves as a starting point for boat tours of the Bolivian part of the lake. It also has a…
Coroico
★ A small town in the heart of the Yungas, a stopover between La Paz and the Amazon.
Guayaramerín
★ A port city in the Amazon, on the border with Brazil, from which you can organise boat trips on the rivers.
Oruro
★ Capital of the province of the same name, this large city is primarily known for its carnival held in February-March.
Torotoro National Park
★ In the Cochabamba region, this park is known for its caves and dinosaur fossils.
Puerto Suárez
★ This major river port on the Brazilian border is also a good base for visiting the Bolivian Pantanal.
Puerto Villaroel
★ It’s a village bordering the Amazon from which you can set off on a "cruise" along the nearby rivers.
Che Guevara Trail
★ This tourist route lets you follow Che Guevara’s final "adventures" in Bolivia across around ten locations between Sucre and Santa…
Samaipata Archaeological Site
★ Next to the town of the same name, this pre-Columbian site is known for its massive rock carved with basins and channels.
Sorata
★ A village near Lake Titicaca, primarily serving as a base for trekkers exploring the surrounding area.
Tarabuco
★ This large Andean village near Sucre is known as the heart of the Yampara culture, which can be discovered at the Sunday market or during…
Tarija
★ A lively crossroads city in southern Bolivia, Tarija boasts some beautiful buildings.
Trinidad (Bolivia)
★ A major city in the Amazon basin that can serve as a base for exploring the rainforest by boat along the rivers.
Uyuni
★ The town is at the gateway to the salt flat of the same name and serves as a base for visiting it.
Vallegrande
★ This small colonial-style town at an altitude of 2,000 m is best known as the place where Che Guevara was buried after being executed in…