Things to do in Bolivia

83 reviews

Uyuni Salt Flat is located on the Bolivian plateau at an altitude of approx. 3,700 m and is one of the world's largest salt-covered wildernesses. This vast white salt flat was formed by the evaporation of prehistoric lakes. The salt layer is several meters thick, and local residents still mine and process salt on the shores to this day. The salt lake's most striking view is the "mirror of the sky" that appears during the rainy season—from December to March each year, rainwater accumulates on the flat salt surface. On calm, sunny days, the entire lake transforms into a giant mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky, clouds, and even the starry sky, blurring the line between reality and reflection. Even if you miss the rainy season, the salt flat is equally stunning during the dry season: the salt surface, cracked by long-term sun exposure, displays fields of hexagonal salt patterns that stretch white and vast to the horizon. Incahuasi Island, located in the center of the salt lake, is an ancient volcanic remnant. The island is covered with fossil structures such as petrified coral and giant cacti several meters high. Reaching the summit offers a 360-degree view of the entire salt flat. At night, looking up at the starry sky from the salt surface, there is almost no light pollution, and the Milky Way is clearly visible.

Bolivia · Nor Lipez

No. 10 of Best Things to Do in Peru

Lake Titicaca

6.7

4.8/5

29 reviews

Lake Titicaca straddles the Collao Plateau on the border of Peru and Bolivia, with an altitude of approx. 3,800 m. It is a rare, large, high-altitude navigable freshwater lake in the world, often known as the Pearl of the Plateau. Although located inland, its water is not salty, and despite its high altitude, it never freezes. The crisp, thin air of the plateau and the light, which is closer to the sun's true color, make the lake surface appear even bluer than the sky. The origin of the lake's name is debated, but a widely circulated theory is that it is derived from the local language for Rock of the Puma. A highly recognizable experience here is the reed floating islands of the Uros people: hundreds of years ago, this small tribe moved onto the lake to escape the encroachment of the Inca Empire, creating floating islands using layers of bundled reed roots and stalks. Today, there are still hundreds of floating islands on the lake, where thousands of Uros people have lived for generations. On the islands, reeds are almost everything in life—houses, boats, and beds are all built from reeds, and the tender stems of the reeds, playfully called lake bananas by the islanders, can be eaten directly, with the craft of building with reeds passed down from generation to generation.

Peru · Puno

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Bolivia

National Art Museum

5.8

8 reviews

National Art Museum is located in the center of the old town of La Paz, Bolivia, facing Plaza Murillo. The building is a colonial-era mansion known as the "Palacio Diez de Medina," and is a typical example of Andean mestizo Baroque architecture. The stone-carved street-facing portal spans three floors, and the stone arcades and intricate carvings at the corners are quite striking; the central courtyard is surrounded by three-story stone arched cloisters, with a marble fountain standing in the center. The entire building is considered by architectural historians to be a representative work of colonial-era civil architecture in La Paz. The collection focuses primarily on paintings, with a scope ranging from colonial-era religious paintings to contemporary works. It includes large-scale religious paintings by artists such as Melchor Pérez de Holguín and Gaspar Miguel de Berrío, as well as icons featuring Andean Madonnas and angels. Among them, the "Virgin of the Mountain" is worth a special stop—in the painting, the figure of the Virgin merges with the silhouette of the Cerro Rico mountain in Potosí, and it is considered one of the museum's signature pieces. The museum also displays contemporary art from Bolivia and Latin America, creating an interesting contrast between old and new works within the same historic mansion.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Bolivia

Mi Teleferico

5.7

4.8/5

6 reviews

Mi Teleferico is a modern aerial cable car transportation system in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. The city is nestled in a high-altitude basin of the Andes, with the city center at an altitude of over 3,600 m. There is a drop of approx. 400 m between the city center and the highland city of El Alto. With steep, narrow roads and heavy traffic, the cable car has become a convenient way to travel round-trip between the two. The red, yellow, green, and other lines are all named after their colors, and the cabins are painted in corresponding colors, tracing colorful arcs across the sky above the mountain city and connecting the city center, old town streets, and the new city on the mountain top. For tourists, it is also a unique way to enjoy aerial views. The Red Line departs from the Central station in the city center and climbs all the way to El Alto at an altitude of over 4,000 m, with red-brick houses spreading out layer by layer along the hillside below. The Yellow Line's terminal, Mirador station, offers expansive views; upon exiting, you can overlook the Illimani snow mountain at over 6,000 m. The Silver Line glides almost horizontally along the edge of the plateau, skimming past clusters of houses on the cliffside, creating a stunning scene. If you have enough time, consider taking the Red Line once during the day and once after dark to see the dense texture of the mountain city by day and the city lights by night.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Bolivia

Valle de la Luna

5.5

4.3/5

4 reviews

Valle de la Luna is located on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, and is a protected area of wind-eroded landscapes. Strictly speaking, it is not a true valley, but rather a labyrinthine collection of canyons and spires: the mountains are primarily composed of clay and sandstone with a soft texture. Years of wind and rain erosion have sculpted the terrain into gullies, spires, and caves, making a walk through it feel like stepping onto the lunar surface. Due to significant differences in mineral content throughout the mountains, the rock layers display various hues such as beige, ochre, and dark purple, creating unique visual effects on the slopes when light hits them at an angle. There are two circular trails here, and at the end of the path, there is an observation deck with a wide view where you can look out over the Andes. In the early morning or evening, when the light shines obliquely, the layers of rock colors are particularly distinct. If you look closely, you can also see cacti in the rock crevices, and sometimes you may encounter lizards and viscachas, which look like rabbits with a hint of a fox.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Bolivia

The Witches Market

5.4

4.7/5

3 reviews

The Witches Market is located in the old town in the center of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. It is an open-air market that stretches along the streets and serves as a window into the traditional beliefs of the Andean Aymara people. The stalls are mostly run by Aymara women wearing full skirts and shawls, and are filled with herbs, dried animal products, and sets of ritual offerings in colorful boxes, creating a mysterious and vibrant atmosphere as you walk through. The signature item here is dried llama fetuses, while dried frogs, owl feathers, and various small figurines also carry their own symbolic meanings.

Andes

5.2

1 reviews

The Andes extend into the Nor Lipez region of Potosi, Bolivia, creating a majestic highland landscape and serving as one of the most important mountain ranges in South America. This region features high altitudes and complex terrain, with crisscrossing mountain ranges and echoing river valleys and peaks, presenting a diverse natural landscape. The Andean section of Nor Lipez is not only rugged but also rich in mineral resources and possesses a unique highland ecosystem, making it geographically and economically significant. The climate here is typical of a highland region, characterized by significant temperature differences between day and night, crisp air, and vegetation consisting mainly of cold-resistant meadows and alpine shrubs. Rivers within the mountains have carved out deep valleys, forming spectacular canyon landscapes, while also nurturing diverse wildlife, making it an important area for natural research and ecological exploration. Local indigenous communities have lived around the mountains for a long time, and their agricultural and pastoral activities are closely integrated with the highland environment, forming a unique cultural landscape and way of life.

Bolivia · Nor Lipez

Catedral Metropolitana Basílica Menor de San Lorenzo de Santa Cruz

5

Catedral Metropolitana Basílica Menor de San Lorenzo de Santa Cruz is the cathedral of the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It is located in the heart of the old town, opposite Plaza 24 de Septiembre, where citizens gather daily. The existing building was designed by a French architect and blends eclectic and Baroque elements. Its red-brick facade features cornices and relief decorations, paired with symmetrical towers, making it highly recognizable. The interior features a three-nave layout. Looking up, you can see the painted wooden vault, which is its well-known signature feature. The main altar still retains silver-carved panels from the Jesuit missions of San Pedro de Moxos. Four reliefs of the same origin are displayed nearby, preserving the memories of the local missionary era within this building. Climb the bell tower stairs level by level. The view from the top covers Plaza 24 de Septiembre and the surrounding old town streets. You can also observe the operation of the vintage mechanical clock up close. If you are there when it chimes, the bells will ring right beside you.

Bolivia · Santa Cruz

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Bolivia

Laguna Colorada

4.9

5 reviews

Lake Colorado is also known as "Red Lake". There are many borax islands in the lake. The white color of these islands and the reddish red of the Red Lake are cleverly matched to form a beautiful landscape. The red and white lake surface is like an oil painting. The red and white paintings are both abstract and subtle, making people have to sigh the magic of nature. Red Lake is also a habitat for flamingos.

Bolivia · Sur Lipez

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Bolivia

Laguna Hedionda

4.6

19 reviews

Laguna Hedionda is located in the Potosi department of southwestern Bolivia, at an altitude of approximately 4,100 m, and is a gem in the chain of salt lakes on the Andean plateau. This alkaline lake was formed by volcanic activity and glacial erosion. Its surface changes from emerald green to cobalt blue depending on the season, and white borax crystal bands surround the shore, creating a surreal landscape with the distant volcanic group. The lake's rich plankton attracts a large number of James's flamingos, and the orange-pink flocks form a sharp contrast with the deep blue lake water. The lake area is part of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. It is accessible by a drive of approximately 3 hours along the southwest adventure route from Uyuni Salt Flat. It is recommended to join a local 2–3 day 4x4 itinerary, combined with visits to other attractions such as Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde. The soft light in the early morning makes it easy to capture mirror-like reflections, while strong winds are common in the afternoon, so a windbreaker is recommended. There is a simple viewing platform on the shore, but there are no dining facilities, so please bring your own food.

Bolivia · Nor Lipez