7 Reasons to Visit Bolivia with Llama Travel

1. Small Groups

Llama Travel holidays operate on an average group size of 11, with a hard maximum of 18 guests per tour. With the vast landscapes and authentically local areas we visit on our Bolivia holidays, the smaller group size really does make a difference, and helps our guests feel closer to the places and people they visit.

2. Explore the Uyuni Salt Flats

The image of sparkling, snow-white salt plains, stretching far off into the distance at the Uyuni Salt Flats, is a sight like no other. Each year, thousands of tourists travel to Bolivia in search of the unique and magical experience of standing in the middle of the flats, surrounded by a sea of white.

Uyuni is perhaps the best place in the world for taking perspective photographs and visitors usually get creative, playing with different visual effects and often using props. Guides in Uyuni are on hand with tips on how to take a perfect shot.

The best way to traverse the salt flats is by 4x4 vehicle, leaving your hotel in the morning and visiting several sites of interest during the day. Having a picnic in the middle of the flats is one of the best lunchtime settings you can find. Perhaps the most unmissable sight whilst visiting the Uyuni salt flats is to witness the sunset. Here, the sun sets in indescribable shades of yellow, orange and red, leading to complete darkness as the sun dips below the horizon and a ceiling of brightly twinkling stars begins to emerge.

The Uyuni Salt Flats' unique perspective photography is a highlight of any visit!

3. Spend time in the world’s highest capital city

La Paz is famous as the highest capital city in the world, but its unique blend of history, culture, and nature means it is defined by much more than its altitude. A guided tour on your first full day in La Paz on our Salt Flats of Bolivia extension is a fantastic way to get acquainted with the city’s various neighbourhoods.

When La Paz was founded in 1548, it was located upon the site of the Inca community of Laja. Spanish settlers came with hopes of finding gold in the surrounding hills, and because of its convenient position for use as a trade route between the silver mines of Potosí and the coast at Lima, Peru. As the city expanded and the construction of Spanish governmental buildings established firm control, the indigenous Aymara people staged a series of revolts and sieges. An insurrection took back control of La Paz from the Spanish in 1809.

Nowadays, with a population of around 800,000 (relatively small compared to other Latin American capitals), the city is a sprawling conurbation with a mix of colonial-era cobbled streets and modern high-rises. There are a number of museums located on or around Calle Jaén, one of the principal streets in the city’s old town.

Although La Paz is not known for its nightlife, a selection of bars and nightclubs can be found in the district of Sopocachi, south of the centre. Bars and clubs often open from Wednesday to Saturday: on other days of the week, hotel bars are often the best alternative. For a more traditional experience, visit a peña, a casual bar with live music. There is a Multicine cinema on Avenida Arce in Sopocachi, mostly showing the latest Hollywood offerings. Films are normally shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles.

Visiting the witches market, or Mercado de Hechicería, is a fascinating experience, unique to La Paz. Located in the oldest part of the city, each market stall is tightly packed with weird and wonderful objects, including lucky charms, herbal remedies, spices, potions, and llama foetuses.

The Bayete Guest Lodge is a serene oasis away from the thrill of the Falls.

4. Explore beyond La Paz

Only 10km from the centre of La Paz, the lunar landscape of the Valley of the Moon is a world away from the bustle of the city. Over time, the clay-rich rock in the mountainous terrain has eroded, leaving an incredible maze of jagged towers. The variety of colours found in the rock, due to the composition of minerals, is just as interesting as the weird and wonderful geological formations. Walking trails navigate through the valley, passing viewpoints with panoramic views of the unusual, dry landscape and surrounding mountains.

The archaeological site of Tiwanaku is found close to the Peruvian-Bolivian border, around a 2-hour drive from the centre of La Paz. Dating back to 1500BC, the site is a testament to the Tiwanaku people, one of the first great civilisations in South America. The influence of the Tiwanaku civilisation was felt across the southern Andes, in modern-day Peru, Chile and Argentina. Although it is believed that only a small portion of the original city has been excavated, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is well-preserved, and the beautiful detail found on the stone monoliths makes this a fascinating example of indigenous history and culture, with a distinct style from other archaeological sites found in the highlands of Peru, for example.

Llama Travel’s tours of Bolivia include a daytime visit to Tiwanaku.

5. Combine with Peru

Our Salt Flats of Bolivia extension is designed to fit seamlessly onto our flagship Peru tour, Incas & Conquistadors of Peru. As well as exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats and La Paz, combining Bolivia with Lima and Cusco adds an interesting dimension to the holiday.

Both destinations serve as an interesting contrast to Bolivia; Lima’s modern cosmopolis is a far cry from traditional La Paz, and while Cusco is historic and indigenous, there is a more rugged authenticity to life in Bolivia, even in its major cities.

Combining Peru with Bolivia also allows for a visit to Machu Picchu, one of the great architectural ruins anywhere in the world. Visiting with Llama Travel allows the flexibility to take a magical train ride, upgrade to the Hiram Bingham train, or complete the more adventurous Short Inca Trail to the site.  

Our Incas & Conquistadors itinerary combines seamlessly with the Salt Flats of Bolivia.

6. Your holiday, your way

It is not just how you visit Machu Picchu that adds an extra sense of choice and flexibility to your holiday. As well as the core Incas & Conquistadors of Peru + Salt Flats of Bolivia combination, you can add stays in Lake Titicaca, the Atacama Desert, or both for a 20-day adventure.

For those looking to truly capture the depth and breadth of Latin America, you can add a 5-day extension to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, or a 10-day extension to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro.

Once you have decided on your combination of destinations, you can then mix-and-match a variety of excursions, including guided tours of Lima and the Sacred Valley and kayaking on Lake Titicaca.

Essentially, hundreds of different holidays can be built depending on exactly how you want to experience Bolivia and where else you would like to visit. Regardless of which combination you choose, we guarantee the same level of quality and value for money.

7. Speak to an Expert

A number of our in-house travel experts have visited Bolivia themselves, and can advise on exactly what the destination can offer depending on the type of holiday you are looking for and share their first-hand expertise. You can contact us here to speak to one of them, or order a brochure for more details on our holidays here.

Explore all of our Bolivia holidays here.