Bolivia: The Rugged High Plains

Bolivia is sometimes called the Tibet of the Americas,resort town in the sub-tropical Yungas valleys. With
for its arid, high-altitude desert-like plateau, more vividmore time, you could explore the remote corners of
when called by its Spanish name altiplano. This is onethe Southern Altiplano. Old colonial Potosi is said to be
of the toughest inhabited environments on earth fromthe most interesting of Bolivia's cities and the site of
shimmering Lake Titicaca, the only lake to give birth tothe Spanish silver mines. Nearby is the official capital,
an empire, to the surreal Salar de Uyuni, the biggestSucre, with its fascinating colonial architecture.
and highest salt lake in the world - 12,000 sq km ofSouthwest of Potosi is Uyuni, which sets you off on a
blinding white, completely flat nothingness. Bolivia has3-4-day tour to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest
also been called the Nepal of the Americas, for itssalt lake. Further south, near the Chilean border, are
Cordillera Real with almost a thousand peaks soaringdeserts, volcanoes and multi-colored soda lakes
over 5,000 meters and matching anything thecarpeted with flamingoes. The south is also home to
Himalayas can offer in climbing and trekking, but withthe vineyards of Tarija and the graveyards of
much less of the human traffic. The major attractiondinosaurs. The Sajima National Park, near the Chilean
tourists have for Bolivia is its wild, unexplored naturalborder, includes the highest peak in Bolivia. East of La
beauty. The country, or the greater part of it, lies offPaz, you escape the cold of the altiplano and go down
the beaten track; a vast wildness waiting to be seenthe Amazon jungle towards Brazil. The Torotoro
and appreciated. This land-locked country at the heartNational Park is full of fossils, dinosaur footprints, caves
and peak of South America offers magnificentand waterfalls, the real trip for those who love the
trekking, especially around Coroico and Sorata in theunbeaten paths. Bolivia's newest attraction is the
Cordillera Real. You can go to the AmazonianChalalan Eco-lodge, in the Madidi National Park, right in
rainforests in its eastern parts by breath-taking airplanethe Amazon jungle. This is ecotourism in capital letters,
flights or by hair-raising, or rather, heart-stopping busand the place has the greatest biodiversity in the
rides. Special Treats Some travel companies offer thewhole planet. There are over 300 types of birds, 1,200
adventurous a one-week ice-climbing and bikingbutterfly species, monkeys, jaguar, tapir, caiman, and
vacation. After a day of training on the mountain bike,other wildlife. Best time to go Bolivia's roads are
you pedal away on a mountain road ringed on thenotoriously poor, so you'll want to avoid the rainy
sides with 800-foot drops. If that's not enough, anotherseason from November to March, if you want to visit
route will pass by a section with a 14,000-foot drop.the jungles. The Altiplano does not get much rain, so
The route takes you from the peak of the Chacaltayatiming is not so crucial although hiking trails can get
Mountain and goes down into the impenetrable junglesmuddy. June and July, the winter months, are colder
of the Zongo Valley. A brief rest, and then youbut the nights are clearer, and these are the best
undergo one more day of training prior to a two-daymonths to visit the Salar de Uyuni. June to August are
climb up Huayna Potosi, one of the highest peaks inthe busiest tourism months and hotels will be full. The
the world at 20,000 feet. What Else to Do Most partsbest festivals (Carnival and Holy Week) happen during
of the country are remote, and can be reached onlythe rainy season. Planning your trip Airlines are busiest
by long bus rides. Vacations lasting a few weeksfrom early December to mid-January and July to
would hardly be enough to see what should be seen.September. The best connections to La Paz are
You may have to fly to other destinations. La Paz isthrough Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires or
the jump-off point for Bolivia's sites. From the capitalMiami. The main cities have their hotels, but away from
La Paz, you could take a trip north to the city ofthem, there are suitable hotels for every budget, which
Tiahuanaco, which preceded the great Inca Empire;offer excellent value - not luxurious but clean and
further north is Lake Titicaca. On the lake is thepopular with travelers.
beautiful Isla del Sol, where legend says the IncaAlex J Smith writes for where travelers can host their
empire was created. You can also go down aown travel blogs, upload photos and find unbiased
terrifying but spectacular road to Coroico, a populartravel information.