Bolivia: The Rugged High Plains

Bolivia is sometimes called the Tibet of the Americas,Inca empire was created. You can also go down a
for its arid, high-altitude desert-like plateau, more vividterrifying but spectacular road to Coroico, a popular
when called by its Spanish name altiplano. This is oneresort town in the sub-tropical Yungas valleys.
of the toughest inhabited environments on earth fromWith more time, you could explore the remote corners
shimmering Lake Titicaca, the only lake to give birth toof the Southern Altiplano. Old colonial Potosi is said to
an empire, to the surreal Salar de Uyuni, the biggestbe the most interesting of Bolivia's cities and the site of
and highest salt lake in the world - 12,000 sq km ofthe Spanish silver mines. Nearby is the official capital,
blinding white, completely flat nothingness.Sucre, with its fascinating colonial architecture.
Bolivia has also been called the Nepal of the Americas,Southwest of Potosi is Uyuni, which sets you off on a
for its Cordillera Real with almost a thousand peaks3-4-day tour to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest
soaring over 5,000 meters and matching anything thesalt lake. Further south, near the Chilean border, are
Himalayas can offer in climbing and trekking, but withdeserts, volcanoes and multi-colored soda lakes
much less of the human traffic.carpeted with flamingoes. The south is also home to
The major attraction tourists have for Bolivia is its wild,the vineyards of Tarija and the graveyards of
unexplored natural beauty. The country, or the greaterdinosaurs. The Sajima National Park, near the Chilean
part of it, lies off the beaten track; a vast wildnessborder, includes the highest peak in Bolivia.
waiting to be seen and appreciated. This land-lockedEast of La Paz, you escape the cold of the altiplano
country at the heart and peak of South Americaand go down the Amazon jungle towards Brazil. The
offers magnificent trekking, especially around CoroicoTorotoro National Park is full of fossils, dinosaur
and Sorata in the Cordillera Real. You can go to thefootprints, caves and waterfalls, the real trip for those
Amazonian rainforests in its eastern parts bywho love the unbeaten paths.
breath-taking airplane flights or by hair-raising, or rather,Bolivia's newest attraction is the Chalalan Eco-lodge, in
heart-stopping bus rides.the Madidi National Park, right in the Amazon jungle.
Special TreatsThis is ecotourism in capital letters, and the place has
Some travel companies offer the adventurous athe greatest biodiversity in the whole planet. There are
one-week ice-climbing and biking vacation. After a dayover 300 types of birds, 1,200 butterfly species,
of training on the mountain bike, you pedal away on amonkeys, jaguar, tapir, caiman, and other wildlife.
mountain road ringed on the sides with 800-foot drops.Best time to go
If that's not enough, another route will pass by aBolivia's roads are notoriously poor, so you'll want to
section with a 14,000-foot drop. The route takes youavoid the rainy season from November to March, if
from the peak of the Chacaltaya Mountain and goesyou want to visit the jungles. The Altiplano does not
down into the impenetrable jungles of the Zongoget much rain, so timing is not so crucial although hiking
Valley. A brief rest, and then you undergo one moretrails can get muddy. June and July, the winter months,
day of training prior to a two-day climb up Huaynaare colder but the nights are clearer, and these are the
Potosi, one of the highest peaks in the world at 20,000best months to visit the Salar de Uyuni. June to August
feet.are the busiest tourism months and hotels will be full.
What Else to DoThe best festivals (Carnival and Holy Week) happen
Most parts of the country are remote, and can beduring the rainy season.
reached only by long bus rides. Vacations lasting aPlanning your trip
few weeks would hardly be enough to see whatAirlines are busiest from early December to
should be seen. You may have to fly to othermid-January and July to September. The best
destinations. La Paz is the jump-off point for Bolivia'sconnections to La Paz are through Sao Paolo, Rio de
sites. From the capital La Paz, you could take a tripJaneiro, Buenos Aires or Miami. The main cities have
north to the city of Tiahuanaco, which preceded thetheir hotels, but away from them, there are suitable
great Inca Empire; further north is Lake Titicaca. On thehotels for every budget, which offer excellent value -
lake is the beautiful Isla del Sol, where legend says thenot luxurious but clean and popular with travelers.