We spent very close to our 30 day visa in Bolivia, and we could quite easily have taken more time to explore this often overlooked part of the world. Although not always easy-going, Bolivia has a lot to offer, especially to the budget traveller. So here the best things about Bolivia according to us, in no particular order!
1. Food is cheap.
You can eat like a horse in Bolivia without breaking the bank. Quite often we shared main courses because they were simply monumental. Just check out this 500g steak with chips, rice and unlimited salad bar for £4. Thank you very much!
2. Markets have wonderful fresh produce.
We are suckers for markets and Bolivia had some crackers. It’s pretty safe to stock up on fruits and vegetables, and there are all sorts of other items you can buy at much lower prices than in the supermarket. However, unlike in Peru, we decided not to eat in markets, we’d heard too many horror stories. We did enjoy quite a few fresh fruit juices though…perhaps we shouldn’t have!
3. Tourism is cheap.
Tourism might not be so well-developed in Bolivia but it certainly is cheap. Our 3 day Salar de Uyuni salt flats tour cost us £100 each. It included transport, guide, meals and accommodation. Other tours like the Chacaltaya mountain and Valley of the Moon tour that we did in La Paz cost a little over £20 for two. Of course, before you rush to book your ticket to Bolivia, we suggest you check this out.
4. Transport is cheap.
Other than affordable tourism and tours, public transport is extremely cheap. As the train network is largely underdeveloped, especially for passenger use, Bolivians rely almost exclusively on busses to travel around the country. We paid as little as 50p per hour on some journeys, and services are frequent, giving you the flexibility to travel at any time you please. A cautionary note: by and large you get what you pay for, and services vary greatly depending on the bus company.
5. Natural beauty is plentiful.
Bolivia has The Andes mountains, altiplano, ancient salt lakes, volcanoes, deserts and jungle. We can confidently say that we saw some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring natural scenery that we ever have. This alone makes Bolivia worth visiting. In our opinion, when in Bolivia, one should definitely invest more time exploring the natural beauty, rather than visiting the cities.
6. Religious/superstitious fervour is interesting.
Andean mysticism is easily mixed with mainstream Christianity in Bolivia. It is intriguing to see the range of religious and superstitious actions actively played out amongst the population. For example pilgrimages to Copacabana to see the Virgin, worship of the Tio devil-like figure in the mines of Potosi, offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and pleas to Pachapapa, traditional plant medicine and the cornucopia of oddities that is the witches market in La Paz.
7. La Paz Witches Market.
How could we not mention this unique area of the city? Although not a market as such, it is an area of town full of shops specialising in traditional Andean religion and medicine. Among the items that they sell there are good luck talismans and amulets, all sorts of herbs and potions with allegedly miraculous properties, remedies against bad luck, lack of work and money and antidotes against curses and ailments. And how can we not to mention the stuffed llama fetuses essential for blessing the foundations of newly built houses? Oh, and let’s not forget the more “ad-hoc” work that the witches do when you need to send some good old “malasuerte” to a foe!
8. Cholitas.
Although once considered a derogatory term to label indigenous women wearing traditional clothes. The word cholita has now entered everyday vocabulary and is commonly accepted. Spending some time in the country one can really get the sense that a large part of the population is still very attached to their ancestral culture, customs and beliefs and it is somewhat refreshing to see that these people have (in part) not yet been touched by globalisation and modernity. One has to wonder though how long these traditions will last, and if the new generations will be affected by globalisation the way they have in other Latin American countries.
9. Colonial Achitecture.
Although the bloody history of exploitation and forced religious conversions by the european conquerors that brought this architecture about cannot be ignored, one cannot help marvel at the sheer beauty of spanish influenced churches and buildings in the country, albeit with mestizo embellishments. Sites like Sucre and Potosi are protected by UNESCO as part of the world’s heritage and their impressive architecture make them popular tourist attractions. Potosi was once the richest and grandest city in South America thanks to the silver mines of “Cerro Rico” and the beautiful colonial architecture reflects this fact. It is however now just a shadow of its former self, completely pillaged of its natural resources by the Spaniards and living off the scraps left in the mines in which miners work in appalling conditions. Sucre, on the other hand, is one of the most well-preserved colonial town in the whole of South America and a must see for any traveler.
10. Potosi’s mines.
Apart from the beautiful colonial architecture, the other main attraction in Potosi is the mines of “Cerro Rico”. These mines, once filled with silver are now being mined mainly for tin and zinc using the same techniques there were employed centuries ago. Visiting the mines is not a fun day out and it’s not for the faint hearted. The tunnels are dangerous and at constant risk of collapsing, and miners work with little protection and almost no health and safety measures in place. Some raise ethical questions about letting tourists into the mines, not just for safety concerns, but also for the fact that a place in which hardship and unspeakable working conditions are commonplace should not be made into a tourist spectacle. However, the historical importance of the place together with the fact that tourism actually helps the miners to change or supplement their living convinced us to take the tour. Definitely not for everyone, but a unique and eye-opening experience.
great article! I’ve never been to Bolivia but it definitely sounds interesting, especially the La Paz Witches markets…Happy Travels!!
Thanks Shelby. Bolivia is definitely a very fascinating country, the witches market is one of a kind! Are you planning a trip to South America at any point?
Great article, fully agree! The scenery in the south was mindblowing! I didn’t get to see Potosi’s mines though but maybe next time!
Thanks! The mines are not for everyone but definitely quite an experience. Have you been to other countries in South America other than Bolivia?