Beginner's Guide to Bolivia

Bolivia: Activities and Attractions Overview

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No matter where you may be thinking about taking a vacation, you need to know what activities and choices you’ll have while you’re there! Here is a look at the activities and attractions you may encounter if you choose to travel to Bolivia.

The Republic of Bolivia is located in the central section of South America. Its borders are Brazil on the north and east, Peru and Chile on the west, and Paraguay and Argentina on the south. Its capital city is La Paz, Sucre, while its largest city is Santa Cruz. Bolivia was named for Simon Bolivar, a South American revolutionary and hero, and the father of independence for a number of South American countries. His nickname is “The Liberator.”

History

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People have been living in present day Bolivia for several thousand years. In the earliest days of the country Bolivia was inhabited by a number of different people groups, the descendants of which still remain to this day. Some of these groups, especially the Tiwanaku culture, were extremely advanced for their period. Their culture formed at one end of Lake Titicaca. There are a number of theories as to why this advanced culture ultimately disappeared completely, including disease, flood, drought, and simply being conquered by attackers. Bolivia became part of the Incan Empire during the mid 1400s and remained there until it was conquered by the Spanish in 1538.

Bolivia remained as a Spanish colony for nearly 300 years before they declared their independence, mainly because of the toll the Napoleonic wars had taken on the Spanish throne. A very long war ensued after their declaration of independence until the republic was finally established in 1925. The general who led the successful army in the last battle became the first president of Bolivia, but the country’s strongest days came a few years later, under the leadership of Mariscal Andres de Santa Cruz. During his tenure, Bolivia fought a number of wars and won decisive victories in each, including a famous battle in which both the Peruvian and Chilean armies were defeated. Santa Cruz signed a peace treaty at the conclusion of this war, allowing these armies to return to their respective homes with their weaponry intact. Soon thereafter, the Chileans denounced the treaty and used the aforementioned intact weaponry to bring another war against Bolivia, and this time the Chileans came out on top. The years beginning in 1951 and leading up to the present day have been marked with numerous different governments, some successful and some not, as well as general political and economic turmoil.

Culture

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Bolivian culture is fabulously diverse and incredibly interesting. Influenced by both Incan and Aymaran culture, as well as by remnants of European culture from the days of Spanish colonization, music, religion, food, clothing, and many other cultural aspects are extremely important to Bolivians.

Football (the sport that Americans would call soccer) is played all over Bolivia and is by far the nation’s most popular sport. Zoos are common there, as well, and are one of the country’s very widespread tourist attractions. There are a number of festivals held regularly, featuring colorful clothing mindful of days of yore, dancing and lively music, and outstanding Bolivian cuisine.

Climate

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Who wants to go someplace on vacation that has an unpleasant climate? Nobody! Nothing to worry about here! The climate in Bolivia is quite mild and does not vary as much as the climate in most other places, even other countries in South America. In La Paz, for example, the variation between the warmest and coolest temperatures of the year is only eight degrees Fahrenheit. There is a long rainy season in Bolivia, but the country doesn’t experience an exorbitant amount of annual precipitation.

Statistics

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Bolivia is the 86th most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of about 8.9 million people. Its land area is about 421,000 square miles, only about 1% of which is water. The population is made up of 65% Amerindians (25% Aymara Amerindians and 30% Quechua Amerindians), 30% Mestizos (mixed Amerindian and European) and 15% European.

Activities and Attractions

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As we mentioned before, Bolivia has a tremendous number of activities and things to see and do. Many of these attractions are simply parts of nature, with breathtaking places like the Amazon River basin and rainforest and the Andes Mountains being located in the lovely South American country. Here are some of the highlights of Bolivia, both of the natural and the manmade variety.

When visiting Bolivia, there are a few things you simply must experience. Anytime you can see something or experience something you can’t see or experience anywhere else in the world, you simply must take advantage of it. There are many experiences like that in Bolivia.

In the capital city of La Paz (translated “The Peace” in English), there are some incredible sites to see. La Paz is the highest elevated capital city in the entire world, located at about 3600 meters above sea level. The air is thin at an altitude this high, so people with health concerns should be careful, but the view from this western Bolivian city is fantastic. La Paz is also home to the highest elevated golf course in the entire world. Picture this: You loosen up, get out your driver, and tee off at the long first hole, a par four. You strike the ball cleanly and solidly, right on the sweet spot, and off it soars into the distance, traveling over 300 yards in the air before it rolls and comes to a rest a mere 60 yards from the green. The thin air at this altitude will allow your ball to travel much farther than it would at regular altitudes in the United States or other locations. It’s a golfer’s dream come true!

Santa Cruz is the other major city in Bolivia, located on the east side of the country, opposite La Paz. The full name of Santa Cruz translated as “holy cross of the hills” into English. Santa Cruz is inundated with colonial architecture because the city was primarily uninhabited until the early 1900s. Some of this architecture can be seen in the numerous Jesuit missions located in Santa Cruz, which are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire country. There is also a gorgeous cathedral located in Santa Cruz, using this same architecture, which was constructed in the 16th century and is still standing strong. If you happen to be in Santa Cruz, look for a supermarket called Hypermaxi. This was the birthplace of fast food in Bolivia, when a restaurant located in the supermarket began serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries, and other fast food items. It’s a must see for a tourist, just so you can tell your friends you’ve been there!

There are a number of other activities and things to see in the beautiful country of Bolivia. You’ll want to check out Sucre, the constitutional and former nominal capital of Bolivia, as well as Cochabamba, located in the foothills of the beautiful Andes Mountain range. Potosi is another region that is frequently visited, as it was the home of silver mines and was essential to the economy of Bolivia. Potosi also has the claim as the highest elevated city in the entire world, at over 4000 meters above sea level. Visitors can have locals take them to the highest point in the city, which would mean you were also at the highest point in the world!

These are just a few of the spectacular highlights of the beautiful South American country of Bolivia.

Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.ddg.com/LIS/aurelia/bolgeo2.htm