Surrounded by the peaks of the Andean Plateau and overlooked by the 6402m Mt. Illimani, La Paz is a truly breathtaking city whose buildings sprawl across the surrounding canyon, reaching altitudes of up to 4100m. While the sight of the city is reason enough to visit, La Paz holds a number of attractions sure to keep tourists fascinated. Take a walk along Calle Jaen, a colonial street lined with museums, explore the city's cathedrals or wander through some of the colourful markets, including the 'Witches' Market' where llama foetuses and dried frogs can be found for sale.
The largest island on Lake Titicaca, the “Island in the Sun” is an ancient holy Inca site with over 80 ruins dating back to the 15th century AD. The rocky piece of land can only be explored by foot and there are several walking tracks to help visitors get around. Among the Inca monuments, tourists will find the Inca Table, a platform thought to have been used for human sacrifices; the remains of a two-story palace; and a set of rock impressions dubbed The Footsteps of the Sun. The island also boasts an Inca gold museum and a spring that the Spaniards thought to be the fountain of youth.
Huatajata, a small community, rests on the Bolivian bank of the mighty Lake Titicaca, the largest and arguably most magical South American lake. Huatajata draws in travellers from far and wide to admire its scenic surroundings, sample the delicious local cuisine and learn about the interesting culture of building reef boats from the locals. This delightful destination is the perfect base for exploring all that the enchanting, reflective waters of Lake Titicaca have to offer, including its many lush islands, diverse vegetation and active wildlife. From fishing and kayaking to hiking and bird watching, the activities are endless.
As previously described
Located in the southwest of Bolivia, the small town of Uyuni is not a tourist destination per se, but rather a starting point for those wishing to explore the region’s extraordinary landscape. Group tours leave regularly from Uyuni, taking visitors on a scenic journey that includes an antique train cemetery, thermal baths, rock formations, and the remarkable Uyuni salt flats. Spanning more than 10 000 square kilometres and containing 10 billion tonnes of glistening salt, 'Salar de Uyuni' is the world’s largest salt plain, offering breathtaking views that place it amongst Bolivia’s main attractions.
Resting in the Andes of southwest Bolivia, the Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, stretching over nearly 11, 000 square kilometres. Once a prehistoric lake, the striking, otherworldly landscape reaches to the horizon. The white expanse is decorated by rock formations, islands of cacti, and flocks of pink flamingos, and polygonal patterns of hardened salt. After the rains, it becomes a never-ending mirror of the sky, creating an upside-down starry night after dark. This is a photographer’s dream.
