11 Best Things to Do in Bolivia (in 2022)
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Loading... - Petar Tomic
- 27 Jul 2022
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Choosing the best things to do in Bolivia is hard. Your potential list of what to do in Bolivia is just so long!
So I asked a bunch of travel bloggers to tell me about the most EPIC experiences they had in Bolivia and the results are … just… wow….
What’s in store on this list?
Well, pink river dolphins for one! Yes, pink-freaking-dolphins!
Biking down a road called “Death Road” for another!
So get ready for 11 things you definitely will want to do in Bolivia (plus a few tips at the end of what NOT to do):
11 Fun Things to Do in Bolivia
1. Adventure in the Stunning Uyuni Salt Flats
Easily the most popular thing to do in Bolivia, the famous Uyuni salt flats draw tourists from around the world.
Why are the Uyuni salt flats so special?
Well, for one thing, they seem to stretch out endlessly into the horizon, creating a trippy sort of effect.
Second, if you’re lucky enough to come after some rain, the salt flats turn into the world’s largest mirror!
Third, the remote location in the Bolivian desert and the lack of light pollution makes for some excellent stargazing! It’s not uncommon to see the Milky Way at night here. Combined with the mirror effect, it can make for some incredible photos.
The most popular way to tour the Uyuni salt flats is as part of a 3 day, 2 night expedition that will also take you through geysers, mountain peaks, colored lagoons, and more.
That is, unless you’re also doing our #2 on our list of what to see in Bolivia….
2. Dare to Bike Down “Death Road”
What used to be called the World’s Most Dangerous road is now a thrill-seeker’s top thing to do in Bolivia.
In the 1980s, this 64km road that connects La Paz to Coroico reported an average of 200-300 deaths per year.
Drunk drivers, narrow roads, crazy hairpin turns and forces of nature were some of the reasons that resulted in the road being termed ‘Death Road’, or ‘Camino de la Muerte’.
In 2008, a new road opened that brought most vehicles over, leaving the Death Road a popular tourist attraction. The road is bumpy, scenic and almost entirely downhill. Swerve next to a cliff edge, ride under a small waterfall, and don’t forget to take a photo at the iconic fern-covered cliff.
The numerous tour agencies in La Paz offer daredevils a chance to bike down the scenic mountain road, and if you survive, you’ll even be rewarded with a survivor’s T-shirt! -Owen from My Turn to Travel
3. Discover the Amazon Basin (And Pink River Dolphins) at Selva Soliviana
One of the coolest places to visit in Bolivia is the part of the Amazon basin known as Selva Boliviana.
The best starting point for a visit is Rurrenabaque, a rather remote small town which can be reached by bus or by plane – though during the rainy season the road conditions make it virtually impossible to get there, and planes get regularly delayed as the runway at the airport isn’t exactly state of the art infrastructure.
Once in Rurrenabaque, travelers have the option to join one of the many guided expeditions which go all the way to the selva, where they can stay in lodges on the water and every day go out in search of the local wildlife which includes the pink river dolphins; crocodiles and caymans; anaconda snakes; leopards (though these are incredibly hard to spot) and the unmissable monkeys.
Needless to say, sunsets and sunrises are spectacular in this region of the country – even more so because there’s hardly anybody around, meaning that the show can be enjoyed in complete silence!
4. Light a Stick of Dynamite in Potosi
For those who make the trip to Bolivia’s lofty Potosi, several treats are in store:
First, not only is it the highest city in Bolivia, but one of the highest cities in the world.
Second, if you have survived soroche (altitude sickness), there is another survival activity to test your stamina – a tour of the deep mines.
These mines are located on hills on the edge of Potosi, overlooking the city. It was once the silver mining capital of the world. You meet you guide, can have a (often compulsory) shot of strong Bolivian alcohol, a bumpy ride up into the mines and then in you go.
Here you will find the mines very tight, claustrophobic and dangerous and challenging as you head through the nooks and crannies to meet with one of the miners. These are hard working guys that spend most of their lives in these mines.
On the tour you can bring gifts to these strong miners, see how tough their life is, and afterwards you can light dynamite and blow it up on your own in the mountains!
This is not a trip for the faint hearted and a true travel gem for anyone who backpacks in Bolivia. You can book this tour, one of the most unique things to see in Bolivia, through many tour operators in the city. -Johnny from Don’t Stop Living
5. Feel Like You’re On Another Planet at The Badlands of Tupiza
Bolivia offers surreal vistas by the bucketful, and the southern Badlands of Tupiza are no exception. Even the name sounds desolate, conjuring images of the Wild West.
Tupiza town itself, with its frontier feel, is a popular stop-off for those heading to Argentina or the Uyuni Salt Flats, but the real draw is the surrounding landscape.
Our jeep trip saw us rumbling across parched desert. Stopping to explore on foot, we posed between towering walls of russet stone (Puerta del Diablo), scrambled across giant boulders by the hidden Canyon del Inca, and tried not to giggle at the famously phallic rock formations of the Valle de los Machos.
We ate lunch by a river, under the shade of a lone tree, wondering whether Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had ever passed through the same beautiful spot.
It was near these Badlands, legend has it, that these notorious outlaws were reputedly shot and killed.
To top it all, we drove high above the plains, to almost 4000m, to gaze open-mouthed across the striking, rocky pinnacles of the Quebrada de Palala. What a finale. Read More...
