Bolivia is South America's most geographically dramatic country — a landlocked nation of extremes that contains within its borders the world's highest navigable lake, the world's largest salt flat, a portion of the Amazon basin, temperate valleys, and the altiplano plateau sitting at an average elevation of 3,750 metres. Bordered by Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile, Bolivia is the continent's poorest country by many measures and one of its most visually extraordinary.
The Salar de Uyuni in southwestern Bolivia is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometres. During the dry season it is a blinding white expanse of hexagonal salt crystals stretching to distant volcanoes under an infinite sky. During the rainy season a shallow film of water transforms it into the world's largest natural mirror, reflecting clouds and sky in a perfect optical illusion that makes the horizon disappear entirely. Flamingos feed on the red algae of the highland lagoons nearby, and the bizarre rock formations of Valle de Rocas and the geysers of Sol de Mañana rise from the surrounding altiplano in a landscape of geological theatre.
Lake Titicaca, shared with Peru at 3,812 metres above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. The Bolivian side, centred on the town of Copacabana, contains the sacred Isla del Sol — the Island of the Sun — where Inca legend says the sun god Inti was born. The island's Inca ruins, its walking trails between terraced hillsides, and its views across the deep blue lake to the snow peaks of the Cordillera Real are profoundly moving.
La Paz, the administrative capital and the world's highest capital city at 3,640 metres, sits in a dramatic canyon surrounded by the altiplano. The Mi Teleférico cable car system connects its hillside neighbourhoods in an engineering achievement that also happens to provide spectacular aerial views. The Witches' Market sells dried llama foetuses, herbs, and amulets beside modern pharmacies and electronics shops.
Bolivian cuisine features quinoa soups, saltenas (empanadas with spiced filling), salteñas de pollo, and the beloved api morado — a thick purple corn drink drunk warm with pastries at breakfast.
May through October is the dry season and best for travel. Bolivia rewards those who adjust to altitude with some of the most singular landscapes on earth.
