Why This Underrated South American Country Is Perfect For Adventurous Travelers

South America is a continent with lots to supply to adventurous vacationers: trekking to the traditional Machu Picchu ruins in Peru, exploring the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, climbing the spectacular mountains of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile, and a lot extra.

But one South American nation that flies underneath the radar for a lot of vacationers is dwelling to a number of the largest adventures of all.

Bolivia receives simply 1.2 million vacationers per 12 months, a lot much less in comparison with neighboring international locations in South America like Argentina (7.4 million), Brazil (6.3 million), Chile (5.4 million), Peru (5.2 million), and Colombia (4.5 million.)

Despite flying underneath the radar, this landlocked South American nation has a lot to supply to adventurous vacationers.

Here are the highest causes so as to add Bolivia to your bucket listing:

Uyuni Salt Flats

One of the highest vacationer points of interest in Bolivia is the Uyuni salt flats. This otherworldly panorama is greatest considered in the course of the wet season from January by way of March, when rainfall creates a singular reflective floor on the salt flats.

The hottest option to go to the Uyuni salt flats is on a three-day, two-night tour in a 4×4 automobile that can take you thru the salt flats and surrounding nationwide parks.

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Cycling Death Road

Cycling Bolivia’s Death Road is an exercise that’s just for true thrill-seekers as a result of this expertise shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart!

“Death Road” was previously probably the most harmful roads on the planet, with lots of of fatalities per 12 months. Now, it’s solely used for bike excursions, however biking this 40-mile gravel street continues to be a nerve-wracking expertise as you whip round sheer cliff drops and underneath waterfalls.

La Paz

Bolivia’s high-altitude capital metropolis of La Paz is vibrant, gritty, stunning, and chaotic. It’s undoubtedly value spending a few days within the capital in your go to to Bolivia.

Some of the most effective issues to do within the metropolis are visiting the well-known Witches’ Market (the place you’ll see some extremely uncommon cures like llama fetuses on the market) and driving town’s many cable vehicles, probably the most distinctive types of public transportation on the planet.

Potosi Silver Mines

Potosi is a well-liked cease between the Uyuni salt flats and the gorgeous colonial metropolis of Sucre. Potosi’s declare to fame (or fairly, infamy) is its silver mines.

Hundreds of hundreds of indigenous and African slaves died in these mines in the course of the period of Spanish colonial rule, they usually’re nonetheless extremely harmful right this moment. Miners toil away in dismal working situations, and a number of other tour operators run excursions to those still-active mines right this moment.

This is an exercise that’s NOT beneficial for anybody who’s claustrophobic. It’s additionally a controversial exercise, and it’s beneficial to do your analysis and select an moral tour operator.

Amazon Rainforest

Many folks don’t understand that a big swath of Bolivia is positioned within the Amazon rainforest. While many individuals go to the Amazon from Brazil or Peru, you can even simply go to from Bolivia.

Rurrenabaque is the gateway to the Amazon in Bolivia, and also you’ll discover many multi-day excursions you may select from to expertise the Amazon. As a bonus, it’s typically extra reasonably priced to go to the Amazon in Bolivia than in different international locations in South America.

Lake Titicaca

Since Bolivia is landlocked, it doesn’t have any seashores, however Lake Titicaca is the following greatest place to go if you happen to’re trying to sit back and calm down after all of your adventures.

This huge high-altitude lake is dwelling to Isla del Sol, stated to be the birthplace of the Incas. You can take a ship from Copacabana, a preferred lakeside city, to Isla del Sol and spend the day climbing round this stunning island.