Among isolated Andean peaks to the steamy headwaters of the Amazon, Bolivia humbly delivers breath-taking landscapes and outstanding natural beauty. And all far from the tread of the well-worn tourist path.
Among a crumbling colonial legacy, Bolivia is striving to secure a more prosperous future while holding on the clothing, music, religions and even languages that are firmly rooted in the majority of its people whose ancestors pre-date the Spanish conquistadors.
Its land-locked isolation has helped preserve much of Bolivia’s ancient beliefs and traditions that give visitors a vibrant sense of how a world long-forgotten elsewhere can exist side-by-side with the modern urban landscape of business suits and wireless internet connections.
The high-altitude capital, La Paz, is an extraordinary place of bustle and colour providing a fascinating gateway to the country. Street vendors ply their trade at every corner and most women still wear traditional dress and ubiquitous bowler hats.
While Bolivia remains largely under the radar for most travellers, outside the main cities accommodation can be basic and infrastructure poor with little English spoken compared to more globalised economies.
Its isolated location and challenging geography can make Bolivia expensive to reach, but, once there, your money will go further, with incredible meals and vibrant nights out available at a fraction of their cost back home.
The election of leftist president Evo Morales in 2005 has given the indigenous majority its first ever leader, and, more importantly, a stable government for a country that had spent the previous century changing its leaders almost with the seasons.
