Cheat Sheet: Bolivia

Some quick Bolivia travel tips for your next adventure!

Don’t leave home without The Thrill of Pursuit’s Bolivia cheat sheet printable! I have created a printable graphic as a quick reference with Bolivia travel tips.

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<3 Dominique

Bolivia remains relatively untouched by mass tourism which allows visitors to experience authentic encounters with local communities and cultures. Travelers can gain insights into the country’s rich cultural tapestry. Intrepid explorers will find the country’s unspoiled beauty rewarding, with otherworldly landscapes, colorful local customs, and unique cultural experiences awaiting them.

I have consolidated all my Bolivia travel tips for your adventures in a printable. In this post, I expand on all the items listed on my Cheat Sheet.

Language

Spanish is the official and dominant language in Bolivia. There are also 36 indigenous languages that have official status. Of the 36 indigenous languages – Guarani, Quechua, and Aymara are the most commonly spoken.

For those who want to impress the locals, here are some common phrases in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara:

Currency

The currency of Bolivia is Boliviano (BOB). Most restaurants and hotels will accept credit card but I would suggest having cash on hand. Not all ATMs accept foreign bank accounts.

Time Zones

There is one time zone in the country and that is BOT (UTC-4).

Electric Outlets

The plugs in Bolivia are Types A and C. The voltage could be 115V or 230V (it is best to check before plugging in your hair straightener). Standard frequency is 50 Hz.

I recommend bringing a Universal Adapter with surge protection on your travels.

Tipping Etiquette

Tipping isn’t expected in Bolivia …but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be appreciated. Below are my tipping suggestions.

Bolivia Travel: Points of Interest

Bolivia is a place of scarcity with one of the world’s lowest population densities and the lowest GDP in South America. While much of the country isn’t set up for mass tourism, Bolivia boasts epic landscapes and otherworldly cities. This section highlights points of interest that I know of… though I’m sure you’ll uncover many hidden gems as you travel through Bolivia!

Parque Nacional Madidi

This park is a pristine wilderness area located in the Amazon Basin of Bolivia. It is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, where you can find rare and exotic wildlife such as jaguars, giant river otters, macaws, and various species of monkeys. Parque Nacional Madidi is rich in unspoiled beauty. It is made up of diverse ecosystems including lowland rainforest, cloud forest, and high Andean mountains.

The park is also home to several indigenous communities, including the Tacana and Quechua peoples. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about their traditional way of life, including their knowledge of medicinal plants, hunting techniques, and spiritual beliefs.

Cordillera Real

Cordillera Real offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, cultural immersion, and photographic opportunities, making it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable Andean experience. It is located in the Andes mountain range of Bolivia.

Cordillera Real offers excellent opportunities for hiking and trekking. Popular treks include the Condoriri Circuit, the Huayna Potosi Trek, and the Choro Trek, each offering stunning views and a chance to immerse oneself in the natural beauty of the Andes. Besides hiking and mountaineering, the region offers opportunities for other adventure sports such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and paragliding. The region’s diverse terrain provides an ideal playground for adrenaline junkies seeking thrills in the great outdoors.

Salar de Uyuni

Visiting the Salar de Uyuni offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders and immerse oneself in its unique and captivating beauty. Salar de Uyuni is an otherworldly landscape of vast, shimmering salt flats that stretch as far as the eye can see. The flat, white expanse creates a surreal and mesmerizing scene, especially during sunrise and sunset when the colors of the sky reflect off the salt crust. The salt flats provides endless opportunities for creative photography. The perfectly flat surface creates optical illusions and reflections that result in stunning and surreal images.

For more on this, check out: How to Take the Perfect Salar de Uyuni Photo

Visitors can hike to the top of Isla Incahuasi (an “island” in the middle of the sea of salt) for panoramic views of the Salar and its surrounding landscapes. The colorful and biodiverse Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is home to several stunning lakes populated by flamingos. The salt flats also offer excellent conditions for stargazing thanks to its high altitude and remote location. On clear nights, the sky comes alive with thousands of stars, providing a memorable celestial spectacle.

For a more detailed read on exploring Salar de Uyuni, check out: Uyuni Salt Flats Tour – One Day VS Multi Day Tour

La Paz

For an authentic Bolivian experience, you should definitely spend at least a couple days in the country’s administrative capital. Nestled in the Andes mountains, La Paz offers a blend of natural beauty, big city energy alongside indigenous culture that is uniquely Bolivian to her visitors.

Might I suggest a Food and Beer tour to orient yourself with the city? Food tours are my favourite way to get my bearings around big cities where I am expecting to stay for a few days.

For more like this, read – 10 Wonderful Things to Do in La Paz – coming soon

Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku is an ancient archaeological site of what was once the capital of the Tiwanaku civilization – one of the most important pre-Columbian civilizations in the Andean region. It would be the perfect day trip from La Paz for explorers who love history, archaeology, and indigenous cultures. The ruins at Tiwanaku is notable for their size and intricate architecture. Tiwanaku is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most important archaeological sites in South America.

Tiwanaku can be easily accessed via a day trip from La Paz. Why not join an organized day tour to Tiwanaku and take the hassle out of planning logistics?

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America and one of the highest navigable lakes in the world. It is located on the border between Bolivia and Peru. It is absolutely beautiful. Exploring the lake’s islands, trails, and remote villages provides an immersive experience in nature for ecotourists.

Besides its natural beauty, many indigenous communities dot the shores of Lake Titicaca. There are opportunities for visitors to learn about the traditional way of life of the Aymara and Quechua – including farming practices, handicrafts, and folklore. Bolivian towns around Lake Titicaca are also known for their traditional festivals that are celebrated throughout the year – like Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria.

If you’re short on time, I suggest checking out this tour departing from La Paz that would take you to the highlights of the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca in one day.

Potosí

Potosí was once one of the richest cities in the world due to its silver mines. The city is located near Cerro Rico (“Rich Mountain”) which was the world’s largest silver deposit. Because of its proximity to Cerro Rico, Potosí holds historical and cultural importance in Bolivia. Also, like the rest of the country, Potosí enjoys beautiful landscapes such as the Andean mountains and the Altiplano plateau.

Visitors can admire the colonial architecture in Potosí’s historical center (which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site) and take a tour of the mines that brought riches to the city . Potosí is renowned for its artisanal workshops. Skilled craftsmen produce traditional goods such as silver jewelry, ceramics, and textiles. Visitors can observe artisans at work and purchase authentic souvenirs.

Sucre

Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Its well-preserved colonial architecture has earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sucre is one of the oldest cities in Bolivia. It played a significant role in Bolivia’s struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule and served as the birthplace of the nation. As the nation’s capital, Sucre boasts a wealth of museums, art galleries, and theaters. Why not get a local to show you around Sucre?

Tupiza

Tupiza is a town in southern Bolivia that serves as one of the gateways to Salar de Uyuni. It is a convenient base for exploring the salt flats. Many tour operators offer multi-day excursions from Tupiza to the salt flats, allowing visitors to combine their visit with other attractions in the region.

Tupiza is nicknamed “Bolivia’s Canyon Country” since it is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by towering red rock formations, deep canyons, and rugged mountains. Intrepid travellers can explore the area on foot, horseback, or by 4×4 vehicle, taking in breathtaking vistas at every turn. Tupiza is the starting point for tours of the nearby Quebrada de Palala and Quebrada Seca canyons, which offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Bolivia.

Bolivia Travel: Food Checklist

To be honest here, I came to Bolivia to see her natural landscapes but not necessarily for its local cuisine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Like everything else in the country, many traditional dishes available in Bolivia carry historical significance and their recipes have passed down through many generations. Corn, potatoes, quinoa, and beans are traditional staples in Bolivian cuisine, although the food also differs by geographical locations. For example, due to the high, cold climate, food close to the Altiplano tends to use spices, while the Amazonian regions use more fruits, vegetables and fish that are more available in there.

Street food culture in Bolivia is very rich, especially in La Paz. This is thanks largely in part to the cholitas – women of Aymaran, Quechuan and other ethnicities. Not too long ago, there was heavy discrimination against the cholitas, especially when it came to work opportunities. With limited options, many cholitas started their own street food stalls. Soon, street food stalls became prevalent in the country. The cholitas can be credited for keeping authentic Bolivian gastronomic culture alive. Bolivians have a strong preference for traditional food over international fast food franchise offerings. Since Bolivians are spoilt for choice on street food options, no international franchise has been successful in Bolivia. This is a very uniquely Bolivian trait when describing what the gastronomy scene in the country is like.

In this section, I describe some of the typical foods that you may encounter as you travel through Bolivia.

Salteña

This is the national dish of Bolivia. Salteñas are baked, savoury pastries that are filled with ground meat. There is also a mixture of egg, potatoes, raisins and olives that have been tossed in a slightly spicy sauce. Certain establishments offer a vegetarian version of this. Salteñas are essentially Bolivian empanadas. They are typically eaten at breakfast or as a snack.

Papa Rellena

This is a popular street food consisting of fried mashed potato balls that have been stuffed with ground meat. This dish can be enjoyed any time as a snack, appetizer or side.

Api Con Pastel/Buñuelo

Api is a corn drink. There are two varieties of api: api blanco (made from white corn kernels) or api morado (made from purple corn flour). Pastel refers to a pastry. Api con pastel is a very popular breakfast in Bolivia.

Most Bolivians would opt for api morado for breakfast because of its thick and hearty flavor. The pastel that accompanies the api is usual a deep fried pastry with a cheese filling. Alternatively, api can also be paired with a buñuelo – deep fried sweet dough fritter.

Plato Paceño

This is a very typical dish in La Paz that is consumed for lunch or dinner. It consists of corn, potatoes, lima beans and fried cheese. Locals also like to add llajua, the famous Bolivian hot sauce, to this dish.

Sanduíche de Chola

This is a Bolivian sandwich filled with roasted pork, salsa, llajua, and pickled vegetables such as carrots and onions. Sanduíche de chola is mostly eaten in the afternoon. The word chola in its name refers to cholitas. The sandwich is named after the people who originally made them. As you travel through Bolivia, you will recognize the cholitas through their bowler hats, voluminous skirts and the aguayos (colourful cloths) they use in their clothing and carriers.

Fricasé

Fricasé is a traditional soup that is commonly used as a handover cure. Therefore it is often sold and consumed in the morning. The soup may contain pork or chicken, hominy (dried maize product), chuño (a freeze-dried potato product) or potatoes, and spices. Bread crumbs are sometimes used to thicken the soup. Aji pepper maybe served as a condiment to the fricasé.

Llaucha

This is another popular breakfast dish. Llauchas (pronounced: yow-cha) are baked pastries filled with melted cheese. They are essentially Bolivian cheese empanadas.

Additional Bolivia Travel Tips

Most people experience altitude sickness symptoms when they reach elevations over 2,500 m/8,202 ft above sea level. La Paz, Bolivia’s main transit hub, sits at 3,640 m/11,942 ft. Actually, a majority of Bolivia rests on the Andes mountain range. Therefore, I recommend incorporating altitude sickness prevention into your travel planning.

Some unique tips for Bolivia travel:

• Read 5 Essential Tips for Avoiding Altitude Sickness before you depart.
• Make sure to seal your toiletries and water bottle really well. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. All my toiletry bottles imploded when the doors on the plane were opened due to dramatic change in cabin pressure.
• Boiling food may take longer compared to at sea level. Water boils at 88°C/190°F at this altitude. Cooking may take longer and water pasteurization should definitely take longer than a minute.

Am I missing any quick facts about Bolivia travel that you think may be helpful? Feel free to mention them in the comment section below!

I will also try my best to answer any questions…