Any Travels

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. It borders on Peru and Chile in the west, Argentina and Paraguay in the south and Brazil in the east and north. About half of the country lies in the Andean Highlands, located in the western part, where you will find the most interesting sights like Lake Titicaca, the capital La Paz, the city of Oruro, that has a great carnival. In the southern Highlands Potosi, the famous silver mine city and Sucre are the most interesting spots. The eastern half of Bolivia is tropical, hot and humid. Santa Cruz is an interesting place in the tropical bassin.

Bolivia has the honour of having the highest capital in the world. La Paz is set at an altitude of some 4 kilomteres and that means you have something to get used to when you arrive by plane.

The population of the country is for a very large part of Indian descent. You will see men in brightly coloured ponchos and women with small hats everywhere. The Indian markets that are held almost everywhere in the highlands are one of the most attractive things to visit.

Bolivia may be one of the poorest countries in South America, but its cultural wealth, the mindblowing Andean landscapes and the remnants of mysterious ancient civilisations make it a rich and exciting destination for those looking for more than postcards.

This landlocked country is practically the Tibet of the Americas - it's the highest and most isolated of the Latin American republics. It is also the most indigenous country on the continent, with more than 50% of the population maintaining traditional values and beliefs.

History abounds in such wonders as the ancient ceremonial site of Tiahuanaco; the legendary mines of Potosi; the ornate Jesuit missions of the eastern lowlands; and the vestiges of Inca culture set against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes. Bolivia has certainly had a turbulent history, but nowadays its image as a haunt of drug barons and revolutionaries is greatly overstated. It's one of South America's most peaceful and welcoming destinations.

Musical traditions within Bolivia are distinctly regional: strains of Andean music from the desolate Altiplano are suitably haunting and mournful, while those of warmer Tarija, with its compliment of bizarre musical instruments, take on more ebullient tones. Dances such as the cueca, auqui-auqui and tinku hold a reverent place in popular culture. Other forms of folk expression include spinning and weaving, which display regional differences but have changed little over the last 3000 years.

Spanish is the official language, yet only 60 to 70% of the people actually speak it, and then often only as a second language. The remainder speak Quechua, the language of the Inca, or Aymara, the pre-Inca language of the Altiplano.

Roughly 95% of Bolivia's population professes to be Roman Catholic, but the absence of clergy in rural areas has led to a synthesis of Inca and Aymara beliefs with Christianity. The hybrid Christian/folk religion is an interesting conglomeration of doctrines, rites and superstitions.

Bolivia's food is dominated by meat dishes, accompanied by rice, potatoes and shredded lettuce. Sometimes llajhua (a hot sauce made from tomatoes and pepper pods) will be used to add spice and flavor to a dish. Bolivian beer, wine and chicha (industrial-strength maize liquor) are all good but be warned: if invited to drink with locals, be prepared as the alcohol is strong and Bolivian drinking habits lusty.