39 Best Sights in Bolivia

The showpiece of Potosí is the Royal Mint, built in 1773 at a cost of $10 million USD. This massive stone structure, where coins were once minted with silver from nearby Cerro Rico, takes up an entire city block. It now holds Bolivia's largest and most important museum. On display are huge wooden presses that fashioned the strips of silver from which the coins were pressed, as well as an extensive collection of the coins minted here until 1953. There's also an exhibit of paintings, including works by Bolivia's celebrated 20th-century artist, Cecilio Guzmán de Rojas. A guard accompanies all tours to unlock each room as it's visited. The building is cool, so bring along a sweater. To see everything will take about three hours. There is an extra charge for photography or video.

You might say your chances are just as good biking to Coroico from La Paz as they are taking a bus down what the UN once proclaimed "the world's most dangerous road," and you'd probably be right. This North Yungas Road, commonly known as "El Camino de la Muerte" (Road of Death), was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. Dotting the 69 km (43 mi) narrow trek are crosses honoring the estimated 300 travelers killed along the road each year. Although vehicles are still permitted to drive on the old road, most public transport now goes down the newer South Yungas Road (Chulumani Road). Unfortunately this paved highway cuts through Cotapata National Park, home to monkeys, parrots, the spectacled bear, and oropendolas, known for their woven basket-nests and bright yellow tails. Turisbus offers guided tours along the old road in comfortable four-wheel-drive vehicles, although most travelers prefer to explore the area by bike so it's just you, the subtropics, and some terrifying drops. Choose your agency carefully, make sure your bike has good brakes before you set off, and don't look down. No matter how you travel, prepare yourself for drastic changes in temperature since you'll be dropping from 4,700 meters/15,400 feet (at Pampa Larama Lake beside the Statue of Jesus Christ) to 800 meters/2,624 feet (just outside of Coroico at the Santa Barbara Bridge). Pack sunscreen and insect repellent, there are some fiesty little biters waiting when you get down to the more tropical lower regions.

Considered one of the finest examples of Spanish-colonial architecture in South America, the carved facade of the Church of San Francisco is adorned with birds of prey, ghoulish masks, pinecones, and parrots—a combination of Spanish and indigenous motifs created by local artisans in a style known as baroque mestizo. Built on the site of the original 1549 church, the church as seen today was constructed in various phases between 1743 and 1885. Crafts stalls line the church wall; most days you'll find colorful weavings and handmade musical instruments. Although entrance is free, it is only with a guided tour (Bs20) that you can climb the tower to appreciate the expansive views from the top.

In the 17th century, Jesuit priests settled in the Chiquitania region of Santa Cruz and constructed remarkable missionary villages based on the utopian ideals that were popular at the time in Europe. They attracted and converted a large local following, and the constructions, particularly the churches, took on a unique mestizo architectural style. After the Spanish expelled the Jesuits from their colonies, their sites all over the continent fell into ruin, but here, six survived and have been restored and nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are also the venue of an international festival of Baroque and Renaissance music. Ask about tours to the area in agencies in the city.

This park has been rated one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Its boundaries encompass both the high Andean peaks and the deep Yungas jungle, and a staggering number of species has been registered here. Some estimates say more than 10% of the world's bird species are living in the park—more than in the entire United States. Most of the top lodges operating in the park are community run, meaning that your tourist dollar goes a long way toward encouraging the protection of this vibrant green paradise.Most of the tourism into Madidi is via all-inclusive lodges that, although not as refined as those found in Peru, offer unparalleled, intimate access to pristine jungle. A few operators stand out: The long-running Chalalan Ecolodge (www.chalalan.com) now shares the top spot with the slightly more affordable Mashaquipe Ecotours (www.mashaquipeecotours.com) and San Miguel del Bala (www.sanmigueldelbala.com). Berraco del Madidi (www.berracodelmadidi.com) is situated deeper in the jungle than any other lodge, and offers a unique sleeping experience in comfortable tents set up on traditional, covered wooden platforms. Madidi Travel (www.madidi-travel.com) is run by one of the conservationists who helped set up the park in the 1990s and offers a chance to visit the smaller but equally stunning Serere Reserve. A newer arrival is Sadiri Lodge (www.sadirilodge.com), set in the foothills to the north of Rurrenabaque, which provides a privileged view over the jungle and makes for excellent bird-watching.The best time of the year to visit is from April to October, as the rainy season leaves some parts inaccessible. Most companies offer tours from three to five days and charge between $80 and $120 per day, excluding the flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque ($190, Amaszonas).

This museum, founded by local musician Ernesto Cavour, is the most complete collection of musical instruments in the nation; if you think it's all charangos and quenas, you haven't seen half of what Bolivian music has to offer. Seven rooms feature over 2,000 percussion, string, and wind instruments used in the various regions of Bolivia. There is a special section where children can play ancient instruments made from such materials as wood, bone, turtle shells, and toucan beaks. On Saturdays after closing there is a concert (Bs. 20) led by Cavour and two invited artists.

Not to be missed, the excellent National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, popularly known simply as MUSEF, provides the most complete review of Bolivia's varied and colorful cultures from the pre-Columbian era to the present. Highlights include the collections of pottery, traditional masks, and textiles that span 3,000 years of history and are well presented in this attractive and modern space.

One of Bolivia's most spectacular sites, the Salar de Uyuni is the world's highest salt flat, at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above sea level, and also the largest, at 10,582 square km (4086 square mi). Once part of a prehistoric salt lake covering most of southwestern Bolivia, it still extends through much of the departments of Potosí and Oruro. As well as the vast expanse of salt, you'll find a series of eerie, translucent lagoons tinted green and red due to high copper and sulfur contents. Living on the lagoons are flamingos (also tinted green and red), rheas, vicuñas, and foxes. Driving across the salt flat, whether in the dry or rainy season, is a unique experience.

This geological masterpiece is the highlight of any visit to Cochabamba but somehow is missed by many visitors to Bolivia. A high-altitude valley, it is filled with plunging canyon walls, caves and caverns shaped and eroded by rivers and winds, footprints embedded in the rock from some of the biggest dinosaurs ever to walk the earth, and an underground pool filled with blind silvery fish. The most-visited sights are the Umajalanta cave, Bolivia´s largest; the arched caverns of Ciudad Itas, sculpted over millennia by water erosion; and the El Vergel falls, which pour out of the rock and create a lush green oasis where you can refresh yourself. For the bird-inclined, a little persistence might reward you with sightings of condors and the endangered red-fronted macaw. The visit is best done in two or three days with a tour agency leaving from Cochabamba. Accommodation in the town of Torotoro is basic, but it's worth roughing it to spend the extra time in the area.

An underrated treasure, easily accessible from both Santa Cruz and Samaipata, Amboro is filled with hikes through landscapes that range from high cloud forest to lush subtropical lowlands. It is a particular treat for birders and orchid lovers. A great option for the more adventurous is to stay in the park at the Mataracu Tent Camp, on the northern side of the park near Buena Vista, or in cabins in the stunning El Refugio de los Volcanes. The tour operator, Ruta Verde (www.rutaverdebolivia.com), offers trips to both of these sites.

This company normally organizes jungle trips, and they are very good at it, but they can also take you up most of Bolivia's best known peaks, like the accessible Huayna Potosí, the challenging Illimano, or Little Alpamayo, a great choice for less experienced ice climbers.

Part of the Inca Utama Hotel & Spa is this small but charming museum and exhibition on the culture and history of the region. Replicas of mud houses that many of the Chipaya people of the surrounding altiplano still live in are outside the museum, along with some disgruntled and very shaggy llamas. Probably the most interesting things are the replicas of the tortora (reed) boats used by explorer Thor Heyerdahl for his expeditions across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The real ones were built just down the coast. The Limachi brothers who built these, and who served in the crew for some of these epic journeys, are often here and happy to talk to you for the price of a postcard. The replicas themselves are not only technically impressive but also rather beautiful.

Built between 1845 and 1915 on the ruins of a 17th-century cathedral, this imposing church holds a small museum displaying colonial-era religious icons, paintings, and sculptures. Although the museum only opens on certain days, you can climb up to the mirador (tower) any weekday for (Bs)3.

Cultural exhibits, recitals, and concerts, in addition to a permanent exhibit of crafts made by indigenous people are all housed here.

Started in 1559, this neoclassical cathedral is famous for its statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is adorned with diamonds, gold, emeralds, and pearls donated during the 17th century by mining barons.

Marking the highest point of Copacabana are the Stations of the Cross, built in the 1950s for the thousands of pilgrims who summit the hill for prayer and penance on Good Friday. For many tourists, these stone monuments serve as the ideal spot to admire the city and watch the sunset.

Five thousand tunnels crisscross Cerro Rico, the "Rich Hill," which filled Spain's coffers until the silver reserves were exhausted in the early 19th century. Today tin is the primary extract, though on the barren mountainside you still see miners sifting through the remnants of ancient excavations. The tours these days are barely concealed misery tourism with little real benefit going to the miners still working in the mine. Most tours seem to cater to backpackers who want to get a thrill blowing up a stick of dynamite. If you must go, and don't mind tight spaces, choose your tour carefully, the safety standards in this swiss-cheesed hill are not particularly high. The Real Deal is run by ex-miners who do a good job. Hard hats, raincoats, boots, and carbide lamps are provided, but take along a flashlight to get a better look at things. The extremely narrow entrance to the mine may scare you off, but go in far enough to give El Tío (a statue of a small, grinning devil) a cigarette and add more coca leaves to the pile around his feet. The miners say he brings safety and prosperity. Keep in mind that these mines are muddy; wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.

If you can climb it or hike it anwhere in South America, odds are that these guys can get you there. Near Sorata, they offer a climb that takes you to the top of imposing Illimani in five days.

The Convent and Museum of St. Theresa displays a strange mix of religious artifacts. In one room there are sharp iron instruments once used to inflict pain on penitent nuns, as well as a blouse embroidered with wire mesh and prongs meant to prick the flesh. Other rooms contain works by renowned colonial painters, including Melchor Pérez Holguín. There is an extra charge for photography or video.

The town's breathtaking Moorish-style cathedral, built between 1610 and 1619 and formerly known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, is where you'll find the striking sculpture of the Virgin of Copacabana. There was no choice but to build the church, because the statue, carved by Francisco Yupanqui in 1592, was already drawing pilgrims in search of miracles. If you see decorated cars lined up in front of the cathedral, the owners are waiting to have them blessed for safe travel. Walk around to a side door on the left and light a candle for those you wish to remember, then admire the gaudy glitter and wealth of the church interior itself. Throngs of young Paceños do the three-day walk to Copacabana from La Paz to pay homage to the statue with a candlelight procession on Good Friday. You can combine your visit with the semiscramble up past Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) on the point above the town. If the climb doesn't knock you out, the view will.

In Cochabamba, size matters, particularly when it comes to the gleaming white statue of Christ with open arms that stands watch on a hilltop overlooking the city. It is, you'll surely be reminded, currently the world's largest, and although this is debated elsewhere, it is definitely larger than The Statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. Comparisons aside, it does make for a great spot to get a perspective on the city, which has a population of more than half a million.

Lurking in the valleys 200 km (124 miles) from the city of Santa Cruz, El Fuerte (the fort) of Samaipata was once the center of a huge pre-Columbian civilization and is estimated to have been started around 300 AD. There is now some doubt that it had any military purpose, but it still impresses. The massive sculptured rock at the heart of the site, best seen from a distance, is a unique monument to Andean culture and development, and one of the largest carved stones in the world. The best way to get to the site is by road from Santa Cruz to the town of Samaipata (about two hours), then hire a taxi to the fort itself, which is 9 km (5.5 miles) away. It is a worthwhile half-day trip if you are in Samaipata, or if you have more time, it makes for a pleasant walk in good weather. A bilingual guide at the site is worth it, and will cost around (Bs)75 for a group of 6 people.

Dating from the 14th century BC, this structure in the southeast part of the city was originally built by the pre-Inca Chiripa culture as an astronomical observatory. Four of the seven horizontal rock slabs were later destroyed by the Spanish who believed gold was hidden inside. The remains of the ruins show signs of vandalism, yet still warrant a visit for those wanting to blend culture and exercise. The slope is steep and rather challenging, but the view of Lake Titicaca will help alleviate the pain.

Potosí's most spectacular church, built between 1728 and 1744, has some of the finest examples of baroque carving in South America. Elaborate combinations of mythical figures and indigenous designs are carved in high relief on the stone facade. If the front doors are locked, try to get in through the courtyard.

A magnificent building constructed of granite during the 16th century, this was Potosí's first church. It has a brick dome and beautiful arches. On the main altar is the statue of the "Lord of the Veracrúz," the patron of Potosí. It also has many beautiful paintings. A panoramic view of the city can be enjoyed from a viewing platform. Tours last one hour and are offered four times daily.

This monument honors women who died during Bolivia's protracted War of Independence. There are outstanding views of Cochabamba from La Coronilla, a hill on the outskirts of the city where the monument is located.

Fremen Tours' four-day riverboat expedition from Trinidad offers you the opportunity to take a shortcut into the heart of the Amazon basin ($540 per person). Fly from La Paz to Trinidad in the Beni region, then it's a short drive (if it's the dry season) to the river. The program includes opportunities for day and nighttime animal-spotting, and treks into the jungle itself. The boat is the famous 'flotel' Reina de Enín, it is small but has a good kitchen, and the service is excellent. If you risk it in the rainy season, you'll find a smaller group of travelers accompanying you, which is better—it can get claustrophobic and noisy on board. For information, contact Fremen in La Paz.(www.andes-amazonia.com).

On Calle Linares, just off bustling Calle Sagárnaga, you'll find the Witches' Market, where indigenous women in tall bowler hats sell lucky charms, curses, medicinal herbs, and ingredients for powerful potions. You can have your fortune told through the reading of coca leaves, or if you are building a new house, you can buy a dried llama fetus to bury in the yard for good luck. Although this market is internationally recognized, it is not the best place to find gifts for the folks back home.

Near the intersection of Calle Max Paredes and Calle Graneros, the streets are filled with peddlers hawking clothing, handcrafts, and household goods. Making your way through the twisting maze of knock-offs and cheap imitations can take time, but you can find just about anything. Tucked into alleys and courtyards are tambos (thatch or tin roof structures meaning "place of rest") where you can purchase oranges, bananas, and coca leaves. The leaf is chewed by farmers and miners (and tourists) to ward off hunger and the effects of the altitude.

This museum is one of the more comprehensive collections of artifacts—some 40,000 in all—outside of La Paz, offering a detailed look at pre-Columbian cultures from the region and around Bolivia. There's also a section that narrates the fossil chronology of Bolivia, which provides some good background information if you plan to visit any of the dinosaur footprints scattered around Cochabamba and Sucre. The information is mostly in Spanish, but some English guides are available. Phone ahead to check.