Tourist Attractions in Bolivia

Below you'll find some of the top tourist attractions in Bolivia. As well as Bolivia attractions that most travelers don't know about. You'll find many things to do in Bolivia. Activities and attractions are listed by city.

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Lake Titicaca sits in the Andean Mountain region and is one of the highest lakes in the world. The lake is one of the most sacred and mystical places in all of South America, where you'll find ancient Inca ruins.

Copacabana about a 3 hours drive from La Paz, this charming town sits on the southern shores of Lake Titicaca. Copacabana offers many attractions and it is a great hub for exploring the different Inca ruins around Lake Titicaca.

World's Most Dangerous Road connects La Paz to the Amazon basin. You can take a mountain bike ride tour down this road. The ride descends about 11,000 feet (3350m) in just 40 miles (65km). The road clings to the steep mountainsides of the Andes. It is an adventure that many travelers choose, though it is not for the faint-hearted.

Coroico is a town about a 3 hours drive from La Paz via the Yungas Road or Death Road, which arrives to the subtropical valleys known as the Yungas. The warm comfortable climate of the Yungas makes it a popular weekend destination among local Bolivians from La Paz to escape the chills of the windswept Altiplano.

Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) is an ancient city that consist of pre-Inca ruins that archaeologists believe were built before the birth of Christ. It is one of the most fascinating places to visit. The ruins are located near Lake Titicaca, about 45 miles (72km) west of La Paz along paved roads.

Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) is a maze of canyons and pinnacles that have been eroded by wind and rain. Moon Valley offers amazing sights that seem from another world. It is located about 6 miles (10Km) south of La Paz's city center.

Chacaltaya is famous for having the world's highest ski resort, at an altitude that leaves most skiers gasping for breath. Due to the disapperance of the glacier skiing is limited. However, the Chacaltaya does offer some amazing views and is worth the hike whether or not you plan to ski.

Sorata is a small town located about a four hour drive northwest from the city of La Paz, just east of Lake Titicaca. The town offers some of the best views in Bolivia and it is a great destination for numerous activities such as mountain biking, hiking or trekking the trails or climbing the nearby Mount Illampu.

Mercado de los Brujos (Witches Market) is popular tourist attraction in La Paz. This famous market hosts a crowded line of bizarre shops. It is almost like stepping into a Harry Potter movie where you'll find magic spells, sorcery, potions and see real life witches.

Uyuni attractions

Salar de Uyuniwas once a giant salt lake. The lake dried up and left behind a massive salt desert. You can tour these salt flats and see some of the world's most natural wonders such as geysers, hot springs, volcanoes, giant cacti, red & green lakes. Uyuni is home to flocks of pick flamingo & herds of vicuna, the endangered relative of the llama.

Santa Cruz attractions

El Fuerte de Samaipata: Visit the Inca ruins in Samaipata about a 2 hours drive from Santa Cruz through the lush green foothills of the Andean Mountains, where you'll see incredible scenery on the way. It is also near Valleygrande, the place where Che Guevara had his revolution and was executed.

Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos: If your interests are 16th & 17th century history, visit the beautiful, historical churches on the Jesuit Missions tour. The tour focuses on colonial art, religion, culture, history, and is set in numerous small towns of the tropical lowlands of eastern Bolivia.

Cotoca: Located about 18 Km east from the city of Santa Cruz is a small town known for the Virgin of Cotoca. This is a great town to spend a half-day and visit the sacred church and see some local handcrafted items.

Amboro National Park is about a three hour drive northwest of Santa Cruz just off the main road to Cochahamba, where you'll find abundant wildlife and one of the most pristine and diverse habitats in the world.

El Pantanals is the world's largest wetland and has the world's richest collection of aquatic plant. It spreads across Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. You can go on exiting boat tour excursions through the Pantanals to spot countless wildlife.

Noel Kempff National Park: Visit this National Park located about 250 miles (400 Km) northeast of Santa Cruz. You'll discover amazing scenery in this diverse region of the Amazon rainforest, with abundant wildlife such as exotic birds, caimans, pink river dolphins, monkeys, etc..

Sucre attractions

Sucre is a place that should not be missed if in Bolivia. The city is one of the top tourist attractions in Bolivia. Sucre has some of the finest colonial architecture in the world. It is neat to just walk around this safe city and take in the different colonial buildings and wonder what life was like years ago. Below is a list of attractions and sights in Sucre. Click on Sucre to visit the Sucre main page.

Plaza 25 de Mayo: Located in the heart of Sucre is the famous Plaza 25 de Mayo. It is a popular place where locals and tourist come to walk and relax. The plaza features gorgeous gardens and palm trees. The plaza is lined with elegant colonial buildings painted in white.

Museo Casa de la Libertad: Located on Plaza 25 de Mayo, this is the most important building for Bolivia's history. This is where the independence fighters, such as the famous Simon Bolivar gathered to declare independence from Spain.

Museo de la Cathedral: Located on Plaza 25 de Mayo, is a 17th century cathedral, that has one of the best collections in Bolivia of colonial religious art. Admission is $2 (15Bs).

Parque Cretácico (Dinosaur Park Tracks): Located a couple miles north of Sucre is the world's largest paleontological site. There are about 5,000 impressions of dinosaur footprints from at least 250 different dinosaurs that are embedded on a gigantic limestone slab.

Museo de Arte Indigena (Indigenous Textile Museum): This museum features a series of rooms that displays the art and form of local indigenous weavings and textiles. You'll also see local artists hard at work weaving and spinning the textile. It is open Mon-Fri., admission is $2 (15Bs).

Castle of La Glorieta: This castle-like mansion was once occupied by a wealthy family. IT was built in the 1890's and features European style architecture. The property was donated by the family in the 1950's and was used as a military center. Recently, there has been steps to restore the place to its former beauty. This huge property is beautiful and fascinating to explore. To get there you can take a taxi or micro #4 from the corner of Ravelo & Arce and get off 6km south of town.

Potosi attractions

Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain): You can take a mine tour through this historic mountain in Potosi. These tours are not for wimps, conditions in the mine are rough, where tunnels are narrow and steep and you have to navigate through a series of tunnels and shafts. You can watch poor local miners hard at work and see some dynamite explosions.

Casa Nacional de la Moneda (National House of the Mint) is located near Plaza 10 de Noviembre. This huge building, now a museum, dates back to 1572 and is where the silver from Cerro Ricco was minted into coins. It is considered one of the top museum in South America. A strange statue of a grinning face hangs over the courtyard in the museum, which is kind of fitting for the greed of the Spaniards.

Museum and Convent of San Francisco is on Calle Tarija, and was built in 1547, making it Bolivia's oldest church. Nuns take you on a tour of the museum that features a collection of historic artwork.

Tarapaya Lake Hot Springs sits on top of an extinct volcano caldera, and which is warmed by a hot spring underneath. The lake was once a bathing site for the Incas. You can also go here for a quick dip to warm up. BEWARE though, signs warn swimmers of the treacherous currents that the hot springs produce and there has been stories of people being dragged down and disappearing.

Cochabamba attractions

There are many things to do in Cochabamba. Below is a list of some of the attractions and sights in Cochabamba. Or click on Cochabamba to check out the Cochabamba main page.

El Cristo de la Concordia: Located atop the huge San Pedro hill, though it is not as famous as the Jesus statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it is however the tallest Jesus statue in the world measuring 33 meters (109ft). This huge statue can be seen from anywhere within the city and offers some amazing sights over the city.

Weeping statue of Christ: Visit a chapel where you can find a sculpture of Christ. Witnesses have said the statue cries tears of human blood. A film crew also caught this phenomenon on film. Samples of the substance from the statue was given to a lab in the U.S.A. for testing. They found that the substance was of human blood.

Palacio de Portales (Simon Patino Palace): This huge mansion was built in the early 1900's for one the world's richest man at that time, named Simon Patino. He was nicknamed "The Andean Rockefeller" and owned numerous mines in Bolivia. The mansion was designed by a French architect and features stunning architecture.

Archeological Museum is located off the plaza at Calle Jordan & Ave. Aguirre. It is one of the best museums in Bolivia. The museum exhibits thousands of artifacts from about 7,000 years ago. Some items on display are fossils, pottery, weapons, skulls & bones, etc.

Laguna Alalay is a lake located just off of Ave. Ruben Dario & Ave. 9 de Abril. The lake has paved walking and biking paths going around the lake. It is also a popular place to spot numerous birds. Sections of the lake are swampy and it attracts exotic birds.

Torotoro National Park: If your adventurous, explore this park where you'll find dinosaur footprints, fossils, unexplored caves, cave paintings, ruins, secluded lakes, etc. It is about a 7-8 hour bus ride from Cochabamba. Though the park is not visited often it is definitely recommended and worth your time.

Oruro Attractions

The main attraction in Oruro is its carnival and if you are anywhere near Oruro at carnaval time, this is a fiesta that should not be missed. Click on Oruro to visit its main page.

Carnaval de Oruro: Don't miss this famous carnival where you can drink with the locals and dance until you drop. The carnival has been recognized by UNESCO since 2001 as a World Heritage event. It features thousands of musicians and dancers in costumes. Festivities usually begin the first Saturday before Ash Wednesday in February or March.

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Socavon (Santuario de la Virgen del Socavón): This church is located five blocks east of the Plaza 10 de Febrero at the base of the Cerro Pie de Gallo. The church was built in 1781 and sits above an old mineshaft. It is home to the image of the Virgin del Socavon, the saint of miners, in whose honour the Carnaval celebrates.

Tarija Attractions

Tarija: Tarija is Bolivia's wine growing region, the area is home to some of the world's highest vineyards up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m). The region is great for exploring its vine-scented countryside and walking around the different vineyards to sample excellent local wine.

Rurrenabaque Attractions

Rurrenabaque: Rurrenabaque is a small town in the northern part of Bolivia and has become a popular destination for travelers or ecotourists wanting to see parts of the Bolivian Amazon, with its close proximity to the pristine forests of Madidi National Park (Parque Nacional Madidi) and to see the plentiful wildlife of the surrounding pampas along Rio Yacuma.