Bolivia was my first experience of South America where I enjoyed three months of Spanish lessons, a homestay, volunteering and exploring the country. It remains one of my most memorable travel experiences to this day. It was also one of the most thought-provoking. Before you leave Bolivia be sure to soak up as much of the country and culture and cuisine as possible. Very few countries are this beautiful and this poor yet remain so friendly. (Nepal is another.)
Before you leave Bolivia, don’t forget to~
1. Learn Spanish
Being able to speak the local language not only simplifies the logistical aspects of travelling through Bolivia but it also enhances local interaction opportunities. Whether you need a few days to brush up on a language you haven’t used for a while or as in my case, a month to learn your first foreign language, the university town of Sucre is a popular destination for travellers who want to unpack their rucksack. Many of the Spanish schools offer homestays which provide a great opportunity for travellers to immerse themselves into the local culture and extra activities such as salsa lessons, cooking classes and volleyball are a helpful way to meet other travellers.
If your aptitude for learning languages is as poor as mine, remember three key things:
1. Locals appreciate the effort you are making no matter how bad it is, and the attempt at a conversation with broken and grammatically incorrect Spanish can be a great source of entertainment for both parties.
2. There is a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol you drink and your ability to speak Spanish to the locals.
3. When all else fails, charades is still a universally recognised form of communication.
2. Create an Optical Illusion on the Salt Flats
Salar de Uyuni (translated as the Uyuni Salt Flats in English) is Bolivia’s number one attraction and the world’s largest salt flat. It provides a unique opportunity for endless photographic fun. The 12,000 square kilometre area is so flat and extensive that there is no sense of depth, creating an optical illusion that is every traveller’s ‘must take’ photo of Bolivia. As you approach the salt flat all objects surrounding you become potential props for your photo – shoes, guidebooks, bottles, corkscrews, body parts – anything!
See More HoliDaze Photo Galleries From Around The World
3. Buy a Stick of Dynamite
Potosi is one of the highest towns in the world with an altitude of more than 4,000 metres and is dominated by the Cerro Rico Mountain, from which mined silver once made Potosi one of the biggest cities in the Americas. To better understand Potosi’s turbulent past head underground on a mine tour.
All tours start at the Miners Market, where you will be kitted out for your visit underground and purchase gifts for the miners from a grid of shops selling dynamite, clothing, equipment, coca leaves and food and drink.
Visiting the mine itself can create conflicting emotions as igniting a stick of dynamite before heading underground provides a distraction from the tragic reality that is Potosi. The mines are haunted by thousands of mine-related deaths, and even in today’s modern world manual processes, outdated equipment and toxic gases contribute to a miner’s life expectancy of just 35 years. It’s a sad reality when miners choose an almost guaranteed short life to support their families.
Before your claustrophobia takes over you, take a moment to turn off your headlamp and discover the true meaning of darkness!
More Unique Destinations Offbeat Travel Guides
4. Find Your Altitude Limit
Not only is it difficult to avoid the high altitude in Bolivia it’s also difficult to predict the impact it will have on you. Altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate. I came across young, fit and healthy athletes who could not continue hikes they would normally complete with ease and watched overweight smokers effortlessly run past.
On my first day in Bolivia, I left my hotel for a short walk in La Paz. Within one block I was short of breath, embarrassed at what I thought was an incredibly bad fitness level. Despite living in Sucre for two months, I still struggled on a bike ride one weekend, and had splitting headaches when I reached 5,000 metres on the trip from Tupiza to Uyuni.
The altitude is what makes Bolivia unique, combating it is an integral part of being there and it’s like the weather in the UK – it’s always a great conversation starter!
See More Mountain Adventures
5. Give Something Back
Taking the time to volunteer in Bolivia is a great way to give something back to the local community you are visiting, better understand the local culture, improve your Spanish skills and make local friends. But be warned – you may experience a range of conflicting emotions. I spent a month volunteering at a day care centre in a small village near Sucre. It was my first volunteer experience and one of the most heart-warming, heart-breaking, thought-provoking, rewarding and disturbing months of my life.
The merit of volunteering in developing countries is a topic that is always guaranteed to create heated debates amongst travellers. Are the genuine good intentions of travellers doing more harm than good? Is the money donated to the organisation actually being used by the organisation? Are volunteers taking away jobs from locals? My side on this debate continues to flip back and forth with the more I learn and from my own personal experiences.
Of all the emotions I felt whilst volunteering in Bolivia, rewarding was the strongest and I hope that providing an extra pair of hands to three over-worked and exhausted carers made my presence a help more than a burden for them.
Volunteering in Bolivia can be rewarding for both sides. Just keep your eyes and mind open…
BONUS
6. Explore Inca Ruins On An Island On A Lake On A Mountain
Every English-speaking boy in the world over the age of 10 knows the name Lake Titicaca as a source of laughter, however it is better known as the “highest navigable lake” due to its massive size, deep depth and extreme elevation above sea level — nearly 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) up in the Andes mountains. The lake forms part of the border between Bolivia and Peru but what really makes it special is Isla del Sol.
According to the Inca religion the sun god was born on this island, which is where the name comes from. Although no Machu Picchu, the island was clearly important to the Inca because there are nearly 80-something Inca ruins scattered around it. Get off the beaten path and spend a couple days relaxing and exploring Isla del Sol.
Phenomenal advice Kellie! Couldn’t help but laugh at #1 — ‘There is a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol you drink and your ability to speak Spanish to the locals.’ That’s so true, as I found out while traveling Central America a few years ago. Plus all of the other tips were equally informative but also interesting in their own way. Fantastic post, your thoughts and advice never cease to impress me 🙂
Thanks for the kind words Derek! I found Bolivia to be such an incredible place to visit, I hope to get back there again one day! I may have to brush up on my Spanish though (or take a hip flask)!