From the mountains and the highlands to the plains and the Amazon, Bolivia is full of spectacular views, archaeological treasures, and a millennia-old culture that attracts thousands of foreign and domestic tourists.
According to Javier Rivera, director of the Hotel Management and Tourism program at Franz Tamayo University, Unifranz, Bolivia has an unparalleled and unique tourism potential in the world.
"Regardless of the type of tourist, people who come to Bolivia usually seek two types of experiences. On one hand, the natural beauty of sites they won't find elsewhere, such as the Salar de Uyuni or Madidi, and on the other hand, they seek cultural tourism. In this sense, they try to connect with local cultures, learn from them, see their production processes, see all the knowledge acquired through generations, and that is seen through their culture. Everything that stands out, such as the beauty of the salt flat, the exuberance of Madidi, or the experience of living in a high-altitude city like La Paz, are the triggers that catch the attention of those who are encouraged to visit Bolivia," says the expert.
Enrique Saravia, president of the Bolivian Receptive Tourism Association, indicates that it is a priority for the country to promote our main destinations in international markets with the aim of attracting international tourists and generating greater foreign exchange income for the country.
"We have to develop joint promotion policies and attract tourists to come to Bolivia and return," he adds.
The unmissable destinations
Saravia indicates that there are countless tourist destinations in the country, which cater to different types of tourists, but in his opinion, six stand out above the rest.
Salar de Uyuni and the colored lagoons
"Starting the journey, the Salar de Uyuni, one of our flagship destinations, is at the top of the list, with its otherworldly landscape, starry nights, walks through the salt desert, and its beautiful hotels," he says.
The Salar de Uyuni is the highest and largest salt flat in the world. Its extension is approximately 12,000 km2. Additionally, it is the largest lithium reserve on the continent.
During the rainy season, water remains on the surface of the Salar and produces a reflection like that of a mirror. Many tourists visit it just to appreciate this landscape since the horizon is lost in the reflection, the sky merges with it, and it seems to float in the clouds.
The "mirror effect" of the salt flat allows for the creation of 360° videos and incredible photographs. In addition to the sensation of truly floating between the sky and the earth. During the dry season, the magnificence of the landscape is ideal for perspective photos.
On the other hand, the colored lagoons, so named for the different shades they present due to the minerals they contain, offer impressive landscapes and a large amount of native bird fauna that visit them.
Samaipata Fortress
With its warm climate and hospitable people, Samaipata has won the hearts of international tourists who arrive every year in the municipality located in the department of Santa Cruz to visit its greatest attraction, "The Fortress," a carved rock dating back more than 2 thousand years, declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Samaipata is also a meeting place of many cultures where the Morning Star is celebrated, which for the Guarani culture signifies the beginning of a new dawn renewing hopes and the light that guides them to the "land without evil."
Saravia points out that this destination is a great natural refuge for people seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Royal Range
"The snow-capped mountains of the Royal Range offer tourists not only spectacular views but also the unique opportunity to climb some of the most beautiful peaks of the Andes," expresses the president of Abatur.
The Royal Range, located in the department of La Paz, rises as a natural barrier between the Andes and the Amazon, a place full of magic and culture. From its foothills, the water flows that feeds the Amazon forests and the highlands.
With snowy peaks ranging from 5,500 meters to 6,500 meters above sea level, they form a mountain range of 600 snow-capped peaks that occur in an approximate length of 200 kilometers. They divide the highlands at 4,000 meters above sea level and the Amazon region at 500 meters.
The different summits of the mountain range challenge the practice of mountaineering, offering the opportunity to engage in rock and ice climbing, ascents, walks along pre-Hispanic roads, ski touring, alpine skiing (5,100 to 5,300 meters), trekking, and mountain biking (Zongo), as well as experiencing feelings of deep peace and serenity while admiring the waters of its lagoons with truly fascinating scenery and landscapes.
The Takesi Trail
This pre-Columbian trail, which starts at the foothills of the mountain range and reaches the town of Yanacachi in the Yungas of La Paz, is part of the Inca Trail or Qhapac Ñan, a network of paths that stretches from Ecuador in the north to Argentina and Chile in the south.
"Through this trail, you can see the change in microclimates from the highlands, through the mountain range, to the Yungas valleys, in a trekking experience full of beautiful landscapes and culture, as the stones you walk on have been there for hundreds of years, placed by the cultures that preceded us," adds Saravia.
Madidi and the Amazon
Madidi is the richest natural reserve and protected area in the world, expressed in the diversity of ecosystems and species of flora and fauna. It contains 12 major vegetation formations, the best example of pristine savannas, and the most extensive and best-preserved mountain forests in Bolivia.
So far, 193 families and 8,244 species of vascular plants have been identified in the area, representing around 60% of Bolivia's flora. Of these species, 110 are new to Bolivia and 93 are endemic. Madidi also hosts a diversity of animals, confirming the presence of 1,466 species of vertebrates. It is estimated that, as scientific information about the region increases, the number of vertebrates could exceed 2,000 species.
On the other hand, it is an area of great cultural diversity, inhabited by various cultural groups speaking Tacana languages: Toromonas, Araonas, Ixiamas, Tacanas, Cavinas, Esse Ejjas, Uchupiamonas, Eparamonas, and Pamainos. Communities of Leco origin also shared the territory.
Toro Toro
Located in the department of Potosí, the Toro Toro National Park is a place frozen in time, marked by the footprints left by dinosaurs that roamed its lands millions of years ago.
Its canyon, El Vergel, the Umajalanta Cave, and the City of Itas are other attractions offered by this destination, which is also a global point for birdwatching and ecotourism in the country.
Other destinations
"We have enormous potential in the country, where culture and nature are our main attractions: natural reserves, archaeological sites, cities full of culture are our offering," explains Rolando Mendoza, member of the Tourism Board and director of the Hotel Chamber of La Paz.
Mendoza indicates that every town, municipality, and community has unparalleled tourism potential, and every day new destinations are discovered. However, the expert highlights some such as La Chiquitanía in Santa Cruz, the Valle de Los Cintis in Chuquisaca, and the Amazon rivers in the departments of Beni and Pando.
"We have thousands of attractions, and every day we discover many more. What we lack is working on those products to add value to them, provide easy access, service conditions; these are very easy things that boil down to a positive attitude change and joint work," he expresses.
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