A short guide about Cruising to Bolivia
The birth place of the Inca Empire and the cradle of the Altiplano civilisation is Bolivia. The world’s highest capital city lies 3700m on the plains around Lake Titicaca. La Paz’s altitude is between 3700 and 4100m, Potosi is even higher and Santa Cruz is located only 416m above sea level. Overland travellers can pass through three to four climatic zones in a matter of hours.
Potosi is a colourful but poor city, surviving the plunder of the Spanish and loss of profits in silver. La Paz is also poor but a bustling metropolis, rich in tradition with modern culture and just the place to visit the Chapare jungle or tour the Toro Toro national park. Santa Cruz, the new economical capital is the base to the jungle at the Andean foothills in Buena Vista and Samaipata or a train journey to the Pantanal on the frontier of Brazil (the easiest crossing between Brazil and the Andes).
The Altiplano mining town of Oruro capital of folklore, partying happens weekly, but explodes with music, dancing and drinking at the Carnival. 5km from the city is the Uru Uru Lake: A train can take you it or go flamingo spotting at Puente Espanola.
The best jungle tours are in Rurrenabaque, at the first ripple of the Andes. With a visit the Amazon forest, you’ll see several types of monkeys, 10% of the world’s bird’s species and even pumas. In the nearby wetlands you can spot the biggest rodent in the world (the capybara) or swim with the river dolphins.
Wave goodbye to Bolivia in the small southern city of Tupiza, the landscape comes right out of a Western, with the best horseback riding in South America.