Bolivia Attractions: Our 20 Best Highlights

Bolivia Attractions on a Map

Bolivia is divided into 9 departamentos. The largest cities are La Paz, Sucre, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz. These four cities are great starting points for exploring the most beautiful places to visit in Bolivia.

Also read our best travel tips for Bolivia

Attractions around La Paz

The area around La Paz is home to the most — and most popular — things to see in Bolivia. That’s why La Paz is usually the first stop on a trip to Bolivia.

La Paz

La Paz is itself a true highlight and probably the most visited city in Bolivia. It sits in a basin surrounded by high mountains at an elevation of 3,100–4,100 meters. Because of its basin-like shape, there are dramatic elevation differences within La Paz itself.

Picture La Paz as a colorful mix of street vendors, chaotic traffic, and cable cars gliding above the city’s rooftops. Culture shock is probably the best way to describe the experience if you’re arriving for the first time.

By the way, La Paz is the highest-altitude seat of government in the world — but it’s not the capital of Bolivia. That would be Sucre.

Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna translates to Valley of the Moon, and that name is simply perfect. At this incredible spot near La Paz, you’ll find rock formations that look like a crater landscape straight off the lunar surface.

Don’t skip this excursion when you’re in La Paz — the landscape is seriously awesome.

The easiest way to get there is by minibus toward Mallasa or city bus lines 11 or 130 from the Prado. Admission costs 15 bolivianos.
Our tip: Valle de las Animas is a bit less touristy. You’ll also find cool rock formations there, plus great hiking and views over La Paz.

Death Road in the Yungas

The Yungas region lies north of La Paz at an elevation of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. From La Paz, you can reach the Yungas in just a two-hour drive — meaning you cover a huge change in elevation in a very short time.

Everything in the Yungas is lush and green, with banana plants and palm trees all around. It’s a popular area with travelers, and especially in the town of Coroico there are plenty of hotels and fun activities like ziplining, hiking, and rafting.

One of the most famous Bolivia highlights is the so-called Death Road. To get from La Paz to Coroico, you can ride down what was once the most dangerous road in South America on a mountain bike as part of a guided tour. This adrenaline rush is not for the faint of heart.

Several agencies in La Paz offer these tours, and you can also book online in advance. You’ll be kitted out with a mountain bike and all the necessary gear, driven to the starting point, and then taken back to La Paz from Coroico at the end.

The tour is worth it even if you don’t normally do longer bike rides, since it’s all downhill. That said, it can still be pretty exhausting.

Book the mountain bike tour along the Death Road

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest navigable body of water in the world. It straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia, making it a perfect stop if you’re doing a round trip through Bolivia and Peru.

The standout points of interest on the lake are the Sun Island and the Moon Island, both of which hold sacred significance. On Isla del Sol, legend has it that the sun god left his two children there, leading to the founding of the Inca Empire.

The best way to see them is on a day trip by boat. The larger Sun Island also has hotels and restaurants if you want to stay overnight.

Also really worth seeing are the so-called floating islands — built entirely from reeds, they drift on the surface of Lake Titicaca. Small boats from the tourist towns along the lake can get you there in just a few minutes.

Copacabana

Copacabana sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca and is one of the most popular destinations in Bolivia. From here, you have plenty of options for boat tours and day trips — but it’s also completely worth just sitting by the shore, soaking in the view, and eating fresh trout.

By bus, it takes about three hours from La Paz to Copacabana. Along the way, you cross a short stretch by ferry before continuing by bus.

Our tip: At Easter, many people make a pilgrimage to Copacabana on foot or by car. The cars are festively decorated and many people camp along the lakeshore. If you’d like to experience this, it’s absolutely worth timing your visit to Lake Titicaca around Easter. Otherwise, pick a different time — it gets very chaotic here.

Tiwanaku

Not far from Lake Titicaca lie the ruins of Tiwanaku — a culture that dates back as far as 1,000 BC and was something of a predecessor to the Inca.

To this day, it’s not entirely clear what the site originally contained. Many scholars believe it was a cultural center.

The still-standing Sun Gate is one of the most important structures at Tiwanaku. Carved from a single large stone block, it’s covered in symbols whose meanings are still being studied. The on-site museum is equally fascinating — you can learn a lot about the culture, the ruins, and their historical significance.

From La Paz, a bus to Tiwanaku takes about 1.5 hours, making it a great day trip from La Paz.

Our tip: Every year on June 21, the New Year of the indigenous Aymara people is celebrated in Tiwanaku. Many Bolivians and visitors travel here to celebrate this special night, dance together, and ring in the new year.

Salar de Uyuni

The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world and one of the most iconic Bolivia attractions — and honestly, one of the most famous places on the entire planet. It sits in the west of the country at around 3,600 meters above sea level, formed from a lake that dried up millions of years ago.

There are various tours through the Salar de Uyuni, but the format is always similar: you’ll be driven through the salt flat in a small group by a guide in a 4×4, stopping at all the key sites along the way.

You’ll explore lagoons and lakes, a train cemetery, the cactus island of Incahuasi, fascinating rock formations, geysers, and hot springs. Tours cover huge elevation changes — at some points you’ll be at 5,000 meters above sea level.

The most popular option is the 3-day tour, with most departures from the town of Uyuni. Depending on your budget, you’ll stay in hostels or luxurious salt hotels. Overnight buses run from La Paz to Uyuni and take about 10–11 hours.

Book the 3-day tour through the Salar de Uyuni

Book the day tour to the Salar de Uyuni and Cactus Island

Sajama National Park

At 6,542 meters, Sajama is the highest mountain in Bolivia and one of the highest volcanoes in the world. It’s located in the Departamento Oruro in the Andes.

Sajama National Park is a real under-the-radar pick in Bolivia. You can take a tour through the park and marvel at varied rock formations, mountains, and lagoons — and at the end, soak in hot springs while taking in the views.

If you’re fit and experienced, you can also attempt to climb the snow-capped Sajama itself. A trek like this requires solid preparation, and you should spend at least a few days acclimatizing to the altitude first.

Our tip: As an alternative for hiking in Bolivia, consider Huayna Potosí at 6,088 meters near La Paz. You can summit it on a 2-day guided tour. Here too, you should be in good physical shape and have already spent several days at altitude.

Madidi National Park

A trip into the jungle is an absolute must on any Bolivia itinerary. Madidi National Park sits right in the heart of the Amazon region and delivers the full experience.

A multi-day tour into the park is really worth it. A typical tour spans three days and includes jungle activities like guided hikes, a ride on a homemade raft, and a visit to a fruit plantation.

The gateway to Madidi National Park is the town of Rurrenabaque. There are many tour agencies there offering a range of jungle tours. We’d recommend visiting from June to October — that’s when rainfall is lowest.

From La Paz, you can reach Rurrenabaque by bus, though the journey takes more than 15 hours. The more comfortable option is to fly — there are several flights a day from La Paz and the flight takes under an hour.

Heads up: Don’t be squeamish about insects and mosquitoes. Even though your guide will give you tips on clothing and bug protection, you will get bitten and will encounter plenty of small creatures — but the experience is totally worth it.

Attractions around Cochabamba

Cochabamba sits at 2,500 meters and is the fourth-largest city in Bolivia. The area around it is less touristy than the region around La Paz.

Cochabamba

Cochabamba is also known as the city of food — many traditional Bolivian dishes originate here.

The standout sight in Cochabamba is the 34-meter-tall Jesus statue Cristo de la Concordia, which towers over the city from a small hill. You can either ride a cable car or hike up to enjoy the panorama over Cochabamba.

In the city itself, it’s worth wandering through a market or two, watching the water fountains play, or heading out on a day trip to Tunari National Park.

Torotoro National Park

Torotoro National Park is located about 130 kilometers south of Cochabamba, though it officially belongs to the Departamento Potosí. The scenery here is seriously impressive — and since it’s far less touristy than, say, the Salar de Uyuni, it’s still a genuine local favorite in Bolivia.

From the small town of Torotoro, you can join various day tours into the park. There are stalactite caves, waterfalls, and fossilized dinosaur tracks to discover.

Getting here from Cochabamba takes about four to five hours, depending on whether you travel by private transport or bus. The bus from Cochabamba to Torotoro costs between 25–35 bolivianos.

Admission to the national park costs 100 bolivianos. You can find more information on the Sernap website — though note it’s only available in Spanish.

Carnival in Oruro

The Carnival in Oruro isn’t a classic sight per se, but it’s definitely a highlight if you happen to be in Bolivia in February.

Oruro is a city in the Bolivian highlands, about 200 kilometers from Cochabamba. The carnival is a UNESCO World Heritage event and one of the biggest celebrations in Bolivia.

For several days, the city goes into full party mode — tens of thousands of people descend on Oruro and parades and processions fill the streets. The best dance troupes from across Bolivia perform throughout the city.

By the way: Throughout the year, smaller and larger fiestas also take place in other cities across Bolivia, usually tied to religious occasions honoring each town’s patron saint. In La Paz, there’s the Gran Poder in June, and in Cochabamba the Urkupiña in August.

Attractions around Santa Cruz

After La Paz, Santa Cruz is probably the second most popular city among visitors to Bolivia — and there are some genuinely great things to see here too.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the largest city in Bolivia. It’s located in the lowlands and feels noticeably more modern than La Paz, with warm to tropical temperatures year-round.

The Plaza 24 de Septiembre with its cathedral is the heart of the city. All around the center you’ll find small shops, charming cafés, restaurants, and bars.

Santa Cruz is also well known for its lively nightlife and plenty of options for going out.

Cotoca

From Santa Cruz, a day trip to the small town of Cotoca is absolutely worth your time. The big draw here is the sloths that live in the large trees right on the central plaza.

Around the square, there are plenty of restaurants where you can try typical dishes from Santa Cruz and the surrounding region.

Cotoca is just under 20 kilometers from Santa Cruz and easy to reach by bus.

Chiquitania

The Chiquitania is a region northeast of Santa Cruz, defined by its remarkable Jesuit churches — often built from wood and elaborately decorated.

There are six former Jesuit mission villages:

• San Javier
• Concepción
• Santa Ana
• San Miguel
• San Rafael
• San José de Chiquitos

Most of the villages were built between 1700 and 1800, where indigenous people lived alongside the Jesuits, primarily farming the land. Several of the churches are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Samaipata

The small town of Samaipata sits at around 1,600 meters between the highlands and the lowlands, in the Departamento Santa Cruz. The main draw is the Fuerte de Samaipata, the Fortress of Samaipata — an ancient and impressive Inca ruin.

A hiking trail around the ruins with several lookout points offers great vistas over the former fortress. Samaipata also makes a great base for excursions into Amboró National Park.

Amboró National Park

Amboró National Park spans several climate zones and is especially known for its extraordinary biodiversity. Among the animals living here are sloths, bears, and pumas.

You can book various tours in the park and, alongside exciting activities like climbing and mountain biking, get up close with the remarkable range of plants and animals in the area.

Attractions around Sucre

Although Sucre is the capital, it doesn’t rank among the absolute top Bolivia attractions. Still, it’s a beautiful city, and there are some real highlights to discover in the surrounding area.

Old Town of Sucre

Sucre is the capital of Bolivia and is also known as “la ciudad blanca” — the white city. It has many beautiful churches and colonial-era buildings to explore.

You can take a leisurely stroll through the alleyways and across the plaza, soak up the city’s atmosphere, and treat yourself at a nice café or restaurant. From the Recoleta, a viewpoint on a small hill, you get a wonderful view over the city.

Just outside Sucre is a dinosaur park where you can learn about the history of dinosaurs and see actual fossilized tracks — especially worthwhile if you’re traveling with kids.

On Sundays, a well-known market takes place in Tarabuco, about an hour from Sucre, where you can pick up souvenirs and handicrafts in a typically Bolivian style.

Potosí

Potosí sits at over 4,000 meters above sea level and was once the wealthiest city in the world — thanks to the mountain Cerro Rico and its silver mines. During the colonial era and the period of exploitation, however, the city lost its riches. Even today, miners work in the mines under extremely dangerous conditions.

In Potosí, you can visit the mines themselves. At the museum Casa de la Moneda, where silver was once minted into coins, you can learn more about the city’s history and its currency.

Our tip: Potosí works great as a stopover between Sucre and the Salar de Uyuni, or as a starting point if you want to do a tour through the salt flats.

Tarija

Tarija is both a city and a departamento, located in the southernmost part of Bolivia.

In this modern city, you can discover beautiful buildings, churches, and plazas that — combined with a mild climate — give the place a very special charm. The Blue Castle is the standout sight.

The wider region is defined by its vineyards and pleasant climate. A wine tasting at one of the local wineries is a great way to learn more about the area and its winemaking tradition — and of course, sample the local wines while enjoying the beautiful landscape.