Bolivia Activities

Bolivia does not boast an extensive selection of activities for children, but what it does offer is stunning national parks and the chance to get close to nature and see scenes that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

La Paz Zoo
La Paz Zoo has recently relocated from a tiny plot of land in the south of the city to a much bigger area in Mallasa, which can be found just outside of the city. The bigger space has allowed new enclosures to be built as well as a children’s petting area and an information block. Children will not fail to be impressed by the menagerie living in natural surroundings. You will find many animals in a park-like setting, living life as they would in the wild. After a morning’s excitement with the animals, try out the on-site café for some lunch and treat the kids to a souvenir from the gift shop.

National Parks
Bolivia is home to some of the most unspoilt national parks in the world. These parks boast a tremendous variety of wildlife, although you have to be lucky to see a lot of animals as most of them hide deep in the densest of forests. Madidi National Park is recorded by National Geographic as being one of the world's largest biologically diverse reserves. One of Bolivia's richest forests can be found here as well as over 988 species of animals. It stretches from the Andes to the western Amazon Basin and allows people to watch animals, trek through woodland and explore the many nature trails. The children will love this unique chance to get back to nature.

Toro Toro National Park is located close to Potosi and is ideal for dinosaur lovers. You will find giant dinosaur footprints and fossils as well as the caves of Umajalanta. Carrasco National Park is an enormous rainforest park located in the Andes’ foothills. It is a great park for children as there is so much space to run around in.

Witches' Market
This market is also known as Mercado de Brujas and is full of magic and mystery. Goods sold here include herbs and remedies as well as other components used in ancient Aymara traditions. It is La Paz’s most colourful site, with many sights to amaze and excite children.

Bolivia’s extensive national parks and temperate climate allows for an extensive array of flora and fauna. There are currently 10 national parks throughout the country, along with eight protected areas and dozens of park-like areas. La Paz is the most popular starting point for treks, many of which follow ancient Inca routes that end up in the Yungas, an area of deep valleys that separates the high Andes from the Amazon Basin. Popular routes include La Cumbre to Coroico; the Inca Trail and the El Camino de Oro route.

Most treks to the Amazon jungle start from Rurrenabaque and include a motorised canoe trip upriver. The majority of tours are led by local guides who have impressive knowledge of the native plants and wildlife. However, if walking isn’t your thing, Bolivia boasts some of the finest cycling routes in the world. Travelling by bicycle is one of the best ways to experience the Andes and the surrounding areas.

Those into extreme sports will be impressed with the mountaineering opportunities found in Bolivia. The Cordillera Real Range has several peaks above 5,000 metres and boasts impressive vistas from the top.

If you prefer to travel down mountains rather than hike up them, there are a number of ski resorts close to La Paz. Mount Chacaltaya is reputed to be the world’s highest ski resort, although conditions can be dangerous. The best time to attempt skiing here is from April to June.

Bolivian food is distinctive and dominated by meat, corn and potatoes. It is very good, but the cuisine is not all that varied. We recommend that you try the local cuisine, which suits western palates. Good local restaurants can be found across the country, especially in the suburbs and out of town.

Breakfast is a major meal of the day, with many eating a hearty breakfast and skipping on lunch. A common dish for breakfast is salteñas (either chicken or beef, spiced with onions and raisins and wrapped up in a doughy pastry shell). You'll find people selling salteñas on almost every street corner in every major town.

Most local Bolivian restaurants offer similar menus, with local specialties such as ají de lengua (cow's tongue in a chilli sauce); picante surtido (chicken in a chilli sauce) and saice (chopped meat in a chilli sauce) appearing frequently. Silpancho is a very thin breaded piece of veal served with two fried eggs, onions and tomatoes, and is often eaten for dinner, while chuño putti (dehydrated potatoes mixed with milk and cheese) is a popular side dish. Lechón al horno (roast suckling pig served with sweet potato and fried plantains) is popular among those who like to eat out.

For international cuisine, La Paz and other major towns offer an abundance of choices. International cuisine includes Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican and Spanish. Outside of La Paz, pizza and pasta are the most popular international dishes on the menu. As altitude sickness is a problem, many people drink mate de coca, which is tea made from coca leaves, which is said to combat the sickness. Tri-mate tea, a combination of three herbal teas, is also a popular after-dinner drink.

Handicrafts are the most popular item for tourists to purchase in Bolivia. The native people have been creating beautiful hand-woven goods for thousands of decades, but it is only in recent years that they have started to sell these items for real money. If you are visiting La Paz, Calle Sagárnaga is a shopper's paradise. You will find hundreds of stores selling exquisite handicrafts, clothing, leather bags and textiles.

If you don’t have room for large handicrafts or lots of clothing, good luck charms are also popular. Bolivians believe that if you carry a miniature charm around with you, you will soon own the real thing. Many people carry miniature houses and cars. Items made from llama fetuses are also popular and believed to be incredibly lucky.

Local markets are a great place to find unique gifts. The Sunday Market in Tarabuco is considered one of the best in the country. You will find souvenirs, clothing, second-hand goods, handicrafts and many textiles. Bargaining is not part of Bolivian culture, so most prices are fixed. Fortunately however, prices are already very reasonable.

Shopping Hours: 09:30 to 12:30 and 15:00 to 19:30 Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays.