Bolivia is one of two landlocked countries in South America, with Paraguay being the other. The western third of the country is home to the Andean Highlands, where the two ranges of the Andes Mountains separate to form the Puna. This is where you’ll find the stunning sights of Lake Titicaca, the ruins of Tiwanaku, the capital city of La Paz and the city of Oruro. The lowland eastern part of Bolivia boasts the tropical Amazon Basin and a menagerie of wildlife.
Bolivia is fundamentally a nation which still belongs to the indigenous people. The population of the country is for the most part, native in origin with approximately 40 per cent of inhabitants being Quechuas (direct descendants of the Inca people), another 25 per cent Aymara, five per cent Guarani and 20 per cent Mestizos (persons of mixed indigenous and European heritages). Just 10 per cent are of European heritage.
Very few aspects of Bolivia have changed over centuries. The country is fairly underdeveloped, with virgin forests, immaculate rivers and untouched countryside. Many indigenous groups have maintained their ancient cultures, languages and beliefs, and they still dress as they would have done hundreds of years ago.
Unfortunately, with this underdevelopment comes poverty. While travellers can revel in pristine forests and primary jungles, many Bolivians count as some of the poorest people in Latin America. They lean heavily on traditions and folklore and Mother Earth is as important to many as religion is. Shrines dedicated to her can be found all across the country. In return for their dedication, Mother Earth has provided a striking landscape across the country, with 10 national parks and eight protected areas. There are stunning lakes, imposing mountains and lush primary rainforest.
Despite the poverty of many of its people, Bolivia still manages to boast several deluxe and first-class hotels. These can be found in the main towns such as La Paz and offer exceptional service and excellent facilities. There is also a wide selection of mid-range establishments offering good facilities that are ideal for families.
Bolivia experiences a temperate climate throughout, but there are big differences between daytime and night-time temperatures, and also between mountainous and flatland regions. Every evening, the temperature drops dramatically, and even in the height of summer, warmer clothes are recommended for evenings.
The country sees the most rain in the summer months (November through March), and it is important to bear this in mind when booking your holiday. In extreme circumstances, the rain can cause landslides in mountainous areas and make many mountain roads impassable. Daytime temperatures often exceed 25°C in the towns and cities, and humidity levels are normally high.
Mountainous areas are always cooler, but humidity remains high. Visitors to La Paz often find the climate uncomfortable because of the thin air which is caused by the high altitude. This should wear off quickly, although it is important to remember that the sun’s rays are very strong here due to the thin air.
Winters see cooler a climate and dryer weather. Frost is a common occurrence in the mountains, whereas inland experiences milder weather. Mountainous regions see temperatures as low as 1°C during the day and drops to below freezing at night. Temperatures in the cities rarely reach above 15°C during the daytime and often drop to just above freezing after dark.
The best time to visit the country in either in spring or autumn. Spring sees warmer temperatures, less rain and low humidity levels, and autumn sees cooler weather and very little rain.
Bolivia was once inhabited by the ancient Aymara civilisation that lived on Lake Titicaca. This ancient civilisation was soon conquered by the Incas, who in turn were conquered by the Spanish in 1538. During Spanish occupation, the country was known as Upper Peru. Bolivia did not get its name until it was led to independence by Simon Bolivar in 1825.
During the early years of independent, the country was ruled by a string of military dictators who tried, with varied success, to join together the country’s three distinct regions: the central region, the eastern Andes and the Altiplano.
Bolivia was beginning to thrive as an independent state when it went to war with Peru. The 1879 war badly damaged the country, and recovery was hindered when it went to war with Chile and Paraguay in 1928. A result of the war with Paraguay was the loss of the Atacama coastal strip, forcing the country to become landlocked. The only positive that came from the wars was the challenge to the military rule by a rising middle class.
During the 1980s, Bolivia finally entered an era of political stability. This saw the end to military coups and internal strife which had previously been prevalent. Between 1825 and 1981, there were 192 coups; an average of one every 10 months. The stability was largely due to President Victor Paz Estenssoro. He was elected in August 1985, and by the time he stood down; he had dramatically cut the hyper-inflation which allowed the country to start on the path towards economic security.
Since the 1990s, there have been ups and downs in domestic politics and problems in relations with Chile. The most important recent issue however is the US-sponsored war on drugs, with coca and its products being targeted. This ‘war’ is incredibly unpopular in Bolivia as coca is considered to be both a traditional product and a valuable cash crop. The economic crisis in Argentina and Brazil has affected Bolivia badly and farming communities have taken to the streets in protest demanding that they be allowed to grow coca once again.
