An adventure lover’s guide to Bolivia

Bolivia’s heady mix of landscapes makes it a treasure trove for adventuring. In this geographically diverse country, you could find yourself on snowy Andean peaks, swimming with pink river dolphins in the rainforest or peddling across high-altitude salt flats. Natural wonders abound in Bolivia, but its cultural life is rich and exciting too, with the most visible indigenous culture on the continent. Your wilderness-bound experiences will be punctuated by colorful encounters with Bolivia’s engaging inhabitants and the places they call home. Join us in this guide, as we introduce the wonders of adventure travel in Bolivia.

The great outdoors of Bolivia: an introduction

Landlocked in central South America, Bolivia’s borders encompass some of the continent’s most superlative landscapes. Here you can experience the dizzying heights of the Andes and then plunge down into the tropical lowlands of the Amazon. Strike forth across the otherworldly Altiplano (high plains) by jeep, steering across vast salt flats and around multi-hued lakes. With rough roads and often poor infrastructure, the going can get tough on a Bolivia trip, but this wild and rugged land rewards with sight after incredible sight.

The main geographical regions of Bolivia

For Bolivia adventure travel, the Andes Mountains are the country’s crowning glory and reach an eyewatering 6,500 m above sea level. Two chains of this mighty mountain range curve their way down the southwest of the country linked by the vast stretches of the Altiplano. These highlands are the most populated region of the country, with the majority of its (few) large towns and cities. The land then drops away to the east through forested mountains and valleys, known as the Yungas, and on into the tropical lowlands of the Amazon.

Highlights of Bolivia’s Altiplano

Probably one of the most surreal and challenging environments in the whole continent, the high plains of the Altiplano lie between the snow-capped peaks and ancient volcanoes of the Andes Cordillera. This is one of the largest high plateaus in the world and at around 4,000 m above sea level (14,000 ft), it’s cold, windswept and arid. It is also a place of mesmerizing beauty with vast vistas, multicolored contours, and Dali-esque rock formations.

For full immersion into this strange and exhilarating landscape, we recommend a journey of several days. That will give you time to explore the Uyuni Salt Flats, perhaps by peddle power over their sparkling expanse. You’ll also off-road through the protected Avaroa Reserve that stretches for 7000 incredible sq km south of the salt flats. These are the Bolivian badlands, with stark desert plains framed by distant peaks, multi-hued mineral lakes and wind-carved rock formations. On the northern border of the reserve, at 4800 m (15,750 ft), a volcanic field of hot spring pools and mud pots bubble, fizz and steam.

The northern reaches of the Altiplano are home to the magnificent Lake Titicaca and its islands. Not far away, the vibrant city of La Paz sits on the fringes of the Altiplano along with the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku, a pre-Columbian civilization of the same name.

Explore Bolivia’s tropical lowlands

With most tours to Bolivia centering on the wonders of the Altiplano, the vast tropical lowlands often go unexplored. Beginning in the foothills of the Andes, the lowlands stretch to distant borders with Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. In this sparsely-populated expanse, you’ll find wildlife-rich wetlands, immense savannah, Amazon rainforest, cloud forests, and temperate broadleaf forests. Deep valleys carve through forested foothills flanked by precipitous roads, and there’s even a desert to explore.

The main city in the region is Santa Cruz, a modern tropical metropolis very different from the more traditional cities of Bolivia’s high places. One of the beauties of Santa Cruz is how close it is to the cloud and rainforests of the Amboro National Park. Relatively nearby is Lomas de Arena, a reserve protecting an area of sandy desert dunes interspersed with vivid lakes.

Heading east we come to the dry forests and plains of Chiquitos, where a string of elaborate UNESCO-protected Jesuit missions makes for an interesting route to plan your journey around. To the south, the impenetrable wilds of the Chaco plains roll on to Paraguay in a thorny mass of scrubland.

Visiting the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia

To the north and northeast of Bolivia’s lowlands, the huge Noel Kempff Mercado National Park protects a pristine wilderness of Amazon rainforest. Here, intrepid travelers can swim with pink river dolphins and spot a fabulous array of monkeys, birds, and insects.

In the middle of this remote region rises an expansive limestone plateau of grasslands from which waterfalls tumble into the rainforests below. This is the magical landscape that was said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lost World. The northwestern town of Rurrenabaque offers access to Amazon treasures in the smaller Madidi National Park.

Best activities for adventure travel in Bolivia

With its vertiginous drops, Bolivia is one of the most thrilling places in the world for downhill mountain biking. There are numerous trails to discover, but the most famous has to be the alarmingly-nicknamed Death Road. Plunging down over 3,500 m, this spectacular route switchbacks its way for 65 km from the Altiplano, down through cloud forests, and into the subtropical lowlands – it’s quite a ride.

The steep valleys and river canyons of the Yungas region provide more opportunities for biking, as well as white water rafting, canyoning, hiking, and canopy zip-lining. Down in the lowlands, horse riding is popular, especially through the canyons and cacti of Tupiza. Meanwhile, boarders can ride the sand dunes in Santa Cruz’s surreal nearby desert.

For hiking enthusiasts, the best places to visit in Bolivia are around the Andes. Up around Lake Titicaca, there are spectacular routes through the Cordillera Real mountain range where some challenging ice climbs are rewarded by incredible summit vistas.

Our best adventure itineraries in Bolivia

For a comprehensive tour to Bolivia, take a look at our tour of Bolivia from the Altiplano to the Amazon. Over 20 intrepid days you’ll see many highlights, including a dizzying array of landscapes. Some of our most exciting Bolivia tours actually cross borders, taking in neighboring adventures in Chile or Peru – plan an adventure from Machu Picchu to Uyuni or seek out the Altiplano’s great outdoors in Chile and Bolivia.

Tips for planning an intrepid trip to Bolivia

For outdoor adventuring, a tour to Bolivia is best taken during the winter months from May to October. Although chilly, this is the dry season in Bolivia with cool but bright days perfect for hiking and biking. The coldest months are June and July when nighttime temperatures in the Altiplano can plummet to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, so for pre-dawn adventures, you’ll need to wrap up well.

Make it happen

To get things rolling, chat with one of our local experts about your Bolivia travel ideas and start planning an adventure to remember.