Overview

The Republic of Bolivia is one of the only two landlocked countries in South America, sharing boundaries with Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. These five different connections do have their own advantages, as they help bring Bolivia closer to the different popular areas in South America.

As a legacy from the days of the Spanish conquest, Spanish has remained the official language of the country. More than half of the country's population reflects an indigenous heritage. The Republic of Bolivia became independent in the year 1825. Bolivia has been governed by different types of governments. Bolivia is a mineral-rich country it has South America's second-largest natural gas reserves as well as considerable oil. La Paz is the legislative capital of Bolivia.

Activities & Attractions

When people are looking for some of the most interesting things to do in Bolivia, their eyes often turn towards Bolivia's capital, La Paz. It is not the largest city in the country but also one of the most popular, with its population coming close to 800,000.

Students of history would love visiting the Tiahuanacu ruins, which to date remains the pride of the area (the ruins are situated close to the city itself). Those who are looking for museums and other historical landmarks can visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Congress building, and the Calle Jaen (which houses multiple museums). A day trip to Lake Titicaca (which is within a day-trips reach of La Paz) and the city of Copacabana can turn out to be quite entertaining. Lake Titicaca is considered to be the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world. Bolivian mountain climbing is another activity that attracts tourists especially climbers who want to conquer the Andes Mountains.

Lodging

In spite of the fact that Bolivia is tagged the poorest country in the continent of South America, this landlocked Andean country has good lodging facilities. Most of the hotels can be found clustered in the La Pez downtown area. Lodgings in Bolivia and its major cities are carefully thought-out and located near the tourist spots and attractions in the city.

Transportation

Bolivia has an international airport, the El Alto International Airport, in its capital city La Paz. This is the easiest way for people to get into Bolivia.

Bus transportation is another way to get around the area. There are many inter country buses available for this purpose. People from neighboring countries can enter Bolivia by road but not all routes are good. You can easily travel by road to Bolivia from Argentina and Peru but routes from Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile are poor. Foreigner should carry a hoja de ruta (circulation card) when they enter Bolivia.