Bolivia – The Land of Top Ranks in Many Fields

The landlocked country of Bolivia is accredited with many extreme titles – most rocky and deserted, coldest and windiest among many other nations, poorest and most indigenous country in South America, and among the richest land of natural resources in Bolivia. Blessed with both cultural and adventurous activities, the country’s unmatched charm is hidden in its ethnic traditions, colonial cities, and its ancient sites in Bolivia.

All the above factors together put Bolivia in the tourist circuit. Just do three things: stay as the most proud human, explore as the most adventurous person, and feel as the luckiest tourist to be in the Bolivia country. I could only visit La Paz and Sucre – the legal capital.

Bolivia Tourist Attractions

Sucre

Bolivia is the most wonderful city of the nation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in a valley of low mountains, Sucre offers some scenic Bolivia accommodations, Bolivia churches, and Bolivia museums with much more to the list. Here, I visited the following places in Bolivia.

• Casa de la Libertad:
  This is precisely where the Bolivian declaration of independence was accepted on August 6, 1825. Now, it’s a national memorial.

• Catedral:
  Built in the mid 16th century, this is a balanced fusion of Renaissance architecture and Baroque later styles. Its bell tower makes it a local landmark and a remarkable structure. Within the monument, glance at the set of oil paintings of the apostles, an elaborate altarpiece, hanging angels, and pulpit.
• Cementerio Municipal:
  Here, you will find a few arches made from poplar trees, scenic palm trees, and the tombs of luxurious colonial families. To feel its past, come here at the weekend when being throng with families or take up an eager child guide.
• Convento de San Felipe Neri:
  Have a glimpse of the bell tower and tiled rooftop of the convent along with the crypts holding tunnels where priests and nuns met secretly once and guerrillas hid in the city during the political unrest.

• Iglesia de la Merced:
  This church attracts visitors due to its most wonderful interior in the city. The Baroque altar and sculpted mestizo pulpit are worth visiting due to its filigree and gold decoration. Found sometime in the early 1550s, the building was seen completed in the early 1580s.
• Museo de la Catedral:
  Here, you are to explore the four sections in the museum to glance at the best collections of religious remnants of the nation. Then, in the entry room, a set of religious paintings will allure you belonging to the colonial era. Next, visit a chapel of relics of saints and gold and silver chalices. Above all, the main draw here is the Capilla de la Virgen de Guadalupe built in 1625.
• Museo de los Ninos Tanga-Tanga:
  Located on the square of La Recoleta and sitting in a splendid building, this is an ideal interactive children’s museum related to renewable energy sources. Here, there are botanical gardens, details of Bolivian ecology, and cultural and environmental programs including theater shows and ceramic classes. The Cafe Mirador offers a spectacular view of the town and is a great place to breathe coolly.
• Museo de Santa Clara:
  Situated in the Santa Clara Convent, the museum was discovered in 1639 and houses many works of the Bolivian master Melchor Pérez de Holguín and his Italian instructor, Bernardo de Bitti. However, in 1985, many paintings and gold ornaments were looted.
• Museo Gutierrez Valenzuela:
  Located in the southeast corner of the main plaza, this is an ancient aristocrat’s home offering 19th century décor. Do visit the exciting natural history museum located here.

• Museo Textil-Etnográfico:
  For those interested in the indigenous groups of the city, this museum houses the fascinating textiles of the Jalq’a and Candelaria (Tarabuco) cultures.
• Museos Universitarios:
  Here, there are three halls offering colonial remnants, anthropological relics, and contemporary art.

La Paz

• Calle Jaén Museums:
  On the most superb lane of Calle Jaen, there are four, small exciting museums offering fantastic exhibits. Tickets are available at the Museo Costumbrista.
• Casa de Murillo:
  This houses colonial art and furniture, textiles, medicines, musical instruments, and daily items of glass and silver of the Bolivian upper class.
• Cathedral & Plaza Murillo:
  This is a latest addition as an imposing monument offering a towering dome, large columns, thick stone walls, simple altar, and high ceilings. The main highlight is inside the structure that is of the plethora of stained-glass work. The cathedral is built on a sheer hillside with the main doorway being 12 m higher than its base on Calle Potosi.
• Iglesia de San Francisco:
  This stone basilica exhibits an alluring fusion of the 16th century Spanish and mestizo (local-Spanish) styles. The front part is worth marveling on its stone carvings of natural themes, rock pillars, and stone faces in the top portion to pay a tribute to three great cultures – Tiahuanaco, Inca, and Modern of the country.

• La Paz Cemetery:
  Here, you will find tombs buried in the conventional Western manner as in most Latin American cemeteries. After the funeral, families buy or rent glass-fronted spaces in the walls for the ashes, fix plaques and mementos, and put flowers at the rear of the glass door.
• Lucha Libre:
  This is a famous highlight in El Alto, which refer to wrestling matches in Polifuncional de la Ceja de El Alto, a sports stadium. Here, theatrical males and acrobatic cholitas show their talents.
• Mercado 16 de Julio:
  This is a vast market in the energetic La Ceja (Brow) district where you can spot and buy anything right from food to electronics to vehicles at affordable costs.
• Mercado de Hechicería (Witches Market):
  This is most strange market in the city offering tourist artesania (local handcraft) shops. Here, you will find many unusual herbs and folk remedies along with some unorthodox items to control the different spirits revered by the local Aymara folk. So, in true sense, it’s not a market where you can see black magic and witch works.
• Mercado Lanza:
  Located between Plaza Perez Velasco and Calle Figueroa, this is among the major food markets, the other being Mercado Camacho. Here, you can buy fruits, vegetables, juices, dairy products, breads, and canned foods. Besides, you can take some sandwiches, soups, saltena (pastry shells), or a complete meal.
• Museo de Arte Contemporaneo:
  This is the most attractive building and a rejuvenated 19th century house with a glass roof and stained-glass panels. The museum boats some diverse collection of Bolivian and international items.
• Museo de Etnografía y Folklore:
  Built in between 1776 and 1790, the structure is worth visiting where the main attraction is the Tres Milenios de Tejidos exhibition of 167 impressive weavings of the country. Take a guide with you to explore the internal drawers under the wall hangings.

• Museo de Instrumentos Musicales:
  If you like musical instruments, this museum is precisely for you that offers many such instruments. Here, you can find all possible forms of charangos (a traditional Bolivian ukulele-type instrument) and other local ones used in Bolivian folk music.
• Museo de la Revolución Nacional:
  This museum is the home of the photos and paintings of the revolutionary era of April 1952, the famous rebel of armed miners that led to the nationalization of Bolivian mining welfare.

• Museo de Metales Preciosos (Museo del Oro):
  This is also called the Gold Museum that holds three stunning salons of pre-Colombian silver, gold, and copper pieces. There is also a fourth salon in the cellar depicting ancient pottery.
• Museo de Textiles Andinos Bolivianos:
  If you like or want to know about the nation’s traditional weaving, this is the place for you. Here, you will find examples of the superb traditional textiles – from the Cordillera Apolobamba and the Jal’qa and Candelaria regions of the Central Highlands, mainly illustrated in Spanish. You will also come to know about its innovative process right from the raw material to the finished product. There is a gift shop that offers originals whose 90% of the price is paid to the artists.

Best Time to Visit Bolivia

May to October

Bolivia Accommodation

In Sucre

• Parador Santa María la Real – $55
• Hostal de Su Merced – Top end
• Hostal Sucre – Mid range