Altiplano is full of deserts, volcanoes, geysers, marshes and grasslands, and originates near the world-famous Lake Titicaca in Chile and then extends to a huge 1,000 km in the south east direction and ends in South west of Bolivia.

The height of this natural wonder averages around 3,750 meters and the different in height between this South American wonder and the Tibetan mountains is not much. However, a striking difference of Altiplano vis-à-vis the Tibetan plateau is the presence of huge active volcanoes. The surroundings of the Altiplano are pretty amazing as well, the southwest is dominated by probably the driest deserts of the world, The Atacama Desert and the east sees the world famous Amazon Rainforest.

Besides, there’s the Salar de Uyuni, which ranks as the largest salt water lake in the world.

The climate on the plains is cool and the region sees very little rainfall and the temperatures also vary amongst the various regions of the plains. While it is common to see a temperature of around 3 degree Celsius in and around the western mountain range, the temperature near Lake Titicaca and its surrounding areas is 12 degree Celsius.

A similar feature is also seen with regards to the rainfall of the region, while the south west sees less than 200 mm of rainfall annually, the Lake Titicaca region sees more than 800 mm of rainfall annually.

Snowfall can take place anytime between April and September and such an event is seen only towards the north. However, the snow doesn’t fall on a regular basis and it is fair to say in a year, you can experience snowfall only 5 times.

The administrative capital of Bolivia, the city of La Paz is the main city where the Altiplano range passes.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind?

How do I reach the Altiplano?

The Altiplano range is spread over multiple countries. It is recommended you visit the Bolivian city of La Paz. The city is very near to the eastern split of the Altiplano. You can enter Bolivia via the city’s El Alto International Airport, which hosts flights from around the globe.

Once in La Paz, the range is a four and a half hours drive by bus.

Alternately, you can also start your adventure via the Chilean city of Arica, which is considered ideal for first time visitors.

Where do I stay during my Altiplano adventure?

There are a number of good accommodation facilities to choose from. The more popular landmarks are Hotel Explora Atacama, Hotel Awasi, Hotel Tierra Atacama, Hotel Alto Atacama, Hotel Altiplanico, Hotel La Aldea, Hotel Kimal, Hotel Terrantai and Hotel Tulor.

When is the best time to visit the Altiplano?

The Altiplano sees rainfall during the months of December through March. It is recommended you avoid the place during these months as the place can get slippery. The winter season in the plains is during the months of June and July and the temperatures can go into the negative as well especially at night. Hence, you should visit the place during the months of September to November, when the weather is pleasant for a visit, however, chances of rainfall can never be ruled out.

In conclusion, the Altiplano is an adventure lover’s ultimate destination. Once you have scaled the heights, you can see some of the best places the world has to offer. However, please make it a point to see that your fitness standards are at their highest as reaching a higher altitude can take its own toll on one’s health. A trip to Altiplano allows you to experience so many other wonders like the Lake Titicaca, and the world’s largest salt water Lake Etc, So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that adventure to the Altiplano.

The place is spread over an area of 10,582 sq kilometers and the specific location of the lake is in the Oruro and Potosi departments of the Bolivia’s southwest region. It is believed the Salar was formed as a result of the changes between the various lakes of the region.

The Salar Lake is a rich source for salt and lithium. In fact, it is estimated that the lake itself contains more than 50% of the world’s lithium reserves; however, the lithium has not been removed from the surface yet and hence the figure can still go up.

In addition, the place is also ideal for a holiday owing to its large area coupled with clear skies and a super-flat surface. There are no industries in the near vicinity and hence you can be assured of clear surroundings. The lake is also among the best sites to measure the height above sea levels for the observation satellites. Besides, the waters of the lake also form a major transport route across the Altiplano region of the nation and the site is also a crucial breeding ground for the pink flamingos.

The Salar Lake doesn’t possess any vegetation and wild life. The area is full of giant cacti, which includes the Echinopsis tarijensis and Echinopsis atacamensis pasacana. The growth rate of these species is very slow at around a centimeter a year. The other shrubs of the area include the Pilaya and Thola, besides the quenua bushes and quinoa plants.

If you love bird-watching, then you should be at the lake in early November for it is the time when the place becomes the breeding grounds for the 3 various species of the pink South American flamingos. The species are the rarely found James’s Flamingos, the Andean Flamingos and the Chilean Flamingos. The area is also home to over 80 other species of birds like the Andean Hillstar and the Andean goose. Besides the birds, you can also expect a glimpse of the Andean fox or Culpeo and rabbit-like viscachas, which are limited to the islands of the Salar and more specifically the Isla del Pescadores.

Let’s go through some of the attractions at the Salar de Uyuni in brief.

Isla de los Pescadores:
This place is really amazing. Whether you are a nature lover or a history freak, this is the place for you to be in. The landscape is dominated by huge cacti, which reach up to 150 meters in height above the salt lake. History lovers will have their hands full as there are a large number of archaeological remains from the Inca and Tiwuanaku civilizations.

Isla Cáscara de Huevo:
When translated into simple English, the place means Eggshell Island. The Isla Cascara de Huevo is also well known for its unique rose-like salt formations.

Hotel de Sal Playa:
If you wish to admire an artisan’s work then the Hotel de Sal Playa is the place to be. The entire hotel is made of salt and was built by a noted local salt artisan in 1993 to take advantage of the booming tourism industry. As tourists weren’t finding places to reside, the artisan came up with this masterpiece.

The walls of the hotel are of salt blocks and are held via cement like substance, which comprises salt and water. There is annual maintenance required here during the rains, as new blocks need to be added.

The hotel comprises of 15 bedrooms, along with a bar, a living room and a dining room. It is an experience of a life time here as can you believe it, everything is made of salt. Even the chairs of the hotel are made of salt. The table that you eat on is also made of salt, so are the beds that you sleep on in the night.

The roof of the hotel is also a salt product so is the floor, which is covered with salt granules.

Laguna Colorada:
The Laguna Colorada or in simpler terms the Red Lagoon is a shallow salt water lake in the area. The lake is housed within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, which is in very close proximity to the Chilean border.

The lake consists of the famous borax islands. A specialty about these islands is the color combinations and contrasts. It is a site to see the contrasts with the white color of the islands and the reddish color of the waters. The Laguna Colorada has significance internationally as well as it is classified as one of the places in the Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance under 1971’s Ramsar Convention. The James Flamingos along with the Chilean and Andean Flamingos are a common site here.

Laguna Verde:
In simpler terms, it means Green Lagoon. This salt lake is situated on the southwest side of Bolivia’s Altiplano. The lake is again very near to the Chilean border and is situated at the base of the Licancabur volcano.

A sight of the dancing flamingoes is very common here. Besides, the lake possesses hot springs and spectacular scenery.

Train Cemetery:
This antique train cemetery is one of the most frequented places amongst world tourists. This historic masterpiece is situated some 3 kilometers outside the Uyuni area. The area is connected to Uyuni by old train tracks. The history of the town tells us that it served as an important distribution hub for the trains on their way to the ports of the giant Pacific Ocean.

All history lovers should visit the place without fail.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Salar de Uyuni?

You need to enter Bolivia via Cochabamba city’s Jórge Wilstermann International Airport. You can then take another flight from Cochabamba to Líneas Aereas Canedo.

You can also travel via road. A bus journey from La Paz takes around 12 hours, whereas a trip from Oruro takes 4 hours.

There is train connectivity as well from across the borders. The town of Uyuni holds major importance and as such the town is well connected via rail. You can board a train from the Villazon in Argentina. You may also board a train from the Chilean border town of Calama.

Where do I stay during my Salar de Uyuni trip?

There are a number of accommodation options at your disposal besides the all important and marvelous Salt hotel. Some of the other popular landmarks of the area are Hotel Sajama, Hotel Avenida, Hotel Julia and Tonito Hotel.

When is the best time to visit Salar de Uyuni?

The best time of the year to visit Salar de Uyuni is during the dry months of July through November.

One should avoid visiting the place during the other months of the year as the surface is always wet and it can be dangerous as well as you cannot sight things clearly.

In conclusion, the Salar de Uyuni is a once in a lifetime experience. The place is unique and you may not find a place like this anywhere else in the world. You have a salt hotel and a train cemetery besides all the lovely flamingoes and wonderful sceneries. In short, the place is the setting for that perfect once in a lifetime holiday. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and start planning your trip to this Bolivian beauty.

The area of the Yungas forest is very diverse and varies as per different locations. There are thick forests in the lowlands, besides there are also green montane moist forests and cloud forests. There area also boasts of a variety of terrains. The area is mostly made of valleys and fluvial mountain trails along with streams. The terrain is mostly rugged. The habitats of the land also change with elevation as a result of the changing latitude.

Even thought the region may be remote, there is a lot of agriculture activity here. Some of the produces of the region include coffee, coca, sugar, tobacco and tropical fruits. The place is all about lush greenery and milk-like rivers passing through the valleys.

The flora of the Yungas is mainly the white cabuya, the Peruvian Pepper tree, the Furcraea, the Peruvian Torch cactus and the pitahaya.

As regards to the fauna, it is a common site to see a chaucato or the Long-tailed Mockingbird.

The name Yungas is derived from the Aymara word, which when translated into simple English means ‘Warm Lands.’ The lands run through two countries, Peru and Bolivia.

The Yungas is amongst the favorite summer and weekend picnic spots for the natives of the La Paz, more popularly known as ‘Pacenos.’ The Yungas valley has a strong relationship with the other tourist hot spot of Bolivia, the Altiplano.  It is a common trend to see most people use Yungas as the ideal relaxation place after they have sweated it out in Altiplano.

On the other hand, there are some adventure lovers, who use Yungas as an intermediate point, with an intention to continue the adventure after a nap in the valley. There are guys, who relax in Yungas and once their batteries are recharged they proceed to tougher spots like the Rurenabaque, which is around 15 hours and ever so popular Amazon Forests.

The region is also popular for mountain biking adventures amongst enthusiasts. There is a 64 kilometer road which takes you from La Cumbre to the town of Coroico and passes via the old Yungas road. This road is a very dangerous spot to and it is recommended you avoid this road at any cost as many tragedies have occurred here.

The road is also known as death road or locally it is described as the camino de la muerte. The Inter American Developing Bank has gone a step ahead and labeled the stretch as “The world’s most dangerous road.” Hence, one gentle reminder to all the prospective visitors of Yungas and Bolivia as a whole – please stay away from this death trap.

We may have seen some disturbing facts above; nevertheless, the place is still a good adventure activities destination. You can bike your way over 3,600 meters through milk like waterfalls and thick cloud forests. Besides there’s the Amazonian jungle through which you will also pass and you can return to La Paz using the much safer new highway, which was thrown open in 2006.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Yungas?

You first need to enter the nation of Bolivia. You can fly into La Paz’s El Alto International Airport, which hosts flights from around the globe. Once in La Paz, you have a few options at your disposal. You can travel via the minibuses, which run daily from La Paz and cover the distance is around 2 hours.

A still better option is to hire a private cab, however, you need to be aware that such an option will also cost much more in addition to the comforts of course.

There is another option at your disposal and without a shadow of a doubt; it is the most adventurous of all options. You can hike your way to Yungas via the Choro trek or the Eco-via trail. However, if you consider this option, you should have enough time at your disposal or you should plan your trip in such a way that you have all the time at your disposal. The entire hiking journey will take a minimum of 3 days to reach Yungas. Nevertheless, you will have a once in a lifetime adventurous trip and I can guarantee you will be tired once you are there.

Where do I stay during my Yungas adventure?

The area in and around Yungas boasts of good accommodation facilities and some of the more popular landmarks are Yungas Rio Selva Resort, House Hotel Villa Saracena, Viejo Molino Hotel, Esmeralda Hotel, La Finca Hotel, Matsu Ecolodge, Sol y Luna and Residencial Coroico.

When is the best time to visit Yungas?

The Yungas Valley enjoys a tropical to sub-tropical climate. As a result it’s a normal sight to see mild rain all around the year along with warm and humid temperatures. The heavy rains occur during the months of November through March and the rainfall averages around 155 centimeters.

Hence, as it is a normal to expect rains throughout, it is advisable to visit the place during the much safer dry season of April through October.  These months witness a pleasant climate and it is fair to say that the weather is at its best, even though the chances of rainfall are always there in this rainforest.

In conclusion, Yungas is that perfect destination for a tiring and adventurous trip. If you are looking to trek your way to a beauty of place, then this is the right place. The place is all about sweating it out amongst lush greenery to reach your destination. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that all important adventure trip to Yungas and I can assure that you will be so tired that you will enjoy your best ever nights sleep.

It is believed that there around 30,000 to 60,000 inhabitants living in this city and unfortunately a very amount of information regarding their crafts otherwise their administrative functions are known today. We as well know slight regarding the storage arrangement that was needed for the price of excess foods that are brought from the farming agricultural fields, the enormous herds of llama on the Poona, as well as the rich fish that is caught in the waters of the lake. The foundation of this regal capital city was bordered by a moat, which constrained admittance to the temples as well as areas regulated by royal family.

The major terraced pyramid in the city, the Akapana, was on one occasion supposed to be a customized hill, as well as has confirmed to be a colossal human creation with a pedestal around 656 sq ft square as well as a height of around 55.8 feet. Its foundation is formed of marvelously cut and joined opposite stone blocks. Inside the walls that retain the cut- stone are 6 T- shaped terraces that have upright pillars made up of stone, an architectural practice that is as well used in the majority of the various other monuments in Tiahuanaco. You can reach on the pinnacle of the Akapana by walking through wide staircases; a sunken court was been sited with a locale of 164 sq ft and serviced by a profound drainage arrangement.

Coupled with the Akapana are 4 different temples: the Semi-cavernous, the Kalasasaya, the Kheri Kala and the Putuni. The foremost of these four, the Semi-cavernous Temple, was been studded with figured stone heads that are set into cut-stone in front of walls as well as in the central point of the court was positioned a now-renowned monolithic stela.

The museum lies to the north of Trianon Park, which is like an oasis among the desert land of São Paolo. It lies in close proximity to financial institutions and business conglomerates. Also, there are a number of splendid villas belonging to coffee barons and early industrialists. The splendid view of the museum now stands obstructed.

The competition among architects saw Lina Bo Bardi from Italy emerge as winner. She suggested a kind of beam or right-angled solidium held either side by supports. This makes it possible to view the Trianon Park and the skyline of the city. The design needed revolutionary technology. MASP is the only museum in the world that is supported on steel beams spanning 243 feet. To further differentiate between the beams and solidium, the beams were coated with red paint. Two floors dedicated to exhibits lie above the pilaster, and the remaining two lie beneath the ground. Visitors often get the impression of a flying elephant.

The inner design of the museum is unique with minimal display walls. The artworks are placed against glass plates. The feet of each plate are wedged in concrete cubes. This makes the entire design of the museum unconventional in nature. The museum has an impressive collection of art relating to modernism and avante-garde eras.

In 1968, the museum was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II. During this time, the art collection was housed in newspaper baron Assis Châteaubriand’s headquarters. He had a tremendous passion for art. Late Expressionist movement became known by the name Paulistan ‘people eaters’. As the value of art increased in the 1950s, Assis Châteaubriand’s collection began to improve. He later bequeathed them to the city on the condition that they will be housed in a museum.

In addition to modern art, European art also got an impetus. The Italian school was famous, with artists including Bellini, Mantegna, Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, Botticelli, and Veronese. The French artists include Delacroix, Manet, Degas, Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso. Works by Spanish, Portuguese, Flemish, and English artists are not far behind. Also famous are works by Hieronymus Bosch, Lucas Cranach and Hans Holbein.

These big names in the world of art have drawn huge crowds. However, every lover of Brazilian art is never disappointed as the museum is rich in it. Some of the famous local artists include Lasar Segall, Anita Malfatti, and Emiliano Di Cavalcanti.

The museum contains more than 500 paintings and 10000 pieces of art. MASP has frequent themed exhibitions. The workshops and seminars on art make MASP a cultural center to reckon with. The museum has regular tie-ups with major museums in Europe and North America.

This South America’s Bolivia has a crown on its head, as its city Coroico is among the perfect tourist destinations. If you take a glance at the surrounding areas, you will find many attractive things to do and also see. A number of rivers are always inviting the visitors to enjoy sunbathing on the hot rocks of the riverbed, or if you want, then simply sit and feel the pleasant and charming nature. You will get plenty of independent or guided walks. The tours will offer you spectacular views, trails, wildlife, nature, culture and agriculture.

Easily, one can explore the entire city of Coroico within three hours or in three days. If walking is no more influencing you or if you feel tired, then slow down and take a horse. In fact, you can have adventure on a bike as well. Those who love adventures and are extreme bike lover should enjoy the tour of the mountain, as tours are available for a beginner to experienced person. Those who say that we have experienced the most dangerous road should visit this site, as it is more than that. To make some adventurous time, try to reach Kori Wayku Inca trail by crossing the river or the hostile jungle. In fact, you should try to visit the haunted Perolani waterfalls, the lonely Gates of the Devil and some other realistic and thrilling places.

This city offers perfect adventurous options to those who love it a lot. Hundreds of various microclimates bound the city of Coroico. This city has things to an extreme like the no tree zone to deep jungle sub tropics. All these could be found at a walking distances or a day hike will be perfect for you to explore Coroico Bolivia. One thing is that the city has a perfect nature, so is a unique opportunity for nature photographers.

Getting there:

If you are not habituated to withstand the bike trip down Death Road, then catch a van or bus for traveling. This will make you feel comfortable. Well, the entire ride will take 4 to 5 hours, and if it is a rainy season then the traveling usually takes more time. This place is among the most spectacular bikerides in the world that charges US$ 35 to 80. You will get minibus services from La Paz to Coroico. Besides this, taxis, bicycles, trekking, all could be done to reach Coroico Bolivia.

Eating out:

Many hotels and restaurants are there that offer delicious cuisines. EI Cafetal, Bamboos, Villa Bonita, La Casa, Back-Stube and various others provide good eating options, and all are something you can call as open-air restaurants that offers breathtaking views.

On of the major attractions of Bolivia are San Juan waterfalls in Coroico. This is the best sight for every tourist that offers eye catchy scenes and nature. One thing you need to keep in your mind is that the roads are very dangerous so maintain your limits and do not get over enthusiastic. This is a best tourist destination for almost every people who visited Coroico Bolivia, as it has miraculous picturesque scenes that pull everyone’s attention.