Bolivian Escape
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Highlights
Bolivia is an amazingly diverse country and as you travel you will take in:
Your "taste of volunteering" project
Bolivia is unique in many ways, no more so than the San Pedro prison. Have you ever heard of a prison that will incarcerate an entire family for the crime of the father…. well now you have!
It does serve to keep the family together, but as you can imagine it is probably not the best environment for children to grow up in. Fortunately some of the children are taken out of the prison most days, to spend some time in a centre that offers them a very caring environment, where they receive love, healthy meals, health care, an education and a rare opportunity to play.
This is where you can make a difference and help them not follow in the footsteps of their fathers. Depending on your skills you can help directly with the children or perhaps you will choose to improve the environment they live in. Either way you will be warmed and amazed by these wonderful children that live such unfortunate lives.
The amazing sights
At Hands Up Holidays we like you to decide what you want to see, so here are some of the highlights that you may want to consider visiting. So that you can get an idea of timing we have created a bit of a sample itinerary (you can find this on the right side bar), but you are always welcome to change it to suit your desires.
La Paz or more accurately, Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace), is located at an elevation of 3,660 meters (12,000ft) and is often referred to as the highest capital city in the world, but technically it is the highest administrative capital. The official capital of Bolivia is Sucre.
The city sits in a huge "basin" surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. Over the years it has grown out from its centre down to as low as 3,000 meters (9,840 ft) and up to 4,100 meters (13,450 ft).
The beautiful and perennially snow-covered triple-peaked Illimani towers over this vibrant city. However, don’t be surprised if you aren’t moving super fast on your first day there, some people take a day or so to get used to the rarefied air. Take it easy and enjoy your relaxed day exploring the city and its surroundings.
The Madidi National Park is part of one of the largest protected areas on earth (the other parts are across the border in Peru). It sits in the upper Amazon river basin and spans all the way from the glacier-covered peaks of the high Andes Mountains to the tropical rainforests of the Tuichi River.
As a result of its unique topography it is one of the most biologically diverse National Parks on earth. It is home to over 4,739 species of plants, 1,370 species of vertebrates and 867 tropical birds and endemic plants. Inside its border live healthy populations of jaguars, giant river otters, monkeys (one new species was only discovered and named in 2005) and many varieties of rare orchids and other unique plants.
The local inhabitants migrated here from the Andean highlands and come from four distinct cultural groups - the Tacana, the Mosete, the Tsimane and the Ese Ejja, but all speak the Quechua language.
Explore this amazing jungle with your knowledgeable guide. Find out about animals and plants. If you are exceptionally lucky you may even get a glimpse of a Jaguar, one of the most elusive big cats on earth. But even if you don’t there is so much to see, touch and experience that you will want to stay longer.
The pre-Inca ruins of Tiwanaku or Tiahuanaco, sit southeast of Lake Titicaca at an altitude of around 3,800 m (about 12,500 ft) above sea level. This made the populous urban centre of Tiwanaku the highest city in the ancient world. The real mystery is why all activity in this thriving city ceased around AD900.
Form your own conclusions as you explore these fascinating ruins that contain some of the most skillfully crafted masonry in South America. Like so many things about these ruins, the meaning of the intricate symbolism in the decorations is uncertain, but looking at the arid landscape it is fun to imagine this as a bustling city, with people dressed in colorful garments and the surrounding lands brimming with specialized high altitude crops.
Lake Titicaca is a sacred place for the Inca civilization and even without sharing their beliefs one can well imagine why. At 8,300 square kilometers (3,200 square miles) in size and up to 300 meters (around 1,000 ft) in depth, Titicaca is one of the largest, highest, and deepest lakes in the world, and it’s deep blue waters look amazing in contrast to the landscape.
According to Incan mythology, the god Viracocha arose out of the lake to create the sun, the stars and the first people and thus the beginning of the earth. Lake Titicaca is the birthplace of the Incas, whose spirits return to their origin in the lake upon death.
To add to the lake's mystery and fascination, a large submerged temple was recently discovered in the lake. The massive structure is nearly twice the size of a football field (200 meters or 660 ft long), and was found by following a submerged road that begins near Copacabana. The temple is estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old.
Of the 41 islands on the lake the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), home of the god Inti, and Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon), home of the Inca goddess Mama Quila are the most sacred. There are more than 150 ancient settlements scattered over the 41 islands.
During Inca rule (around A.D. 1470 - 1532) The Sun and The Moon islands were the place of pilgrimages from all over the empire, however the sacred nature of these islands appears to extend all the way back to the Tiwanaku Empire (A.D. 600 - 1100).
The structures on the Isla de la Luna were constructed by the pre-Incan Aymara culture, but the Incas contributed to the architecture with things such as their trapezoidal doors. During Inca times, the Isla de la Luna housed chosen priestesses known as the "Virgins of the Sun" who performed ceremonies dedicated to the sun.
If you happen to take a longer trip then the Sunset on the Isla del Sol is magnificent particularly if you can appreciate it from the lighthouse on the highest point on the island at 4,097 meters (13,441 ft). The sun bathes the sacred mountains in bright colors, and reflects its light on the sacred lake, before slipping below the horizon.
Bolivia is also home to the world's largest salt flat. Located at a lofty 3,653meters (11,985ft) and covering an astonishing 12,000 square kilometers (4,633 sq mi). It is the remnant of a prehistoric sea, Lago Minchín, that once covered vast tracts of the southwest Bolivia. After it evaporated it left behind several salt pans and some smaller seasonal lakes.
The massive white expanse is reminiscent of an arctic scene but for the almost perfect hexagonal salt formations that interlock across the entire surface. At sunset, the evening light illuminates the raised edges of the salt hexagons and they take on a stunning orange glow. A unique and stunning sight.
During the day, the fine detail vanishes into blinding white and many visitors use this stark canvas to create great photographic illusions. It’s a fun game and some of the results can be hilarious.
A huge white expanse may not sound that exciting, but when you combine it with islands that appear to rise from a boundless white blanket and beautifully colored mineral lakes, all surrounded by Andean mountains, you end up with something truly special.
With mountains, lakes, ruins, jungle and salt pan desert to choose from there is something for everyone here. Combine that with a heart warming volunteer project and you have an unforgettable experience!
Best time to travel
Most of Bolivia lies as close to the equator as say Hawaii, but due to its elevation the weather can be unpredictable. So no matter when you travel be prepared for anything.
The the most popular time to visit Bolivia is from late June to early September. This tends to be the most reliable weather and coincides with European and North American summer holidays. It is the Bolivian winter, so in the Altiplano this means hot during the day, but subzero temperatures at night. The highland valleys are refuges, having a comfortable climate with little rain year round.
The high season is also when most of Bolivia’s major festivals take place, so you’ll also find many Bolivians and other South Americans travelling at this time. It will be busier and prices are generally higher than during the rest of the year.
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
With one person booking, please contact us for the price of your trip.
