Sucre

1,098,580 km²
(26.5x the Netherlands)

UTC -4

Spanish, Quechua, Aymara

Nevado Sajama - 6,520 m

The current flag has been in use since 1851. Red represents the blood, spilled in the struggle for independence from the Spanish rulers. Yellow represents gold and natural resources. Green represents the forests of the country.

The Boliviano replaces the peso since 1863. The first banknotes were printed in 1873. Depicted on the banknote is Cecilio Guzmán de Rojas, a Bolivian painter who was a leader of the indigenous art movement during the first half of the 20th century.

Potosi is a beautiful colonial city at an altitude of 4,000 meters which is known for its silver mines. The city was founded in 1545 after Diego Huallpa found silver in Mount Cerro Rico. At it's height in the mid-17th century, Potosi counted 200,000 inhabitants and was the largest city in South America. There are 4,000 mines around the mountain, 400 of which are still in use. Potosi is on the World Heritage List.

A three-day tour with 4x4 land cruisers that starts at the border with Chile (San Pedro de Atacama) and ending in Uyuni was one of the highlights of this trip. This part of Bolivia is highly recommended because of the extreme nature at high altitude. Go easy because the altitude takes your breath away. From San Pedro in Chile at 2,440 meters it's a steep drive on a straight road up to the border at 4,000 meters. The Licancabur volcano is always within sight. First you go to Laguna Verde, a lake that is stained green by the algae. Drive through the Desert of Dali to the highest point, Sol de Ma & ntilde; ana at 4,850 meters. Here you will find bubbling mud pools and fumaroles in an unreal landscape. Then descend again to a next highlight, Laguna Colorado. In summer you will find 3 types of flamingos here. This 1 meter deep laguna turns red because of the algae. Spend the night at Villa Mar. The next day you cross the Salar de Uyuni, a huge salt flat. White as far as you can see. Sunglasses needed. In the distance you can see the contours of the mountains that never seem to get closer. In the middle of the salar is the Isla Incahuasi (isla del Pescado) where you can walk among the cactuses. The day ends in Jirira, a village at the north of the salar at the foot of the Tunupa volcano. The last day you drive through the salt hotel (no longer in use) and Colchani, where salt is being extracted, to Uyuni where you can visit a cemetery with many old locomotives that were once used for mining. Uyuni is located at an intersection of two railway lines.

Sucre, the white city, is the capital of Bolivia. It was founded as La Plata in 1538 as an administrative center for the region. After the independence struggle against the Spaniards it was named after a fellow fighter of Simon Bolivar, Sucre. It is also on the world heritage list. A two hours drive from Sucre is the town of Tarabuco. At the local market you can meet the indigenous Yampara in various costumes.

La Paz is the seat of government in Bolivia. It is located at the top a valley at 3,650 meters just below the edge of the Altiplano. The city is a hub for a lot of activities in the surrounding area such as the Takesi trail. Driving through a beautiful valley with bizarre rock formations you arrive at the start of the trekking at 4,200 meters and then it takes a 1.5 hour climb to Paso Apacheta at 4,650 meters. A long descent follows. Large parts of the pre-Inca trail (Tiwanaku) are still intact. The long descent wears out your knees. You spend the night in tents. The first night is at 3,700 meters on the Rio Takesi. The next day you descend further through a valley. On the last day it takes an hour to get to the bus. It takes 4 hours back to La Paz through a valley with very steep slopes.

Copacabana is located at 3800 meters at Lake Titicaca. The cathedral is the most visited of Bolivia because of a legend. Take a boat trip to the birthplace of the Incas, Isla del Sol. You can make a walk on the ridge from south to north.