Include a taste of the enchanting in your customized South America tours. Jacqueline Spencer captures the heart of an uncharted territory with an account of her recent trip and highlights exactly Bolivia travel is a must.
Culture of Bolivia
One of the principal highlights of a Bolivia tour is the authenticity of the country’s culture and local people, who retain their indigenous heritage even in modern times. The majority of the population is of Quechua and Aymara descent, followed by mestizos – people with mixed indigenous and Spanish ancestry.
Traditions and culture of Bolivia
As you travel in Bolivia, you will find women in traditional dress, affectionately called cholas, everywhere. The chola’s clothing consists of a pleated skirt called pollera, a shawl called manta and topped off with a bowler hat from 19th century Europe. This form of dress was originally forced on the indigenous women by colonists, but now it has become a national symbol. Markets are colorful and full of textiles, handicrafts and even strange shamanic trinkets that are symbols of native religious traditions and popular superstition and a major part of Bolivian culture.
Our private Bolivia tours take you to Lake Titicaca, where unique cultures such as the Uros of the floating reed islands, maintain their traditions even in modern times.
Bolivians are close-knit and extremely family-oriented, with several generations living together under the same roof. Many traditions and festivals in Bolivia stem from a mix of pre-Colombian pagan rites and Roman Catholicism. The Oruro Carnival is a major part of a well-planned Bolivia tour. It is an important cultural event, famous for its folkloric devil dance and several days of costumed parades.
Locals do not like to have their photos taken by visitors. Do not photograph people without first asking for permission during your tour of Bolivia.
From the Blog
What are the top 10 things to do in Bolivia? Here’s our list. Bolivia: The land of quinoa, Jesuit missions and spectacular salt flats that are visible from space. We’re unveiling our top ten list of sites and activities to explore in Bolivia.
In December 2015, Dianne Graham decided on one of our customized South America tours. An avid traveler and a passionate photographer, to Dianne, the journey was all about capturing the beautiful country through her lens. How did she fare? Read on to find out! Exploring Bolivia: Thoughts about my journey Bolivia is a showcase of dramatic…
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Bolivia Travel Guide
ViewHistory
From its Tiwanaku beginnings to Inca conquest, the Spanish empire and 20th century and modern history – discover our top tips for a history and heritage tour of Bolivia.
Cuisine
Due to several distinct climatic regions and the abundance of natural resources, Bolivian cuisine is divided by regionality and infused with local ingredients.
Things To Do
What are the top things to do on a Bolivia holiday? From traversing endless salt flats, to climbing mountains and discovering unique cultural delights, our destination experts share their personal favorites.