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.
History of Bolivia
The history of Bolivia dates back many millennia to when the Aymaras first settled in the western highlands.
The Tiwanaku culture flourished until the kingdom was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century. Soon afterward, the Spanish conquistadors toppled the empire and founded the city of La Paz in 1548. Under Spanish colonization, present-day Bolivia was known as Alto Peru (Upper Peru) and was under the authority of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The Spanish Empire and Liberation
Silver mines in Alto Peru provided the majority of the wealth gathered by the Spanish Empire, and thousands of natives died while mining in dangerous conditions. In 1776, Alto Peru became part of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata. Spanish colonial rule was a traumatic experience for indigenous groups. In addition to mining, the native population decreased rapidly due to their susceptibility to European diseases and several revolts were quelled by the Spanish.
Finally in 1825, Alto Peru joined the rest of the South American nations to win independence from Spain. The new country was named Bolivia after Simón Bolívar, the famous liberator and hero. However, independence did not alleviate the country’s problems.
In 1879, after the country had increased taxes on nitrate mines, the War of the Pacific against Chile devastated Bolivia. Chile emerged victorious and Bolivia lost its only strip of Pacific coast and rich nitrate mining areas to Chile, thus becoming a landlocked nation.
History of Bolivia in the 20th Century
The 20th century was marked by more tumult, social unrest, various coup d’etats and brutal military dictatorships as well as hyperinflation, poverty and a rise in drug trafficking. In 2005, left-wing Evo Morales was elected president and began to implement several controversial policies, including nationalization of industries. In 2009, Morales created a new Constitution formally declaring Bolivia a “plurinational state”, in recognition of the various indigenous cultures within the country. Although it is still one of the poorest nations in South America, Bolivia is currently entering a period of stability and economic growth and in recent years, a Bolivia tour is completely safe.
Bolivia tours reward visitors with unparalleled cultural authenticity and stunning natural beauty at this relatively undiscovered destination.
Bolivia Travel Tips
The Tiwanaku civilization from 13th century BCE was the most advanced of ancient Bolivian cultures, and the ruins of their capital city Tiwanaku can be visited today on one of our private Bolivia tours.
The Enchanting Travels team look forward to helping you plan your private and tailor-made Bolivia tour.
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Bolivia Travel Guide
ViewCulture
Discover the authenticity of Bolivia’s culture and local people, who retain their indigenous heritage even in modern times.
Cuisine
Due to several distinct climatic regions and the abundance of natural resources, Bolivian cuisine is divided by regionality and infused with local ingredients.
Best Time To Visit
What is the best time to travel to Bolivia? Our destination experts share on overview on when to visit the various regions of the country and what to pack for your Bolivia holiday.