Travel photography Bolivia

Bolivia

Giant cacti on Isla Incahuasi in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

After an amazing trip through Peru, it was time to cross into Bolivia, a hidden gem that’s often overlooked as a travel destination in South America. I knew I was in for a treat but I wasn’t prepared with how beautiful this country would turn out to be. After weeks of traveling in Bolivia, this country would become one of my favorite destinations in the world.

La Paz and the beautiful valleys surrounding it

I arrived in the capital city of La Paz, a huge metropolis located in a valley surrounded by volcanoes. La Paz is a true melting pot where old meets new, and I was pleasantly surprised by its atmosphere and how safe it felt. Getting around La Paz is easy as it has a unique infrastructure of cable cars that take you from one side of the city to the other, floating over the colorful neighborhoods and avoiding traffic.

It is also a good base if you want to explore some of the unique rock formations in the area, such as the Valle de las Animas and the Valle de la Luna. Rocks have eroded here over time due to the weather, resulting in different shapes and sizes, creating unique landscapes. When you walk around these valleys, the busy city sure feels far away.

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Sunset over La Paz, Bolivia View over La Paz and the Illimani volcano Unique rock formations of Valle de las Animas near La Paz, Bolivia Sunset over Valle de las Animas in Bolivia Canyon of Valle de las Animas near La Paz, Bolivia Sunset over Valle de las Ànimas in Bolivia Man playing a pan flute at Valle de la Luna near La Paz, Bolivia

Sucre: Bolivia’s most beautiful city

Further south in Bolivia lies Sucre, also known as the capital city where the government houses. Sucre has more of a village vibe and features countless colonial white houses and churches and charming squares, a nice refreshing break from busy La Paz.

San Felipe Neri church in Sucre, La Paz View over the church San Felipe Neri in Sucre, Bolivia Indigenous woman at a market in Bolivia

Bolivia’s most unique place: Salar de Uyuni

The real star of the show in Bolivia however is the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats. Once connected to Lake Titicaca, the lake dried up and all there’s left is a massive salt desert. With a surface of over 10.000 square km, it takes hours to cover this salt pan from one end to the other. I went in the dry season, allowing me to visit the islands that are located in the middle of the salt pan of Uyuni.

The most iconic one of them is Isla Incahuasi, which means home of the Inca in the Quechua language. On this island, you are surrounded by thousands of cacti in different sizes and shapes, some measuring up to 10 meters. I spent the sunset at the top of Isla del Pescado, watching the sky turn different colors over the volcano on the horizon. Uyuni is truly a special place and the real draw for many people to come to Bolivia.

Isla del Pescado in Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia Sunset over Isla del Pescado in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Sunset over Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia Sunset over Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia Dusk over Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia Sunset over Volcano Tunupa in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Salt flats of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia Cacti of Isla Incahuasi in the middle of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Giant cacti on Isla Incahuasi in Bolivia Massive cactus in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Cacti on Isla Incahuasi in the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia Giant cactus in Salar de Uyuni salt pan, Bolivia

Colorful lakes of the Bolivian Altiplano

As I left the salt flats of Uyuni, we picked up altitude and reached up to 5000 meters above sea level. In this area, called Lipez Sur, you are surrounded by beautiful lagoons ranging from dark red to white, depending on the algae in the water. If you happen to be there during the right season, you will get to see thousands of Flamingos around the lagoons of Hedionda, Colorada and Verde.

Further down south, closer to Chile, the landscape changes yet again as you pass by the Siloli desert, the highest desert in the world. This desert is also known as the Salvador Dali desert because of the many different colors and shapes of the rocks. To my surprise, there were even geysers in this vast desert.

Salvador Dali desert in Bolivia Flamingos at a lagoon in the Bolivian Altiplano Flamingos at the Altiplano laguna of Bolivia Flamingo in Bolvia Flamingos at Laguna Hedionda in Bolivia Flock of flamingos at Laguna Hedionda in Bolivia Flamingo taking off from Laguna Hedionda in south Bolivia Flamingos in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Flamingos at Laguna Q'ara in South Lipez Bolivia Flamingo in Reserva de Fauna Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia Flamingos eating in south Bolivia Flamingo in mid-air in Bolivia Family of vicuñas in Bolivia Vicuña near a lagoon in southern Bolivia Honda lagoon in Bolivia Red mountains in the Salvador Dali desert in Bolivia Beautiful colors of the mountains in the Salvador Dali desert in Bolivia Arbol del desierto in Bolivia Flamingos in the red waters of Laguna Colorada in Bolivia Flamingos at Laguna Colorada in Bolivia Flamingo flying over Laguna Colorada in Reserva de Fauna Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia Flamingo at a lagoon in Reserva de Fauna Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia Flamingos eating at Laguna Colorada in South Bolivia Flamingos in South Bolivia near the border with Chile at Laguna Colorada Flock of flamingos at Laguna Colorada, Bolivia Laguna Colorada in Bolivia Laguna Colorada in the south of Bolivia Flamingo at Laguna Salada in Bolivia Flamingos at Laguna Blanca in Bolivia Geyser of Sol de Mañana in Bolivia Sol de Mañana geyser in Bolivia