Have you recently heard of Bolivia and are curious to learn about the country? There are many interesting aspects that may surprise you including that the country holds some of the coolest records in the world. In this post, we’ll go over all the fascinating things the country is known for and well, what makes Bolivia, Bolivia.
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I think you’ll agree with me when I say that not many people have heard of Bolivia or its beautiful culture. Being a native Bolivian myself, most people don’t even know where the country is located.
However, Bolivia is known for some pretty epic and unique things like cholitas, coca leaves, llama fetuses, and high altitudes. It’s a land with a lot to offer and one that I’m proud to call home. Naturally, I want to share that with everyone!
Whether you’ve never heard of Bolivia or already have some knowledge of the country, I’ve got you covered. Here is a list of 25 interesting and wonderful things Bolivia is known for!
A Little Bit About Bolivia
Bolivia is a landlocked country located in South America. It’s bordered by Peru and Chile on the West, Brazil on the East, and Argentina and Paraguay on the South.
Although Spanish is the main spoken language of Bolivia, there are over 35 official languages and dialects. The next two most commonly spoken languages are Quechua and Aymara.
The Andes Mountains run through most of Western Bolivia and through La Paz, one of the country’s capitals. Yes, Bolivia has two capitals! This is an ongoing disagreement between locals so they just consider them both capitals. Technically, La Paz is the administrative capital while Sucre is the constitutional/judicial capital.
While Bolivia has a beautiful and unique culture, it is also considered the poorest country in South America. Don’t let this deter you from ever visiting. This actually makes it a very cheap country to travel and is still a safe place for tourists.
25 Things Bolivia is Known For
1 Salar de Uyuni (World’s Largest Salt Flats)
Probably the most famous thing Bolivia is known for and what attracts travelers from all over the world is the Salar de Uyuni. These are the biggest Salt Flats in the world. They are located in Uyuni, Bolivia.
Many tourists make the trek out here because the salt flats can be absolutely mesmerizing during the wet season. When there is a thin layer of water on the flats, it makes the entire place reflective and an amazing spot for out-of-this-world photography!
Even during the dry season, the salt flats are still a wonder to see. Hexagonal shapes are formed on the ground due to salt crystallization. Salar de Uyuni is a must-see for any avid traveler no matter which season you visit.
2 Cholitas
Likely the second thing that Bolivia is widely known for is Cholita Wrestling. The wrestling part only started in the early 2000s and gained traction due to the media. I mean Indigenous women in traditional clothing fighting each other? That’s a pretty memorable sight.
Nowadays it’s a large tourist attraction for any traveler visiting La Paz, Bolivia. However, Cholitas, more respectfully known as Señoras de Polleras, faced a long and harsh history of discrimination until recently.
Cholitas are indigenous women from Quechuan or Aymaran cultures. Once Evo Morales, an indigenous man himself, became president of Bolivia, things started to change for the Cholitas.
It was partly due to this but also the rise of women’s rights, even as indigenous people, that helped them gain respect and assimilate into society. Nowadays, you will see Cholitas all over the city working in all kinds of jobs and positions.
3 Coca Leaves
Coca leaves have been grown in Bolivia for hundreds of years and besides its use as traditional medicine, it’s a large part of the culture and identity of Bolivians.
Coca tea is often drunk to help with the side effects of altitude sickness. The leaves themselves are also chewed on by local workers to give them more stamina throughout the day.
Of course, there has also been a war on coca leaves due to the production and exportation of cocaine. Either way, coca leaves are a large contributor to the growth of the local economy.
There is even a Coca Museum located in La Paz that highlights the important history of the plant and its part in Bolivian culture. I definitely recommend checking out the museum if you are visiting La Paz!
4 La Paz (World’s Highest Capital City)
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world located at 11,893 ft (3,625 m) above sea level with over 1 million residents.
5 High Altitude
Because of Bolivia’s location in the Andes Mountains, most of the country is at a high altitude. This can also cause altitude sickness for people who are not used to higher elevations.
Shortness of breath and lethargy are common for first-time travelers. However, these symptoms usually go away after just three days.
If you want to learn more about La Paz’s high altitude and tips and tricks to help deal with altitude sickness, you can read my post here.
6 Salteñas
Salteñas are known as the national dish of Bolivia and for good reason, they are so delicious! Salteñas are like empanadas but thicker and much more savory.
The crust is sweet and buttery filled with a juicy inside. Usually stuffed with chicken or beef then accompanied with potatoes, vegetables, and plenty of broth. It’s almost like a much smaller pot pie but with a slightly different, spicy flavor.
It is said that only a true Bolivian can eat a salteña without spilling any broth. The trick is to slurp while you eat!
Fear not my vegetarian friends! While veggie salteñas are not traditional nor super common, you can find some without meat at Paceña La Salteña. There are many locations around La Paz, just remember to go before 2 pm as salteñas are typically a breakfast/lunch dish!
7 Cable Car System (World’s Longest Cable Cars)
Another really cool thing La Paz, Bolivia is known for is its cable car public transportation (Mi Teleferico). Now this is debatable, but La Paz has the longest cable car system in the world! I say system because it may not be the longest single-riding cable car but it certainly is the largest system of cable cars.
Ever since the cable cars were introduced in 2014, it has tremendously made an impact on how easily and quickly people could move around the city. What used to be an hour commute has now been replaced with a 15-minute commute.
This was huge for Bolivia! It’s also such a fun and unique way to see all of La Paz from a different perspective. This is definitely one of my favorite things about La Paz!
8 Alpacas, Llamas, & Llama Fetuses
Llamas and alpacas are typical highland animals and are somewhat sacred to Bolivians. Their wool is used to make warm sweaters, gloves, and hats as it’s generally cold in the mountains.
Llamas have been the national animal of Bolivia for thousands of years. Even in Incan, Aymaran, and Quechuan cultures. However, there is a rather odd tradition that includes dried-up llama fetuses.
Llama fetuses are often buried underneath houses in Bolivia with the foundation. It’s meant to bring good luck to the house and the construction workers who are building it. It’s meant to protect from fire or other damage to the home as well as providing an offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth).
9 The Death Road (World’s Most Dangerous Road)
There is a road that connects the highlands of Bolivia to the lowlands called the Yungas Highway. It’s more popularly known as the Death Road due to how dangerous and narrow of a road it is. It was estimated that 200-300 people died a year while it was still operating.
This was the only road available at the time and it was extremely narrow, susceptible to landslides, and has no guard rails even though the drop is drastic and deadly. A new highway was built in the early 2000s to replace this one so nowadays it’s mostly used as a biking road by tourists.
I actually rode down the death road years ago and it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. There’s nothing keeping you from riding over the edge and into the depths of the jungle.
It’s such a narrow road that really only one lane of traffic could pass at a time. Keep in mind, large buses and trucks transporting goods often crossed this road. If two large cars met each other one had to back up until there was room to pass each other. Absolutely terrifying!
10 Chuño (Freeze Dried Potatoes)
Bolivia, specifically the Andes highlands, is also known for having over 1,500 varieties of potatoes! Can you believe that? One of these delicious potatoes is called chuño, a type of freeze-dried potato.
They use a specific method to freeze dry chuño in the Andes. They will bury the potatoes underground where the temperatures drop below freezing, then the next day they will lay them out in the sun to completely dehydrate. This process can often be repeated several times.
Chuño has an extremely long shelf life which is why it was a staple food for the Ancient Incas. To eat it, you must rehydrate it first, usually in Bolivian soups and stews.
11 Illimani Mountain
Illimani is the tallest mountain in La Paz and the second tallest in all of Bolivia. It’s quite the landmark for La Paz and it is easily visible from most parts of the city. You can even get better views of Illimani by taking the blue line on the cable car system in El Alto.
12 Traffic Zebras
One very interesting thing in Bolivia is the traffic zebras. You may be familiar with zebra crosswalks to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely. Well in the early 2000s Bolivia implemented people dressed as zebras in an effort to control traffic better.
If you’ve traveled to different countries, I’m sure you’ve seen how bad the traffic can get and how nonexistent structure and order is. These zebras are meant to bring awareness at crosswalks to help people safely cross.
They will often throw themselves on the hood of cars that have stopped in the middle of the crosswalk and mock drivers into feeling guilty for breaking the law. It’s a fun and unique solution to a more serious issue.
This zebra program is also meant to help at-risk teenagers. The program not only hires teens but also offers them access to higher education. It’s a fun way for them to make friends and stay out of trouble.
13 San Pedro Prison
One of the more wild things Bolivia is known for is its highly corrupt prison system displayed in the San Pedro Prison located in the middle of La Paz. It’s the largest prison in the city and follows completely separate rules than any other prison you’ve heard of.
It’s like its own society inside those walls. Prisoners buy cells from each other and often their families, including wives and children, even live inside there with them. So the wealthier you are, the nicer cell you can have.
At one point, tours of the prison were offered to tourists. Even though this isn’t the case anymore, you can still bribe a ‘guard’ to go in and spend a night in the jail. Cocaine is also highly distributed and sold throughout the inside and outside of the walls. It is said that most of the drugs are filtered through the prison.
Isn’t this just one of the craziest things you’ve ever heard? I remember when I learned about it, and it still shocks me even as a Bolivian American because prisons are so different in the US.
14 The Witches’ Market (Calle de las Brujas)
One of my favorite areas of La Paz and a must-see for every tourist is The Witches’ Market. It’s located very close to the San Francisco church. It’s a shopping market where you can find the perfect souvenirs such as alpaca/llama ponchos, genuine leather bags, coca leaf keychains, aguayo hammocks, and so much more!
There are also plenty of tour companies selling tours and packages here. As well as restaurants and bars.
However, on one of the side streets, you’ll see vendors selling dried llama fetuses and other remedies/potions. Remember how we talked about the llama fetuses earlier?
Well, this is precisely where you can find them. Fair warning, it is kind of weird to see the llamas just hung up so be mindful if you don’t want to see these while walking around this area.
15 Quinoa
The newly popular superfood in America has been around for centuries and is indigenous to Bolivia. Quinoa only came to the States in 1984. The climate and land in the Andes is perfect for growing quinoa.
16 Lake Titicaca (World’s Highest Lake)
Lake Titicaca is an important body of water for a landlocked country like Bolivia. It lies between the borders of Peru and Bolivia and is known as one of the highest (navigable) lakes in the world. It is also the largest lake in South America. I’m telling ya, Bolivia holds some pretty neat records!
It’s also a common tourist and local destination. You can take boat rides to different islands and even to some floating islands. These are made from aquatic reeds and usually serve food to tourists.
17 Copacabana
Copacabana is a quaint beach town located on the southern shores of Lake Titicaca. It’s the closest thing to a “beach” this landlocked country can get. Seafood, especially trout (trucha), is quite common here.
Many people stop by this town either on their way to Peru or to visit Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). La Horca del Inca is also a popular attraction to see ancient Incan ruins. Located at the top of a hill in Copacabana, it also gives you an excellent view of the whole town.
18 Singani (National Drink)
Singani is the national spirit of Bolivia made from white grapes known as Muscat of Alexandria. These grapes are grown in Tarija, a wine country region of Bolivia. It’s somewhat similar and sometimes considered white brandy.
Singani can be sipped on or taken as a shot. However, it’s more popularly consumed with ginger ale known as the drink Chuflay (chufly). Kinda like shoo-fly!
19 Api Con Pastel
Api Morado, commonly known as just Api, is a sweet and thick warm drink made from purple corn. It’s usually served with some kind of pastry. Normally, pastel de queso (flaky cheese empanada) or buñuelos.
This is a delicacy in most cold parts of Bolivia. It’s typically served in the early mornings as a way to warm up and start your day off with heavy carbs.
You can read all about Api con Pastel in my post right here if you are interested!
20 El Alto Market (Feria 16 de Julio)
Although sometimes clumped together into one, technically La Paz is one city separate from El Alto, even though they are right next to each other. The airport you will land in is located in El Alto and it’s a short drive into La Paz.
El Alto has grown tremendously quickly catching up to La Paz’s one million inhabitants. Every Thursday and Sunday, there is a massive market held in El Alto from about 6 am to 6 pm. You can find literally anything you could want here.
From trinkets to used and new clothing, car parts, kitchen appliances, and pet supplies, to food and pastries. You can find seriously anything and for such a low price.
Be careful though because if you’re going to get robbed in Bolivia, this is the place it would happen. Just be mindful of your surroundings and try not to look too much like a tourist if you can help it.
21 Anticuchos
Anticuchos are a delicacy in Peru as well as Bolivia. It’s served kebob style but it’s actually cow heart! I’ve been a vegetarian since I was ten, however, I remember loving this street food as a kid.
You should definitely try it, you may be surprised! It’s often easily found and sold by local vendors on the streets. Especially on weekend nights. It’s best served with potatoes and peanut sauce.
22 Colorful Neighborhood of Chualluma
This is one that’s become more popular in recent years. Located in La Paz, is this colorful neighborhood filled with beautiful traditional murals. This area is called Chualluma and it’s actually visible from the red-line cable car going up to El Alto.
It’s a somewhat small neighborhood so it shouldn’t take you more than a few hours to explore. The murals tell a story of Bolivian culture as well as inspire the locals living there.
23 Traditional Dances
Traditional dances are taught in school at a young age. Every grade learns a different style of dance and performs it at the annual ‘entrada’ or parade if you will.
Some of these popular dances are Morenada, Tinku, and my personal favorite Caporales. They all have their unique style and moves as well as individual costumes. The costumes are one of the best parts! It’s so interesting to see the different dances and variety of clothing.
There is an annual festival usually taking place in late May/early June called Fiesta del Gran Poder (Party of the Grand Power). It’s a religious festival where all sorts of people dance these traditional dances!
24 Aguayo Cloth
Aguayo is a common type of hand-woven cloth typical in Andean regions. It’s usually dyed in bright colors with specific linear designs and patterns.
Cholitas often use aguayo to carry their small children or other items on their backs. Today it’s also commonly seen as tablecloths, pillowcases, or for other decorative things. You can see a lot of this cloth being sold at souvenir shops all around Bolivia.
25 Alasitas Festival
The Alasitas festival takes place in the month of January. It’s basically a festival where you can buy miniature versions of practically anything! The tradition is meant to bring you good fortune and wealth throughout the year.
You can buy mini versions of everything and the Aymaran god of abundance and prosperity, Ekeko, is meant to bless you with these wishes.
Whether you desire to travel or to find love, there is everything from miniature suitcases and airplane tickets to mini wedding dresses and certificates. This is a very fun and unique Bolivian festival!
Well, that wraps up this list of things Bolivia is known for! I hope you learned a lot of interesting and somewhat strange things about my home country. It’s such a beautiful and unique place to visit. I truly hope you get to experience it all for yourself one day!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous thing in Bolivia?
Bolivia is most famous for having the largest salt flats in the world – Salar de Uyuni. It’s a massive magical and reflective area with hexagonal salt crystallization on the ground. Definitely, a must-see if visiting Bolivia.
Why is Bolivia worth visiting?
Bolivia is often overlooked in the sea of other Southern American countries. Besides being very affordable to travel through, Bolivia has its own unique culture, famous salt flats, delicious food, and a really cool cable car system.
For more Bolivia information, you may also like:
- La Paz’s Hidden Gem: The Colorful Neighborhood of Chualluma
- 10 Surprising & Unique Finds At The Witches Market In Bolivia
- La Paz: How to Best Deal With Altitude Sickness
