Destination:
Bolivia

The air is indeed rare in La Paz, the world's highest capital city, at two and a half miles (4km) above sea level, or 11,910ft (3,630m). Living in La Paz is a bit bizarre because it is akin to living in a giant bowl. Around the rim are brick buildings and workshops, the inside slopes are scattered with houses, and across the bottom is the dense city centre. Rising up in the background is the most well known of Bolivia's lofty peaks, Illimani, standing at 21,188ft (6,420m). The most pleasant way to explore the diminutive city centre is on foot; the alternative is to sit on a crowded bus in congested traffic. Expect your sightseeing to leave you breathless. Steep, narrow streets lead into an assortment of little alleyways while well-used staircases wind their way up between crooked houses and colourful hotels.

More than a million people live in La Paz, adding colour, culture and vibrancy to the otherwise dusty barrenness of a high altitude city. The most rewarding (and least exhausting) activity is to people-watch. Andean women dress in brightly coloured, multi-layered skirts and thick knee-length stockings with bowler hats perched jauntily over long, plaited strands of hair. There are also smartly dressed businessmen and scruffy street urchins wrapped in woven blankets, shoe shiners and fruit sellers, trinket vendors and alpaca wool weavers.

The city also has some interesting museums, modern and comfortable hotels and is an excellent place to purchase authentic local souvenirs. Beautiful hand-spun alpaca wool products, paintings, silver handcrafted jewellery, music and musical instruments are just some of the many things on offer.

UNESCO declared this a World Heritage Site because of its rich history and Spanish architecture. Potosi is known as the Imperial City and is situated at the foot of Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) famed for its mineral wealth. The Spanish created one of the most important and populous cities on the continent, after the discovery of the silver-rich mountain in 1545. Situated at an altitude of more than 13,123ft (4,000m), it is also the highest city in the world although not quite the thriving metropolis that it once was, though there is still a Spanish saying: valer un Potosi(to be worth a Potosi), meaning to be worth a fortune.

The architecture is its main attraction with a distinct Spanish influence evident in the houses and beautiful churches. There are an astounding 80 colonial churches in the city filled with art and artefacts from their history, notably the Convent of San Francisco and the Convent of Santa Teresa.

A visit to the city would be amiss without a trip to the mines of Cerro Rico where miners, working in appalling conditions, chip away at the rock walls in the hope of riches to come.

The constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre encompasses a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its historic city and is known as the City with Four Names due to a few name changes over its lifespan. Eventually Sucre was named after the man who fought for its independence from the Spanish conquistadores alongside the country's liberator Simón Bolivar in 1825, Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre. The picturesque city of Sucre is also known as a university city as it boasts one of the oldest seats of learning in the Americas, San Francisco Xavier University, which was founded in 1625. For the many young people and students who live here, there are great bars, restaurants, museums, shopping and nightlife opportunities to choose from - a positive draw card for tourism in the city. The small city is easy to get around and travellers will enjoy taking in the sites on foot, particularly the unique architecture of the old white colonial buildings with their red-tiled roofs and characteristic balconies which capture the essence of the Spanish-ruled era in Bolivia. Visit the Casa de la Libertad on the main plaza, where the declaration of independence was signed by Simón Bolivar on 6 August 1825, marvel at the Renaissance, Baroque and 'Mestizo Baroque' architecture of La Catedral, or simply stroll around town exploring the nooks and crannies and taking pictures of beautiful buildings.

Regarded as the highest navigable lake at 12,580ft (3,825m), Lake Titicaca covers 3,861 square miles (10,000 sq km) and is shared by Bolivia and Peru. It has clear water, numerous islands and most importantly a place in Inca history. The Indian people who live in settlements around the lake hold it, and its two islands, Islas del Sol (Island of the Sun) and Islas de la Luna (Island of the Moon), in high regard for they are the mythical sites of the creation of the Inca people. According to legend, the Sun God sent his son and daughter to earth to improve the way of life of the Andean people, and so they descended onto Islas del Sol and founded the Inca Empire. The main town in the area and base for exploring the islands, is Copacabana. Boats depart everyday to the islands from where there are stunning views across the lake to the snow-capped peaks of the Andean range, higher than 19,685ft (6,000m). The islands themselves are incredibly picturesque and the friendly local people have retained their traditional cultures and way of life. Fishermen sail by on handmade reed boats, llamas and alpacas are herded along the mountain paths to villages scattered on the hillsides. Of interest are a few Inca ruins, among them the Sun Temple and the Chincana complex on Islas del Sol, and Inca stairways. To spend a night on Islas del Sol in one of the pretty guesthouses, experiencing local hospitality, good food and a breathtaking sunset, is one of the highlights Lake Titicaca has to offer.

Commonly known as Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia was founded in 1560 by Spanish conquistador Ñuflo de Chávez. In contrast to many cities in Bolivia, Santa Cruz is a mere 1,365 feet (416m) above sea level and enjoys a tropical environment that makes it an ideal break from the often harsh conditions of the Andes. Many travellers visit Santa Cruz only as a transit destination, as flights to Bolivia have an easier time landing there than navigating the mountains around La Paz. Santa Cruz is a fascinating travel destination in its own right, however.

A traditionally wealthy city through railroads and oil refining, downtown Santa Cruz is a pretty area with many shops, restaurants and museums. Strolling through town is a great way to take in the beautiful colonial architecture, evident in the numerous cathedrals; and both locals and tourists take advantage of the idyllic climate to gather in the Plaza 24 de Septiembre to play chess, feed the pigeons, or sip a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe.

The city is known as the fashion capital of Bolivia, and locally-made clothing is a popular Santa Cruz souvenir. Its cosmopolitan ambience extends to art galleries, museums, discos and restaurants, which offer the widest selection in Bolivia.

The convenience and comfort of Santa Cruz makes it an ideal base to explore some of the most popular attractions in Bolivia, including Park Amboro, and the historical Jesuit missions. There are also daily flights to La Paz, or (decidedly less comfortable) buses available.