Bolivia is mostly safe for visitors, as long as you take standard care against petty crime, like pickpocketing in busy places. Serious attacks against travellers are not very common, but road conditions and political rallies can sometimes mess with plans. Most trips go smoothly. Still, it is smart to stay on guard in big transport…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving at the Tiwanaku Archaeological Site Stepping out of your transport at the Tiwanaku Archaeological Site, the absolute lack of shelter is the first thing you notice. You are standing on a vast, flat expanse of the high Andean plateau. There are no trees to break…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving in Santa Cruz de la Sierra Stepping out of Viru Viru International Airport, the humidity hits you like a wet towel. If you are arriving from the freezing, oxygen-starved heights of La Paz or Cusco, the heavy, tropical air of Santa Cruz de la Sierra…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving at Lake Titicaca Stepping off a bus in Puno, Peru, the first thing that hits you is the sheer lack of oxygen. At over 3,800 metres, the air is aggressively thin. Walking a single block with a backpack feels like you have just run a…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving at Laguna Colorada When you finally pull up to Laguna Colorada, the first thing that hits you is not the view. It is the wind. It tears across the open plains of the Bolivian Altiplano, carrying a harsh mix of salt, sulphur, and freezing dust….
Table of Contents Quick Info Box Arrival: The Reality of the Starting Line You do not ease into Death Road mountain biking. You start at La Cumbre pass at a lung-crushing 4,700 metres (15,400 feet) above sea level. The air is freezing, thin, and often cuts right through your layers. You are handed a full-face…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box Introduction: The White Desert Stepping onto Salar de Uyuni feels like walking on another planet. The ground beneath your boots consists of interlocking hexagonal crusts of pure salt. It crunches loudly with every step. During the dry season, the horizon stretches endlessly, blending the stark white ground into the…