Bolivia Unfiltered: Landscapes, Traditions and the Spirit of the Andes

There are countries that instantly captivate, and then there is Bolivia, a country that stuns. There are no half-tones here: the city streets of La Paz resemble the set of a futuristic film, the vastness of Salar de Uyuni seems like a scene from science fiction, and the depths of the Amazon are living pages of an adventure novel. Bolivia remains authentic, proud and unadapted to tourist clichés. In this guide, we will go on a journey through its contrasting landscapes and find out what breathes this country, hidden between the Andes and the Amazon jungle.

La Paz is the unofficial capital of Bolivia and one of the highest cities in the world. Here, cable cars replace buses, and the air is permeated with a mixture of colonial architecture, street chaos and Andean mysticism. Must-sees: the witches' market (Mercado de las Brujas), the historic center and panoramic views from Mirador Killi Killi.

The giant salt flat, stretching for 10,000 km², is the calling card of Bolivia. In the dry season, it turns into an endless desert of crystalline salt, and in the rainy season it is covered with a thin layer of water, turning into a giant mirror. It is worth staying overnight in a hotel built from salt blocks and visiting the island of Incahuasi, dotted with giant cacti.

In the southern part of the Bolivian Amazon, tourists will find the Rurrenabaque region, the starting point for the jungle. This is a land where you can see pink river dolphins, caimans and capybaras, fish for piranha and stay in eco-lodges in the middle of the wild forest.

Potosi was once the richest city in America thanks to its silver mines. Today, it retains traces of its former grandeur: monumental churches, colonial mansions and mines you can descend into to feel like a 16th-century miner.

Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and the center of ancient legends. According to legend, the Inca civilization was born here on the Island of the Sun. A walk along the terraced slopes of the island and an overnight stay in a local home allow you to feel the ancient spirit of these places.

Sucre, the constitutional capital of the country and the city where Bolivian independence became a reality, is a place for quiet strolls along cozy streets adorned with snow-white facades and orange tiled roofs.

Adrenaline junkies should take the famous Death Road, a 40-mile mountain road that was once one of the most dangerous in the world. Today, it is used by cyclists to get their adrenaline fix and enjoy the breathtaking views.

At 4,000 metres, lunch might be a hearty, thick dish of saisa (beef with peppers and potatoes), while in the Amazon jungle you might be treated to fried caiman. Bolivia's street markets are a foodie's paradise: try salteñas (the Bolivian version of pie) and chicha, a fermented corn drink.

Bolivia is a challenge to the ordinary. It amazes with its natural beauty, makes you think about the past and opens the door to the world of ancient traditions. This is a country where you should throw off the tourist filter and look at the world differently. Are you ready for a real adventure?