Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor, indigenous majority. However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of the eastern lowlands.

La Paz - Seat of government.

Sagarnaga Street

Sagarnaga Street, just south of Plaza San Francisco, is La Paz' main tourist strip. It's mainly a market street with artesano and souvenir stores, but you'll also find budget hostels, tour and travel agencies, cafes, and lots and lots of backpackers. Don't be suckered by the roving sellers of "trilobite-in-a-rock".

The Witches' Market

The Witches' Market (Mercado de Hechiceria or Mercado de las Brujas) is on Calle Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz. Vendors sell llama fetuses and dried frogs for Aymara rituals, as well as soapstone figurines and aphrodisiac formulas. This street is also the best place to pick up a charango or other Bolivian musical instrument.

The Mercado Negro

The Mercado Negro ("Black Market"), though not very clandestine, is quite comprehensive, selling clothing, household items, liquor, and other products in its many blocks.

Eloy Salmon

Eloy Salmon Shops on this street sell cheap electronics.

Calle Jaen

Calle Jaen is one of the few places in the city with preserved colonial buildings, currently housing several interesting museums.

Plaza Murillo

Plaza Murillo contains government buildings and the city cathedral.

The Valle de La Luna

Surreal, weathered rock. Just outside the city. Take a local bus to Massalla (Bs2.30) or a taxi (Bs 35) or join a tour. The entrance to the park is located next to the flags and costs Bs15.

The Thursday & Sunday Market in El Alto

A huge market held in El Alto every Thursday and Sunday with great bargains including vintage clothing, antiques, everyday goods, etc.

Museum San Francisco

Plaza San Francisco. This restored religious complex has housed some of Bolivia's most important historical moments, including the birth of the Independence Revolution of 1809. Also, one can climb the church tower to get a panoramic view of both the indigenous and Mestiza quarters. Displays are in Spanish and English along with personal guides.

Tiwanaku Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo)

Av. 16 de Julio 1698 (Prado). The permanent collection upstairs (Bs10 admission) contain many works by renowned Aymara painter Mamani Mamani. The downstairs gallery containing work by students and up-and-comers is free.

Coca Museum

Calle Linares 906. Mon-Sun 10:00-19:00. A favorite of foreign tourists, this small museum details the history and significance of the coca plant, including the effect of the U.S. War on Drugs. The displays are in Spanish, but booklets of complete translations in other languages are provided. According to the museum, crack cocaine is the greatest epidemic since the Plague in the Middle-Ages. And yes, there are free samples of coca leaf for visitors. 10 Bs.

Musical Instrument Museum (Museo de Instrumentos Musicales de Bolivia)

Calle Jaen 711. Displays a huge collection of sound-producing devices from Bolivia and beyond, some of which you can play yourself. The museum was founded by charango master and inventor Ernesto Cavour, and some of his creations on display (such as multi-bodied guitars) are downright bizarre.

Museum of Precious Metals (Museo de Metales Preciosos Precolombinos)

Calle Jaen 777. Pre-Columbian treasures in silver and gold.

Submerged Museum (Museo Subterraneo)

In front of the city stadium. Hardly deserving the name "museum", it's essentially a small outdoor plaza sunk into the ground with a huge replica Tiwanaku monolith in the middle of it. The original one used to be there, but it was moved back to Tiwanaku for preservation.

Bolivian Andean Textile Museum (Museo de Textiles Andinos Bolivianos)

 Plaza Benito Juarez 488. It exhibits a large variety of textiles and weavings from all the bolivian andean communities. It's a must-see for weaving lovers. It also displays several garments, like ponchos, from all these regions. The museum also includes a shop (90% of your purchase belongs to the artists) and it is located at lovely house in Miraflores.

Parque Laikacota

At the top of Av. Ejercito west of the city center. The best panorama from within the bowl, with clear views of the city and the rugged terrain to the east, all the way to Mt. Illimani. Admission is Bs 3.5.

Mirador Monticulo

Next to Plaza España. This small park (free entry) has a church and lots of trees which block much of the city, but the clear view of Illimani makes it an evening hotspot for couples.

In the heart of downtown, Av. Camacho points straight to Illimani, and from the intersection with the Prado it's framed by skyscrapers in an interesting juxtaposition.

Sucre - Legal capital and seat of judiciary.

Cal Orkco

Cal Orkco is a collection of dinosaur footprints impressioned on a 70 degree wall of a cement quarry, which used to be a lake floor. To visit it take the Dino Truck at 9:30AM, 12:00AM or 2:30PM from the corner of Plaza 25 de Mayo. The guided visit takes about 2 hours and cost 30 Bs.

Casa de la Libertad, Aniceto Arce (Central Plaza)

This museum is housed in a well restored and maintained convent from the colonial era. The chapel was the meeting hall where Bolivian independence was declared on 25 May 1825. The museum includes a number of paintings and objects related to Bolivian history, especially to the independence movement and the struggles breaking away from Spanish domination. 15 Bs, +10 Bs for camera.

Museo Textil Etnografico ASUR

Regional textiles, some works for sale. 16 Bs.

Santa Cruz - The second-largest and most affluent city.

In Santa Cruz you can book some great excursions, like a trekking in Park Amboro, Noel Kempff, a river boat trip in the Amazon region, cultural excursions to the Jesuit Missions etc.

A good and reliable tour agency is Dutch owned Ruta Verde. They are located 3 blocks from the plaza, Calle 21 de Mayo 332. Also we Recomonded www.explorepantanal.com make tours in Pantanal of Brasil and Bolivia.

Santa Cruz hosts one of the most famous soccer academy in the world. "Academia de Futbol Tahuichi Aguilera". Their unique and original way of training young soccer players to become professionals in the future. They train in rivers and ran through mountains of sand. Young players from all over the world come to this academy to experience its training method.

Cochabamba - The country's third-largest city, with a pleasant climate and the best food.

Cristo de la Concordia

The statue is just a bit higher than the one in Rio de Janeiro, -great view of the city. Walk Calle Colombia until its eastern end, then a swift right: This park/playground is where the cable car goes from, 3 Bs each way. You can also walk, but stay in a group, as rumours has it robbers attack. Finally, taxi is always an option.

Simón I. Patiño Cultural Center

Museum of Natural History

Calle Potosi, Recoleta (Next door to Palacio Portales). 

Potosí - Once one of the wealthiest cities in the world due to its silver mines.

Casa Nacional de Moneda

Cl. Ayacocha s/n, is de former royal mint, but now houses one of the better museums in South America. A visit is by guided tour (English and French if there is enough demand) which takes about 2~3 hours. The museum has a collection of religous art, contempary art,and artifacts from it's time as mint. Entrance is Bs. 20 for foreigners and Bs. 10 for Bolivians.

Convento de Santa Teresa

Calle Chichas (Bottom end of Calle Ayacucho). Tours (in Spanish only) give a good explanation of the life and work of the Carmelite nuns and their monastry. Very little flagellation (LP). Bs 21.

Compañia de Jesus, Calle Ayaucho (Half a block from the square)

Nice views of the surroundings from above. A guide will explain. 10 Bs.

Oruro - Famous for its carnival

A walk up on the hills surrounding the town is an easy and nice excursion offering decent views. Bring ice cream and water.

One of the best sight views is the Faro del Conchupata.

You can also visit el Cerrato, also know as El Corazón de Jesús.

Near the zoo, in the south part of the city, there is a museum of ethnography and folklore. There you can see, how the ancient locals, the Chipayas, used to live. Also you can see an invaluable collection of carnival outfits, including masks.

At 45 minutes from the center ville, there is a little town called Cala-Cala. There you can visit the Señor de Lagunas temple, some stone based prehistoric art.

Tupiza - A small town in Bolivia close to the border with Argentina.

Valle Hermoso

Valle Hermoso (Avenida Pedro Arraya nº478), offers excellent 4 days Salar de Uyuni jeep tours and horseback riding trips.

Tupiza Tours

Tupiza Tours, (at Hotel Mitru), offers horseriding trips and 4-day Salar de Uyuni tours.

Quime - Hidden valley town surrounded by high mountains, between La Paz & Cochabamba

The name Quime comes from the Quechua word for "Place to Rest" and was a tradional stopping point for mules carrying coca and gold out, and food supplies in. One old resident remembers his grandfather bringing a gran piano in pieces via mule train. For the past 100 years it has been a commercial center for the numerous tin, zinc, wolfram, silver and gold mines which often cling to sheer cliffs.

The views, some over about 50 miles of Andean mountains and valleys, are spectacular from the upper edge of town or the surrounding mountainsides. Nearby are Elfin Cloud Forests laden with mosses, lichens, ferns and bromeliads. A number of rare birds inhabit the area, including the endemic Rufous-breasted Grosbeak. The reclusive and endangered Spectacled Bear lives in a refuge nearby but is seldom seen. Ornathologists and botanists continue to discover new species in the area.