High up on the roof of the Americas, landlocked Bolivia has preserved more of its rich and varied indigenous heritage than any other South American country.

Brave the extreme altitude and you will be rewarded with the lilting sounds of ancient languages, haunting and beautiful melodies of pan pipes and the colourful tapestry of a fascinating mix of cultures, costumes and traditions.

The landscape of Bolivia is no less impressive. High Andean vistas of smoking volcanos and dazzling white salt flats where flamingos drink from crimson and green lakes, dropping dramatically down to a world of cloud forests, waterfalls and lush greenery encompassing vast parks and eco reserves that are, as yet, little discovered by the outside world.

Even without the rarified air Bolivia can take your breath away .

Much of Bolivian culture is infused with Inca, Aymara and Spanish influences.
Markets form an integral part of the Bolivians' daily life, be sure to visit the intriguing Witches Market in bustling, colourful La Paz.

From La Paz visit the mysterious ruins of Intipunku and the Sun Gateway of Tiwanaku, once the largest city in the World and considered to be "the Cradle of the American Civilizations".

Costume up and Dance with the Devil. Still relatively unspoilt by tourism, the Diablada carnival takes place each year in Oruro, the spectacle is well worth a side trip from La Paz.

Marvel at the colonial facades of Sucre, 'the white city', with its UNESCO-listed architecture and tranquil Central Square for strolling and chatting with the locals.

Bolivia is the perfect place for genuine adventure.
Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt pan. Visit in the wet season when it transforms into a gigantic mirror, merging land and sky and dissolving the horizon.

Beni is Bolivia's tropical, green paradise, with cattle ranches and gorgeous rivers. Look out for the pink river dolphins.

Take to the saddle and enjoy the spectacular Wild West scenery around Tupiza where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid made their last stand.

History buffs and revolutionaries can follow in the footsteps of Che and visit the place where he died by taking the Che Guevara Trail from Santa Cruz through the southeast lowlands of Bolivia to La Higuera.

Bikers with nerves of steel can hurtle down Death Road. El Camino de la Muerte in the Yungas is hacked out of the cliff face and plunges dramatically from 15 thousand feet, overarched by cascading waterfalls.

Get back to nature in the Amazon and stay at a jungle ecolodge, such as Chalalan, while higher up on the Andean slopes the Madidi rainforest reserve has some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see.

For Skiers with a head for heights, Bolivia has fabulous skiing and the world's highest ski resort Chacaltaya and Huayna Potosi, also Bolivia's most popular mountain climb.

When to go
The dry season is best for travel (from May to September) due to the better road conditions, generally sunny skies and warm temperatures during the day. Travel to most regions of Bolivia is certainly possible year round.

Getting there
There are no direct flights to La Paz from Europe. From London, all flights go via the US or other South American countries.

What to Buy
Bolivia offers a wealth of intriguing artisan goods including beautiful llama and alpaca-wool products, Indian handicrafts, woodcarvings and gold and silver costume jewellery.