While Bolivia is world-renowned for the iconic Salar de Uyuni and the vibrant streets of La Paz, the country holds a treasure trove of hidden gems for the intrepid traveler. If you are looking to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in authentic local culture, there is a vast, diverse landscape waiting to be explored far beyond the typical tourist trail.
From the rugged canyons of Tupiza to the secret vineyards of Tarija and the tranquil, untouched shores of Lake Titicaca, this guide highlights the best non-touristic activities in Bolivia. Discover how to experience the true heart of this South American nation through unique trekking, historical exploration, and remote jungle adventures.
Horse riding in Tupiza
A quaint little town nestled in a dry desert of Bolivia´s expansive highlands, Tupiza is probably best known as an alternative starting point for Salar de Uyuni tours. As the final resting place of Butch Cassidy, the surrounding desert scenery is totally worth spending a few days to explore the area as they did in the good old days, on horseback. Horse riding tours last several hours and explore the area’s spectacular canyons, valleys and rivers. Get your inner cowboy ready for this unique horse-riding adventure! Yeeha!
Wine tasting in Tarija
Few travellers make it to this sunny Mediterranean-like town in the south of the country which feels more like Argentina than Bolivia. With a countryside, relaxed pace of life, a permanently warm climate and some large tree-lined plazas with amazing restaurants and cafés, it’s the perfect place to escape the tourist crowd. Better still, Tarija is home to Bolivia’s surprisingly secret wine production, so book yourself a wine-tasting tour and check out the best vineyards that the country has on offer.
Hike Lake Titicaca in solitude
Enjoy the tranquil waters of the massive Lake Titicaca without any tourists and head off the beaten track by traversing alongside the lake from Copacabana to the small fishing community of Yampupata. The hike takes five hours, give or take, and runs adjacent to the lake, ensuring ever present spectacular views of its waters. At the end of the road, instead of turning around and going back, pay a local fisherman to row you across to Yumani on Isla del Sol for the complete altiplano experience.
Trekking in Sorata
At a crossroads between La Paz, Lake Titicaca and the dramatic Cordillera Real, the small town of Sorata is a trekker’s hub that receives far less attention than it deserves. This charming little village has just enough tourist infrastructure for a pleasant stay before trekking off to explore nearby snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys. Hiring a guide on longer expeditions is highly recommended because it’s not uncommon to hike for days on end through picturesque scenery without coming across a single person!
Explore Jesuit churches in Chiquitana
Not many people make it to Bolivia’s eastern lowlands, and the Chiquitana region. A series of pristine little villages with stunning Jesuit churches form a delightful circuit that can be explored over a number of days. These UNESCO-protected church are the main attraction, although a warm climate, friendly locals and very few tourists just add to the adventure.
Follow in the footsteps of Che Guevara
Relive the final days of this controversial Argentinian revolutionary whose image has been imprinted on more T-shirts all over the world. Che Guevara was captured and killed in Bolivia and the exact location of his death and where he spent his final days Vallegrande and La Higuera is a region which also happens to be blessed with stunning natural scenery and very few visitors.
See some smaller national parks
Bolivia has plenty of amazing national parks, some of which are fairly well explored. Others, however, see very few visitors and are well and truly off the beaten track. Noel Kempff, for example, can sometimes only be visited by a private jet, while the town of Sajama sees just one local bus arrive per day.
Visit a remote jungle
Most travellers visiting Bolivia have heard about Rurrenabaque, Madidi National Park and the wildlife tours of the pampas. But there’s actually another fantastic lowland tropical tourism hub that gets far less attention. About halfway between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz lies the wonderfully authentic jungle town of Villa Tunari, a place that is much lesser visited than Rurrenabaque. With just a few tour agencies offering rafting trips and jungle treks, it’s a great way to experience the Bolivian jungle away from the gringo trail.
