Where to go in Bolivia
The Uyuni Salt Flats, La Paz also called Salar de Uyuni in Spanish are located in Southern Bolivia near the country's Tunupa volcano and make up the world's largest salt desert, around 11,000 km sq. The Salar de Uyuni was formed by the disappearance of an inland ocean that covered most of the Altiplano and extended all the way to the Titicaca Lake. This body of water disappeared about 13,000 years ago.
The National Park Madidi, La Paz is located to the Northeast of La Paz in the Franz Tamayo, Abel Iturralde and Larecaja Provinces. The park borders to the West with Peru. It has a surface of 1.895.750 hectares (18,957 km2). The climate is cold at the mountain range area, warm at the mountainous intermediate lands and hot at the north lands. The altitude varies between 6,000 and 200 meters above the sea level.
Titicaca Lake, La Paz is located in the Department of La Paz, at three hours by bus from the capital city of the same name. It is 283 meters deep and has a total extension of 176 Km. in length by 70 Km. in width.
The Titicaca Lake is the highest-navigable lake in the world. It has an average height of 3,810 meters above the sea level. A portion of the lake belongs to Bolivia and the other one to Peru. It is divided into two major basins, named "Lago Mayor del Titicaca" (Major Lake of the Titicaca) and "Lago Menor del Titicaca" (Minor Lake of the Titicaca).
The National Park Sajama is located to the Northwest of the Oruro Department in the Sajama Province. The municipalities involved are Turk and Curahuara de Carangas. The park has a surface of 100,230 hectares (1,002 km2). The Area occupies the region of the Western or Volcanic mountain Range, characterized for its extensive altiplano (high plain), altoandinas lagoons, and imposing volcanic cones as the Payachatas and the snowcovered Sajama Mountain which is the highest peak in Bolivia.
Oruro Carnival is held as a sign of devotion to the "Virgen de la Candelaria" (Virgin of the Candle Mass) or Virgin from "Socavon" (Entrance of the mines). This is one of the largest cultural events and festivities of greatest importance in Bolivia and Latin America.During this celebration Oruro is flooded with color. For three days and three nights there is a parade of fifty different groups of dancers, each one representing different types of dances and with very different types of outfits. This massive amount of people is accompanied by 4 or 5 marching bands that play continuously for hours at a time.