Bolivians enjoy a plethora of religious and cultural festivals throughout the year, so no matter what month you plan on visiting the country, you are sure to find some exciting activities. For those of you who are traveling in September, here is our roundup of the country’s festivals:
Isla del Sol, the Island of the Sun, is the most famous island on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. With breathtaking views and over 80 ancient ruins, visitors might just find themselves believing, as the Incas did, that the island is sacred.
Although archaeologists know that the island has been continuously inhabited since at least 2200 B.C., most of the island’s ruins date back to the time of the Inca Empire. Some do date a little further back, to the time of the Tiwanaku Kingdom. The Inca believed the island to be the birthplace of their sun deity, and its Rock of the Puma was an important pilgrimage site for them.
Bolivian food is a vibrant fusion of Spanish and Aymara cuisine with some influence from the cultures of Italian, Arab, Russian, Pole, and German immigrants. The base of most meals won’t come as a surprise, as it’s the same as Bolivia’s stock products: corn, potatoes, rice, quinoa, and beans. You’ll find that meat and poultry is present in most meals, but used very sparingly, as a flavoring more than a large part of the meal itself.
Lunch is the most important meal of the day, which is why most businesses and shops close from 12 through 3pm.
Immerse yourself in the culture of Bolivia by admiring the ancient relics and the indigenous instruments, weapons and weavings of its past as well as the contemporary art of its modern life.
These our our favorite museums in La Paz.
The Bolivian Amazon is becoming steadily more popular, especially among budget travelers, as it offers the diversity of the Brazilian Amazon at a fraction of the price. Simply put, it’s a more affordable and less crowded way to see the Amazon.
