Andes and Altiplano
The Andes Cordillera in Bolivia is divided into two large parts: the Western Cordillera and the Eastern Cordillera with the Altiplano plateau in its center. This region, located at more than 3 500 meters of altitude, constitutes the postcard of the country with its high peaks, its volcanoes, the Salar of Uyuni, the lake Titicaca, and the llamas..
CordilleraOccidental. Of volcanic origin, it extends over 2,200 km from Peru to the north of Chile, and over 620 km to the west of Bolivia. These mountains are sparsely populated because of a rather harsh and windy climate and an almost non-existent vegetation. It is the territory of alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas that roam between volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. It is in the Sajama National Park, on the Chilean border in the west of the territory, that the highest point of the country is located, the Nevado Sajama (6 542 m). It faces the Nevados de Payachatas, a chain of two dormant volcanoes very popular with Andinists: the majestic Parinacota (6 348 m) and the Pomerape (6 222 m). To the south of the mountain range, which also marks the southern border of the country, is the beautiful desert region of South Lípez, whose highest peak is the Licancabur volcano (5,980 m).
Altiplano. A visit to this region is often the highlight of a trip to Bolivia for travelers. With a length of 1,500 km, this high plateau, located between the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental, was once a basin that has filled with sediments over the centuries.
To the north of the Altiplano are La Paz and Lake Titicaca, considered the highest navigable lake in the world (3,812 m). The sacred lake, which straddles Peru and Bolivia, is also the largest volume of fresh water in South America and covers an area of 8,562 km² (almost half of which is on the Bolivian side). The largest island of the lake is Isla del Sol with more than 14 km² of surface, located in front of Copacabana in Bolivia.
The lakes present in the past have become salt deserts, and today tourists flock to visit the salars of Uyuni (at 3,658 m altitude) and Coipasa (3,657 m). The salar of Uyuni, with its 10,582 km², is the largest and most accessible. It constitutes an important reserve of minerals, a real economic stake for the country and for various multinationals. It would contain more than 5 million tons of lithium! Between January and March, the rainfall is important on the salar of Uyuni, and the thin layer of water which covers it forms a gigantic water mirror and the photographers of the whole world flock to immortalize this fascinating spectacle.
The region of the South-Lípez occupies the south of the Altiplano. It is an arid region and very little inhabited, but which reserves surrealist landscapes! A stay in Bolivia would be incomplete without a visit of the South-Lípez. It is here, in the natural reserve Eduardo Avaroa, that we find the most spectacular lagoons of the country, surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. The two most visited being the Laguna Colorada and the Laguna Verde. The bright colors of these lagoons are due to the strong presence of minerals, algae and plankton.
CordilleraOriental. This chain, older than the Cordillera Occidental, arrives in the country near Lake Titicaca and ends in the south of the country, on the border with Argentina. Its highest peaks are covered by glaciers and eternal snow.
The Apolobamba mountain range, the northernmost part, extends from Bolivia to Peru. It establishes the border between the Andes and the Amazon. Its highest points are the Chaupi Orco (6,044 m) and the Cololo (5,915 m). It is in this mountain range that live the Kallawayas, the people of healers with ancestral medicinal knowledge. This area, classified as a natural reserve by the government, is home to many Andean animals: alpacas, vicuñas, llamas, but also minks, condors, pumas..
The Cordillera Royale is the central part of the Cordillera Oriental in Bolivia. The north of the Royal Mountain Range is limited by the sacred mountain which watches over La Paz from the top of its 6 438 m: the Nevado Illimani. Several peaks of the cordillera exceed 6,000 m: the Ancohuma (6,427 m), the Illampu (6,368 m), or the Huayna Potosi (6,088 m), which is only 25 km from La Paz. The former ski resort of Cerro Chacaltaya (5,395 m), also near La Paz, is part of this mountain range.
The Quimsa Cruz mountain range, "the three crosses", is located southeast of Lake Titicaca and its highest points are the Jacha Collo (5,800 m), and the Huayna Khunu Qullu (5,640 m). It is a mainly granitic formation, with peaks and cliffs that make the happiness of climbing enthusiasts.
The Cordillera de Potosi, further south, includes the famous Cerro Rico (4,782 m), the mountain that held the largest silver reserve in history and that made the Spanish crown rich (and the indigenous populations unhappy).
Central valleys and Yungas
These sub-Andean valleys make the transition between the Andes and the Amazonian forest.
Yungas. Located on the side of the Andes and only a few hours away from La Paz, the Yungas are a region of tropical and subtropical rainforest that extends from 400 to 3,500 meters in altitude. The main town in this region is Coroico. Rainfall is abundant and the land is very fertile. Oranges and coffee are cultivated and then exported to La Paz, but the most important culture remains that of coca, whose leaves are intended to be chewed or infused (not to produce cocaine!). The Yungas are popular with travelers because they are home to one of the most popular sites for adventurers: the carretera de la muerte, the famous "road of death" that links La Paz to the Yungas. Several agencies propose to go down this 3 500 meters difference in height by bike, on the small road along vertiginous ravines! An alternative route, much safer, on the other side of the valley, was inaugurated in 2006. These "hot valleys", the meaning of Yungas in Aymara, offer breathtaking landscapes, between cliffs and luxuriant vegetation.
Central valleys. The eastern slope of the mountain range, in the continuity of the Yungas, then descends to form hills and temperate valleys at an altitude of between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. They are crossed by rivers coming from the cordillera which make the soils fertile and favor agriculture. The temperatures are less extreme than in the Altiplano. The first valley is that of Chapare, which follows the river of the same name and whose main city is Cochabamba. Then there is the valley of Sucre, the white city, and to the south, that of Tarija. The climate of these three cities is mild, pleasant, and relatively similar to the Mediterranean climate.
Eastern Plains
The eastern region of the country, logically called El Oriente, represents almost 60% of the national territory and is home to almost half of the country's population. Three large departments make up this region: Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando. With an altitude of less than 400 meters, these lowlands can be divided into three zones: the Amazon, the Chiquitania plains and the Gran Chaco plains.
Amazonia. Beni and Pando constitute the Amazon part of the country. These two departments are difficult to access, the road infrastructure is poorly developed, the vegetation is dense, and frequent flooding makes travel hazardous. Numerous rivers allow navigation and the three most important rivers are the Mamoré, the Beni and the Iténez, all of which end their course by flowing into the Amazon River. This region is the kingdom of a luxuriant flora and an abundant fauna: birds, caimans, snakes, monkeys, dolphins, capybaras... Coffee and cocoa are cultivated on these fertile lands, but the economic activity has strongly decreased since the end of the rubber exploitation.
Plains of Chiquitania. To the east of the department of Santa Cruz, these arid plains owe their name to their inhabitants, the Chiquitos. Nowadays, there are less than 200,000 Chiquitos, who live mainly in the towns around the old Jesuit missions. To the east of the Gran Chiquitania is the Pantanal. This natural ecosystem composed of flooded plains, lakes, and rivers covers nearly 32,000 km² of territory. The Bolivian Pantanal, thanks to its great biodiversity, helps regulate the department's climate. In addition to the most populated city of the country and economic capital, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the department also shelters splendid national parks, in particular that of Noel Kempff Mercado, alas rather difficult of access. To the west of Santa Cruz de la Sierra are the cruceña valleys, whose vegetation, relief and climate are somewhat reminiscent of Mexico. The main attractions are the beautiful Amboró National Park and the village of Samaipata, with its mysterious ancient fort .
Gran Chaco. This large region is shared by Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and a small part of Brazil. Bolivia lost a large part of this region to Paraguay during the Chaco war in the 1930s. Sparsely populated, it is a rather dry region with a hot climate in summer and cold in winter, when the surazos, these winds coming from Patagonia, blow. The vegetation is diverse with hardwood forests and semi-arid plains. The rainy season lasts about three months and floods the plains. The main towns are Yacuiba, Camiri and Villamontes. Most of the rural population is made up of cattle breeders ( ganaderos), and farmers.
