Bolivia
Latin America's hidden gem brimming with UNESCO World Heritage sites, Bolivia is a land-locked country that in many ways is decades behind its neighbors.
But this step back in time and slow pace of life gives many travelers a glimpse of the authentic Latin America. With indigenous communities still in the majority, the country still seems so traditionally pure and it is a simply wonderful destination for the culturally minded and the nature lover alike.
Santa Cruz and the Jesuit Missions
The semi-arid lowlands of South-eastern Bolivia are the unlikely location of six of the most fascinating Jesuit missionary settlements remaining today. Established in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, these UNESCO World Heritage Sites continue to be a living heritage within this former territory of the Chiquito Indians.
Each settlement has a unique church which was built blending Catholic architecture and local building traditions. But a second draw to this remote location is strong musical tradition that continues to grow, stemming from the classical music taught by the Jesuits to the locals as a form of 'musical conversion' over three hundred years ago.
Uyuni Salt Flats
If you really want to get away from it all we can take you to one of the most peculiar but beautiful places in Latin America. The Uyuni Salt Flats in Southwestern Bolivia are the largest in the world – a mere 25 times the size of the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA.
Formed around 40,000 years ago, the silent white flatness stretches as far as your eyes can see, dotted with cacti some of which are over 1,000 years old. It's a fascinating natural phenomenon, not least because of the colors that permeate the surroundings. Algae in the lakes changes their color from yellow, to green to red. It's a vision of natural beauty.
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