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BOLIVIA
This page houses images from our (Sarah and David's) trip to Bolivia. Organized by geographic area, six photo collections can be navigated via the menu immediately below or by simply scrolling the page. Click on a photo series to scroll through the selected collection.
La Paz
LA PAZ
Visiting Bolivia's de-facto capital city is an experience in sensory overload. Adjacent to La Paz is El Alto - a sprawling maze of humanity located on the 13,600 ft altiplano highlands surrounding the city. As can be seen in some of the photos, thousands live in houses perched precariously on the steep dirt hillsides which separate central La Paz and El Alto. While in La Paz we visited Andy and Andrea Baker - two friends that David met in Bolivia 16 years ago - who stayed in Bolivia to work with the country's most vulnerable and marginalized people. One of their projects has been to start Sutisana - a company aimed at providing 'dignified employment and a new life for women attempting to leave prostitution in El Alto.' Please visit http://sutisana.com/about/ for more info (and maybe pick up a beautiful handmade Bolivian bag).
 La Paz, Bolivia |  visually chaotic La Paz |  artisan bags in the tourist district |
|---|---|---|
 La Paz buildings |  soccer match in the Zona SurSarah and I joined Andy to watch his oldest son play a fútbol game. |  Andrea and Andy BakerAndrea and Andy have lived in Bolivia for over 15 years working to improve the lives of some of the country's most marginalized people. |
 La Paz from Andy and Andrea's house |  SEES in La Paz |  La Paz at night |
Lake Titicaca
LAKE TITICACA
Lake Titicaca, situated at 12,500 ft and straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, is one of South America's largest lakes and the world’s highest navigable body of water. We stayed at a creative hostel in the town of Copacabana (Hostal Las Olas), and explored the Incan archaeological sites of Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) and Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon).
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SAMAIPATA
Samaipata
Samaipata is a small tourist village seemingly occupied by as many foreigners as Bolivians (replete with an established neo-hippy population) in the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental, just outside of Bolivia's Amboro National Park. While there we went on a guided hike in the Park, and visited the "Las Cuevas" waterfalls, "El Fuerte" ruins, and a refugio zoologico (wildlife refuge).
 SEES in Santa Cruz coffee shop |  SEES takes a Samaipata mototaxi |  Museo Arqueologico de Samaipata |  mind-boggling "El Fuerte" ruins |  SEES and "El Fuerte" ruins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 "Las Cuevas" waterfall |  SEES and "Las Cuevas" waterfall |  "Las Cuevas" vista |  Amboro National Park |  DPC and our Amboro Nat'l Park guide |
 Amboro National Park |  Amboro National Park |  swimming hole in Amboro Nat'l Park |  Amboro National Park hike |  SEES and a peccary at the "Refugio" |
 the Samaipata "Refugio" |  the Samaipata "Refugio" |  the Samaipata "Refugio" |  the Samaipata "Refugio" |  the Samaipata "Refugio" |
Sucre
SUCRE
Sucre is Bolivia's official capital city and the site of Bolivia's proclamation of independence. It is often referred to as Bolivia's most beautiful city, characterized by white colonial-style architecture. It was a great place to learn about Bolivia's amazing indigenous textile artwork.
Sucre, Bolivia
"the union is the strength"
central plaza, Sucre
Sucre, Bolivia
artisan weaver
artisan textile weaving
SEES in Sucre
DPC in Sucre
"for the unity Latin America"
Central Highlands
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
On a bus ride from Sucre to Uyuni we passed through the dramatic landscapes that make up Bolivia's central highlands. High in elevation and dry throughout much of the year, these areas are inhabited by hearty campesinos, domesticated llamas, and wild vicuñas. Photos are shown below in a full-format slide show; keep scrolling for southwest altiplano photos.
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Southwest Altiplano
SOUTHWEST ALTIPLANO
The southwest Altiplano is a stark and dramatic landscape ranging in elevation from 12,000 to 16,000 ft (and with volcanoes that reach around 20,000 ft). Much of it is desert characterized by displays of bright and contrasting colors - the result of mineral concentrations such as copper, lithium, sulfur, and borax. This was the last leg of our visit, where we took a three-day tour that included the famous Salar de Uyuni, Reserva de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, and high desert landscapes. There are many photos here because the area is absolutely stunning.
 the "train cemetery" of Uyuni |  at the train cemetery |  touring on the Salar de Uyuni |  Salar de Uyuni |  Salar de Uyuni |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Salar de Uyuni |  Salar de Uyuni |  SEES on the Salar |  DPC on the Salar |  Salar de Uyuni |
 Isla Incahuasi |  SEES at Isla Incahuasi |  Isla Incahuasi |  Isla Incahuasi |  Isla Incahuasi |
 train tracks crossing the altiplano |  train tracks crossing the altiplano |  high altiplano landscape |  SEES on the altiplano |  altiplano volcano |
 SEES, the Land Cruiser, and volcano |  sublimating snow at Árbol de Piedra |  Árbol de Piedra (tree of stone) |  Laguna Hedionda |  flamingos at Laguna Hedionda |
 Andino flamingo |  SEES at Laguna Hediona |  Laguna Colorada |  montañas de siete colores |  montañas de siete colores |
 moon rise over Laguna Colorada |  moon rise over Laguna Colorada |  Laguna Colorada |  flamingos on Laguna Colorada |  morning on the altiplano desert |
 sol de mañana geisers (geysers) |  shadow on the sol de mañana geisers |  Salvador Dalí desert |  Laguna Verde |  Borax mining on the altiplano |
 SEES on the southern Bolivian desert |  campesino dwellings |  looking north towards Uyuni |  altiplano llamas |  altiplano llamas |
 the sky over high Bolivia desert |  another amazing Bolivian landscape |  high volcano in the Avaroa Reserve |
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