The Republic of Bolivia, though a land-locked country (no oceanic coastline), offers a multi-faceted landscape ranging from the western highlands of the Andes Mountains to the eastern lowlands, consisting of Amazonian rainforests. On the border of Peru lies beautiful Lake Titicaca (pictured below), while the world's largest salt-flats, Salar de Uyuni, are located in the southwestern corner of Bolivia. Although the country has an abundant wealth of natural resources, political unrest and corruption have resulted in Bolivia's reputation as being the economically poorest nation in all of South America.

Bolivia was named for Simon Bolivar, officially Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco, but best known during his time as El Libertador. In the early 1800's, Bolivar lead numerous independence movements throughout South America, known collectively as Bolivar's War. Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin are together known as prolific Liberators of Spanish South America.

Bolivia shares it's borders with 5 other Latin American nations. To the north and north east lies Brazil, Paraguay to the south east, Argentina to the south, Chile on the southwest and Peru in the west. Up until 1879, Bolivia maintained coastal territory on the Pacific Ocean, but the War of the Pacific saw this terrain undertaken by the control of Chile.

The Bolivian culture is based upon the Quechua and Aymara, along with various Latin American cultures. The country celebrates its heritage with a multitude of extravagant festivals, the largest of which is the "Carnaval de Oruro", proclaimed in May of 2001 by UNESCO as one of the first 19 "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

Bolivia's diverse landscape may be lacking the coastal beauty of many of its neighboring countries, but there is much more to behold in South America than beachfront property. Centered on the border of Peru and Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America by volume, and the world's highest elevated, commercially navigable lake, at 3,812 meters above sea level. Within the lake lies the island of Isla del Sol, home of a historical legend and Incan temple.

The Altiplano Boliviano, found in the Andes Mountains in the western highlands. The Altiplano is the world's most extensive high plateau aside from Tibet, in Central Asia. Soaring 3,300 meters, the Altiplano covers territory in 5 South American countries (Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador), dominated by an array of large, active volcanoes. This Altiplano is said the be responsible for the lack of rain in the Atacama Desert to the west, in northern Chile - the world's driest region, 100 times more arid than that of Death Valley in California, USA - an extreme contrast from the Amazon rainforests to the east.

In southwest Bolivia lies the world's largest salt-flats, Salar de Uyuni, formed over 40,000 years ago when prehistoric Lake Minchin dried up, leaving a vast expanse of salt-flats and two modern day lakes, Uru Uru Lake and Poopo Lake. The Salar de Coipasa salt-flats are smaller, but located in the same region. Salar de Uyuni is estimated to hold about 10 billion tons of salt, of which a mere 25,000 tons is extracted annually. This enormous salt-flat is approximately 25 times the size of the United States' Bonneville Salt Flats.

With such diverse terrain, the climate in Bolivia can be quite different in one area than it may be just a short distance away. The administrative capital of Bolivia, La Paz, at about 3,000 meters above sea level, averages temperatures of 43.5°F in the coldest months of June and July, 51.8°F in the warmest month of November. In the far south Bolivia's Gran Chaco region of low-lying grasslands, the hottest temperatures in all of South America have been recorded, as high as 104°F. The average temperature, however, ranges from 82.5F in November to 72°F in June/July.

The rainy season is shorter in Bolivia than it's northern Latin American neighbors, lasting from October to March. The north-eastern regions receive on average 60 inches of rainfall each year, while La Paz averages only 22.6 inches. Experiencing frequent droughts in these semi-arid expanses of Bolivia, irrigation is commonly required for agricultural success.

Vacationing In Bolivia

Even without the coastal beauty of most South American countries, Bolivia has many natural wonders that are truly breathtaking. The sunset over the salt-flats, especially when covered by a thin layer of water, is as magnificent as any ocean-side sunset you may encounter. The myriad beauty of the Altiplano in northwestern Bolivia is unforgettable. The numerous lagoons found along the border of Bolivia and Chile (pictured above) are simply breathtaking. To top it all off, the price of a Bolivia vacation is much more reasonable than you might expect to find in a Latin American nation who relies primarily upon it's tourism industry.

For those interested in planning a Bolivia vacation, you will find Bolivia.Rica24 is the perfect starting point. We provide in-depth resources regarding every aspect of a Bolivia vacation. From travel agencies, accommodations, dining and tourist attractions to public and private transportation - anything you may need to know before and during your stay in the phenomenally diverse regions of Bolivia can be found right here.

Moving to Bolivia

Bolivia offers a host of opportunities, not just for real estate investors, but most notably for individuals who wish to retire in South America. Bolivia may not be the first country to come to mind, but upon reflection, retirees often realize that Bolivia is very close to the more sought after real estate - more expensive real estate - making it the ideal, cost effective solution for experiencing the coasts of Latin America without breaking, or even bending, your budget. If you've read about the awesome diversity in Bolivia's landscape above, you understand the splendid locations one may choose to live in. As more and more individuals are coming to realize the magnificence of Bolivia, investment properties are becoming more and more lucrative.

Bolivia.Rica24 provides Bolivia Real Estate listings, along with a complete Guide to Purchasing Real Estate in Bolivia, which includes in-depth descriptions of property rights and type, purchasing procedures and methods, taxes and fees and most importantly, how to protect your investment. You'll also find detailed materials describing how to buy a car, how to obtain a driver's license, a temporary or permanent residency visa, educational and employment opportunities - virtually everything you could possibly need to know before moving to Bolivia.

At Bolivia.Rica24, our number-one goal is to shepherd you towards, and assist in the completion, of a spectacular vacation or successful real estate acquisition in Bolivia. With a little help and expertise from Rica24, you can make your dreams a reality, whether they be investing your way to a wealthy future, or retiring in the lush natural wonders and diverse landscape of Bolivia.