From the smoky, sprawling mass that is La Paz to the truly remarkable salt plains of Uyuni, Bolivia will make sure you work hard on your travels.

This is a country filled with classic South American ruins, vastly differing landscapes and more than 30 different ethnic and indigenous groups.

In recent times Bolivia has staked a firm spot on the international tourist radar, gaining on rival destinations Peru and Brazil as travelers hunt for more exotic and challenging journeys.

From the moment you arrive in Bolivia you will know you are somewhere very different. Sitting at more than 3000 metres above sea level, altitude sickness is a common experience for travelers.

As you make your way through the country your body will eventually become acclimatised to the reduced oxygen, but it can be difficult at first.

La Paz is worth a brief look, but you will probably want to spend most of your time checking out the historical delights of Potosi, dinosaur tracks in Torotoro and of course the hypnotic Salar de Uyuni salt flats.

La Paz

Only a few minutes in this city and you will realise it is one out of the box. Undeniably poor, with dirty street markets merging into quasi-food chains and failing infrastructure throughout, entering La Paz by road is particularly amazing.

If you are lucky enough to enter via the high road that encircles the city, you will be able to look down on an incomparable sea of red-roofed houses.

The locals are friendly enough and, best of all, you won’t have difficulty finding cheap accommodation as you plot trips out to the most exciting pockets of the country.

Salar de Uyuni

Some travelers come to Bolivia solely to explore the world’s largest salt flats, which occupy the southwestern corner of the country and represent a remarkable spectacle.

With white minerals spreading as far as the eye can see, salt formations protrude in fantastic configurations and the vast desert landscape makes you feel incredibly small.

The area was part of the giant and historic Lake Minchin about 40,000 years ago and when the lake dried it left behind two massive salt deserts, Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa.

Potosi

The highest city in the world stands at 4090 metres above sea level and is watched over by Cerro Ricco (“rich mountain”) – an emblem that is rumoured to be “made of silver ore”.

Founded in 1545, Potosi became the most wealthy city in the Americas during the following boom years thanks to its unmatched reserves of silver ore.

In fact in Spanish the phrase valer un potosi – to be worth a potosi – means “to be worth a fortune”.

The history here is also heavily tied to slavery, with an estimated 30,000 African slaves brought over to mine in abysmal conditions.

The same terrible mining conditions persist for the greatly diminished modern mining force.

Exploring the buildings and grandeur left by the colonial heavyweights is, however, a delight, and the mind flitters to an age of decadence as you walk through a city filled with poor people but dotted with gilt-edged gems.