Bird Watching Holidays in Bolivia: Dream Trips for Birders

If you're an avid bird watcher looking for your next intrepid adventure, why not consider Bolivia? Famous for its prolific birdlife, Bolivia offers plenty of opportunities to spot many of the 850 species that reside here. Its diverse geography and range of ecosystems provide the perfect habitats for the different species.

A trip to Bolivia makes for a fascinating and memorable experience but, before you book, make sure you do some research on the bird watching holidays on offer. You should book with a company that offers small groups, a local tour leader, and a varied itinerary to ensure you get the most out of your once in a lifetime visit to this spectacular country.

Highlights of Bolivia

Most bird watching holidays to Bolivia include Amboro National Park on the itinerary, which, because of its incredible range of flora, is home to an astounding number of bird species, including Flycatchers, Tanagers, hummingbirds and Antbirds. This ecological hotspot covers half a million hectares and encompasses three main ecosystems: the Amazon basin, the northern Chaco and the Andes. The mountainous region towers above the extensive lowland areas and, consequently, both highland and lowland animal and plant species are found here.

Los Volcanes is home to several species that are endemic to the area. The Grey-checked Parakeet, Black-streaked Puffbird, Bolivian Recurvebill and the Yungas Manakin are among the many unusual inhabitants to be found in this reserve. It is thought that 170 different avian species live here, which is extremely high considering its habitat and elevation. Experts attribute the diversity to the fact that the forest includes both deciduous trees and evergreens. The well-mapped trail system makes for ideal access to all areas of the reserve for those on guided bird watching holidays.

Because Bolivia is home to the Andes, it has extensive areas of semi-deciduous woodlands in the foothills and other areas of shrub desert. These particular regions offer the perfect habitat for the Red-fronted Macaw, the Red-tailed Comet and the Yellow-billed Tit-tyrant, all sought after species for the avid bird watcher.

Bolivia also boasts the stunning cloud forest of Siberia, a unique ecosystem that is made up of north-south valleys sheltered by the Andes from the extreme Amazonian weather. Comarapa is an area of cloud forest in the Serrania de Siberia where the Rufus-faced Antpitta is often spotted, along with the Golden-headed Quetzal and the Pale-legged Warbler. In the transition zone, where the cloud forest meets the drier valleys, the Ringed Warbling Finches are a common sight.

Bird watching holidays to Bolivia are perfect for those with a long list of exotic birds on their wish list, and a trip to this stunning region of South America will certainly be one to remember.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for bird watching holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular regions on Earth.

Places of Interest on Your Holidays in Bolivia

Who would have guessed that one of the poorest countries in South America has the rich and exciting destination of the vastly differing Amazonian and Andean landscapes and the remnants of mysterious ancient civilization? This is the destination for people who are looking for untamed traditions and beliefs because 50% of the population maintains their traditional values and belief.

One of the popular attractions of Bolivia is the Lake Titicaca located in La Paz. The lake is regarded as the highest lake with a depth of 12, 580ft and which covers 3,861 square miles. This lake is attributed to its majestic roots. Around the lake there are two major islands, the Islas del Sol and Isla de la Luna, which are in high regard as they are the mythical sites of the creation of the Inca people.

According to legend, the Sun God sent his son and daughter to earth to improve the way of life of the Andean people, and so they descended unto Islas Del Sol and founded the Inca Empire. There are stunning views across the lake to the snow-capped peaks of the Andean range. The islands themselves are incredibly picturesque.

Tourists can see fishermen sail by on handmade reed boats. Present on the lake shore are the llamas and alpacas herded along the mountain paths to villages scattered on the hillsides. Along the way, there are a few Inca ruins, among them the Sun Temple and the Chincana complex on Isla Del Sol and the Inca stairways.

Another big attraction of Bolivia is the Rurrenabaque, the starting point for a trip to the Amazonian pampas and jungle. This is suitable for lovers of nature and wildlife. It is considered the loveliest of the Bolivian lowland villages. Tourists can have a ride on the dugout canoe as they cross the river in Rurrenabaque. The rainforest and pampas are abundant in wildlife. There are anacondas, capybaras, monkeys, turtles, macaws, caymans, piranhas, and the beautiful pink dolphins. There are also a plenty of birds life to be seen and heard.

For tourists looking for a photographer's delight, Salar de Uyuni must be the place to stay. It is the world's largest salt desert set in elevation of 11, 970 ft and filled with an estimated 10 billion tons of salt. It is considered as one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Bolivia. It is a superb landscape combining salt pans, wind-eroded rock formations, and wandering llamas in a completely unspoilt region. At the center lies the Isla de Pescadores, it is a landmass appearing as a mountain out of the white nothingness. In Sala de Uyumi, there are plenty of other marvellous sites such as the Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde. These lakes are homes to flamingos and are surrounded by extinct volcanoes. Also surrounding them are bubbling mud pools.

There is also Bolivia's famous museum, the Casa Real De Moneda. It was originally the Royal Mint House, where the colonial Spanish transformed the silver from the mines into coins. It is one of Bolivia's best museums that explain the history of silver production and its influence. Aside from silver coins, they also display restored presses and wooden minting machines, coins and coin stamps and religious art.

The other must see attraction is the Mercado de Brujas or the Withches Market. It is one of the most bizarre markets in the world. Merchandise sold here are fairly odd, things such as herbs and remedies used in any traditions to potions, charms, and dried llama foetuses. Available also are the Andean art and handicrafts.

The other must see attraction is the Mercado de Brujas or the Withches Market which you can visit if you rent one of the many holiday cottages. It is one of the most bizarre markets in the world. Merchandise sold here are fairly odd, things such as herbs and remedies used in any traditions to potions, charms, and dried llama foetuses. Available also are the Andean art and handicrafts which you can buy when you come here on self catering villa holidays [http://compareaway.co.uk/villa-holidays].

Bolivian Cuisine And Recipes From Bolivia

There is more than one cuisine in Bolivia because every region has its own favorite dishes. Food tends to be spicier in the west of the country, where you will find the arid Andes mountains and valleys, than in the lowlands of the east. Bolivian food is similar to Peruvian cuisine in some ways, since these countries share a border as well as similar topography.

There is a lot of variety of grains, vegetables, and fruits in the tropics, which are in the north and east of Bolivia, since this is the agricultural center of the country. Most of the cattle ranches are in the east. You can imagine how the differences between climate, topography, and altitude mean that the food eaten on one side of the country differs substantially from the food enjoyed on the other.

Bolivian Chicken Soup

This recipe is for chicken soup, which is known in Bolivia as "chanko de pollo." You can see from the ingredients list how simple this soup is but the flavor is really good.

This is a very nutritious recipe and you can make it as thin or as thick as you like. If the soup is too thin, remove some of the liquid before you add the beans, parsley, and onions or cube the potatoes and then put them back in so the starch can thicken the soup.

What You Need:

• 1 cup butter beans or broad beans
• 1 chopped chicken breast
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 4 peeled whole potatoes
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon butter
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

How To Make It:

Boil the chicken in a quart of water with the white part of the green onion for twenty minutes. Boil the beans for half an hour in salted water. Add the potatoes whole when the chicken is half-cooked.

Melt the butter in a small pan over a low heat and stir in the parsley and remaining green onion. Cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes. Take the beans out of the pot and strain the water off. Add them to the soup with the parsley and green onions. Season to taste and serve hot.

Coconut Candy

People with a sweet tooth might enjoy this one. Coconut candy is known as cicadas in Bolivia and this recipe is from the Tarija region. This recipe makes about thirty candies.

Mix three cups of shredded coconut with a cup of condensed milk, quarter of a teaspoon of almond extract and an egg in a bowl and let it rest for a few minutes.

Spread some butter over a baking sheet and dot small amounts of the candy mixture on there, using a pair of teaspoons. Bake at 325 degrees F for twenty five minutes or until the candies are dry, smooth and golden.

Christine Szalay-Kudra is an author, food expert and mom of four boys. She is the owner of the Recipe Publishing Network, a group of sites dedicated to fine food and information for cooks. When not busy with her business you can find her sharing on one of these social networks at her own URL: http://www.recipepublishingnetwork.org/

Bolivia Real Estate Listings Are Quite Cheap But Remain Unnoticed

The official name of Bolivia is a peculiar: Pluri-national State of Bolivia. It is situated in central South America as a land-locked country, though it has a limited access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Paraguay River.

Bolivia has Sucre as the constitutional capital, while the seat of the government is La Paz. Spanish is the main language, while another 36 languages are also spoken in this country and had been recognized as official languages. Bolivia is ranked twenty-eighth largest in the world with a land area of nearly 1,010,000 sq. km. and the population of the country is about 10 million.

The lowest GDP per capita in entire South America prevails in Bolivia, in spite of rich natural resources, particularly petroleum and gas reserves. In fact, the natural gas reserves of Bolivia are the second largest in South America. Poverty levels hover around 60%. The annual growth rate was around 2.5% in the beginning of the decade. However, the political upheavals had stunted the growth of Bolivia severely in the last 7-8 years. Tourism industry had been growing in this decade slowly, contributing to some economic growth and Bolivia real estate activity.

Real estate in Bolivia is expected to grow in the coming decade strongly due to the low property prices, compared to other Latin American countries. However, international investors had not fully realized or appreciated the potential of Bolivia for sale and Bolivia rentals. The main reason is that Bolivia is a mountainous country, further hidden by larger countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. The Andes Mountains attract adventure tourists and visitors that like the old Inca ruins Biking on the Death Road from Yungas, the origin of the Amazon Basin is the favorite sport of thrill seekers in Bolivia.

However, the tourists who prefer beaches and resorts head to these other countries. Hence, the Bolivia real estate listings had not come to the attention of international investors in a serious manner. Bolivia property prices cost less than half the amount for the same type in the United States, which is unknown to many foreigners.

The land reform policy implemented by Evo Morales elected as President of Bolivia in 2005 had somewhat complicated the prospects of Bolivia listings. The new policy requires that large estates be broken up and the small parcels redistributed to the impoverished citizens of Bolivia. This reform was necessary to change the situation, where about 10% of the population owned around 90% of the landed property of Bolivia.

However, the new regulation does not affect business buildings and properties below 12,000 acres. Hence, buying Bolivia real estate for sale or investing in Bolivia rentals is not a difficult proposition. Any local citizen or a foreigner could purchase a condominium or a nice house for less than $50,000. Still, financing options are very limited and cash transactions are the general norm. A home with built-in area of 1,200 sq. ft. on a lot of 8,000 sq. ft., situated 3 miles away from the Central Plaza of Santa Cruz city, costs only about $60,000. Could there be better investment options for international investors than such Bolivia real estate for sale and Bolivia rentals? What is required is a long-term investment approach.

International Real Estate Listings.com is the worldwide leader in international real estate for sale, international real estate exchanges, and international rentals. International property owners, agents, and developers are encouraged to create an account, upload an unlimited number of listings, write as much creative property details, include a YouTube property video, and it will be activated as a Basic Listing for 6 months, free.

10 Things I Like About La Paz Bolivia

"I don't think travelers come here to unwind." Not only will you feel shortness of breath in La Paz because of high altitude, the city's steep roads are a challenge even if you are super fit. La Paz is the highest capital in the world sitting at 3636 meters (12,000 feet) at a steep canyon on the altiplano.

La Paz is one of the most fascinating cities in South America and here are 10 things I like about La Paz Bolivia:

Ten: It is the cheapest city in South America

Our cheapest dinner was at Jackie Chan Chinese restaurant for four including water and beer was US$5. Dinner at a touristy restaurant called Sol y Luna with three entrees, one pisco sour, two fruit juice and one bottled water for four was US$34.

Teatime with two salteñas, one empanada and one apple pie was US$5 at El Montanes Café on Calle Saganaga (across the street from the popular Café del Mundo). The teahouse serves the best salteñas in Bolivia.

Six bottles of one and a half liters bottles of mineral water were US$2.

Nine: Plaza San Francisco

Locals and tourists congregated at the plaza during the day and night. Colonial buildings, street markets, vendors, shops and the church and monastery of San Francisco surround Plaza San Francisco.

The church was built in 1549 and depicted the mix of Spaniard and indigenous influences. This mestizo-baroque façade has a blend of Catholic images and indigenous symbols like birds, snakes, dragons and faces. The Plaza San Francisco is a great place to have a feel of La Paz- where you can spot cholas in Bowler hats and traditional skirts, men and women selling all types of souvenirs and food, musicians, tourists and vehicles like old buses.

Eight: Old buses

Mini or regular buses in La Paz are mostly old and tattered with beautiful colors and drawings. Though these buses are not fuel efficient vehicles and are bad for our lungs, they do give La Paz a different feel from other South American countries.

Seven: Steep cobblestone streets

You will have a good workout walking up and down the steep cobblestone streets of La Paz. The high altitude took my breath away every time I walked up Calle Saganaga. I must have walked on that street at least 15 times in my four days stay in La Paz.

These cobblestone streets are filled with local vendors selling food, drinks and souvenirs, street markets and the famous Witches Market.

Six: Witches Market

The colorful Witches Market is filled with scents, potions and lotions, alpaca sweaters, leg warmers, hats, souvenirs, restaurants and llama fetuses. It is a must-see in La Paz because of the various types of items sold that are unique to Bolivia's culture and traditions.

If you are looking for alpaca-made clothing and accessories, the Witches Market offers variety and great prices. After 10 days in Bolivia, most of these souvenir shops with alpaca-made things began to look the same but if you take a careful look, the Witches Market offers a great variety compared to shops and street markets in Potosi and Uyuni.

Five: Moon Valley

Moon Valley is like a sponge, when it rains it becomes dangerous to walk around the area. It was like walking through huge egg cartons. The Moon Valley offers different trails and you can spend 30 minutes or one hour walking on the trails through rock formations that resembles the 'moon' (I haven't been to the moon, thus the quotation marks).

The Moon Valley is only less than 10 km from the city of La Paz but it is warmer and drier. The valley is quiet and offers an excellent acoustic sound and if you stay silent for a few minutes you could actually hear your own breathing.

Four: Plaza Murillo

This is where the Bolivian government buildings, Presidential Palace, Cathedral and locals gather with pigeons and vendors in the square. One interesting thing I observed was a little girl barely three years old walking straight to a ice-cream vendor to purchase an ice-cream cone.

The Presidential Palace has gunshot holes and is also known as the Burnt Palace because of the many uprising and protests in the area.

Three: The view

La Paz sits in a canyon with an altitude of 3636 meters at the Plaza Murillo, the center of the city. Traveling into the city on an overland truck from Potosi, I will never forget the view of La Paz and the snow-capped Mt. Illamani. These are photos we took from one of the lookout points.

Another lookout point is at Mirador Killi Killi at 3685 meters above sea level. From here you can see the city's skyline including the stadium.

Two: Eating llama meat

Yes, I did eat llama meat and alpaca meat in Bolivia. The best llama meat dish was at Luna's Restaurant on Calle Saganaga. Traveling to me is about trying new food and experiencing the culture and traditions of the country I visit. I had a hard time making myself eat llama meat but I am glad I tried it.

One: Bowler hats and traditional clothing

The most fascinating part of my visit to La Paz was walking and trying to make a conversation with the cholas and cholitas with bowler hats and traditional clothing.

I discovered La Paz, Bolivia is the cheapest city in South America. Your dollar will go a long way in the city. It is fairly safe to travel but never walk or take a taxi on your own during the night. We were told to be careful with our belongings.

Have you been to La Paz? It is definitely worth a visit if you like to visit a country steep in culture and traditions with a hint of westernization like great accommodations and food.

Claudia Looi is a travel copywriter. She spent eight months in South America visiting eight countries with her husband and two teens. You can find her at http://www.travelwritingpro.com

Interesting Facts About Bolivia's Sports

Did You Know...

Like Un Yong Kim (South Korea), Sheik Fahad Al-Sabah (Kuwait) and Joao Havelange (Brazil), José Gamarra Zorrilla was one of the best Olympic leaders in the Third World. He played a major role in promoting the values of sports in Bolivia and Latin America. José dedicated his life to fight against indifference to sports and the deplorable condition of the athletes in Bolivia. His country is one of the Third World`s poorest countries. Furthermore, Bolivia has had a record 194 attempted coups. However, under his leadership, several international congress and events were organized in La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. José was president of the Organizing Committee of the La Paz Bolivarian Games (1977) and for the South American Games in Bolivia (1978). As president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee (1970-1982), he led Bolivia to the best result ever in its history: 106 medals in the South American Games. He headed the Bolivian delegation at the Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Many South Americans consider José Gamarra Zorrilla as the greatest South American Olympic leader of the 20th century.

This country had great sportspersons: Mario Martinez (tennis), Alan Saunders (nordic skiing), Milton Coimbra (football), Maria Ortuno (basketball), Giovanna Morejon Irusta (athletics), Ramiro Benavides (tennis), Anthony Iglesias (diving), Johnny Pérez (athletics), Scott Sanchez Saunders (nordic skiing), Oswaldo Morejon (track and field), William Arencibia (taekwondo), Erwin Sánchez (football), Ricardo Ramos (nordic skiing), Guadalupe Yañez (basketball), Betty Saavedra (basketball), Juan Rodrigo Camacho (athletics), Marco Etcheverry (football), Katherine Moreno (swimming), Roberto Nielsen Reyes (equestrian) and Billy Farwing Aranoa (nordic skiing).

Bolivia sent 7 sportspeople to the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. The South American skiers were Manuel Aramayo, Guillermo Avila Paz, Jaime Bascon, Jorge Bejarano, Enrique Montaño, Pedro Tichaver and Luis Vizcarra.

Julia Iriarte is the greatest Bolivian athlete of all time. Why? She won 5 gold and 3 silver medals at the 1947 Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru. She became the star of the Games. Her gold medals were in the 80m hurdles, discus throw, shot put, long jump and high jump. Her homecoming was a huge success . After she was invited by president Enrrique Hertzog to the Government Palace (Palacio Quemado). She also won five gold medals in the South American Athletics Championships in La Paz in 1948. Under her coach, George Voeg , she broke several national records during the 1940s. Unfortunately, she did not compete at the 1948 Olympic Games in Helsinki (Finland). She was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia on December 20, 1919 to Placido Iriarte and Clara Velasco.

Bolivia participated at the 1979 Spartakiade of the Nations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

From 1980 to 1984, the Bolivian government destroyed the sport. The South American athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympics in 1980. Many sportspeople who had trained for years for the Games felt great frustration. Among these athletes were: Johnny Pérez (track and field), Luis Dario Vasquez (fencing), Mary Rojas (athletics), Walter Quiroga (shooting), Linda Spents (track and field), Isidro Guarachi (boxing), Walter Quispe (boxing), Edgar Cueto (cycling), Jean Young Kim Song (judo) and Antonieta Arizaga (swimming). Ironically, the USSR -host Olympic nation- subsidized Third World's Olympic teams (Tanzania -one of the Africa`s poorest countries- sent 41 sportspersons). For political reasons, Bolivia also did not participate in the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas (Venezuela). For the first time since 1971, athletes from Bolivia did not took part in a Pan American. Unlike athletes from Haiti, Nicaragua, Chad and Sierra Leone ,Bolivian athletes had problems to go to Olympics Games in 1984.

Johnny Perez took part in the 1978 South American Games in La Paz, Bolivia, winning three gold medals in athletics, in 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The La Paz Olympic Stadium is one of the most modern in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the athletes who have competed in the Olympic Stadium are Romario de Souza Faria (soccer/ Brazil), Joao Carlos de Oliveira (athletics /Brazil), José Luis Chilavert (soccer /Paraguay), Tito Stenier (athletics /Argentina), Edith Noeding (track and field/ Peru) and Carlos Caetano Bledron Verri (soccer/ Brazil).

Giovanna Morejon Irusta finished 16th in the 20-kilometer walk at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, France.

Katherine Moreno was one of the youngest swimmers at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

The Bolivian team won the silver medal at the South American Basketball Championship and qualified for the World Women's Basketball Championship in 1978 in Seoul (South Korea). Bolivia qualified for a world tournament for the first time.The heroines were: Janeth Blanco Saavedra, Betty Saavedra Zaconeta, Daysy Chucatini Torrico, Liceo Rojas Arteaga, Norma Zambrano Siles, Elizabeth Navia Ledesma, Guadalupe Yañez Heredia, Tania Claros Vargas, Antonieta Gudmanson Torres, Judith Quiñones Miranda and Vania Claros de Justinino.

Bolivia sent only one athlete (Fernando Inchauste Montalvo/ kayak) to the Summer Olympics in 1960.

From 1971 to 1979, 500 Bolivian athletes participated in international tournaments and competitions.

Like Hortencia Maria de Fatima Marcari (Brazil) and Carol Turney (Canada), Guadalupe Yañez was one of the best basketball players in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico.

Erwin Sanchez was one of the most important football players in Bolivia in the 1990s.

From 1975 to 1977, more than 25 foreign coaches helped to train Bolivian sportspeople in preparation for the international competitions (Olympic Games, Bolivarian Games, Pan American Games and South American Games). The coaches were: Bornj Wangemann (athletics/ West Germany), Mike Lucero (basketball/ USA), Paul Gonzalez (basketball/ USA), Stanislav Golubkov (boxing/ USSR), Heriberto Diaz (cycling/ Mexico), Pedro Escobar (equestrian / Chile), Stanislav Spyra (fencing/ Poland), Walter Madel (fencing/ West Germany), Eduardo Virba (football/ West Germany), Dale Cutler (gymnastics/ USA), Donald Howorth (gymnastics/ USA), Pedro Ortega (gymnastics/ Mexico), Jasuhido Takasuka (judo/ Japan), Benigno Marquez (wrestling/ Venezuela), Karol Czarkoswki (weightlifting/ Poland), Wu Yu Yung (swimming/ Taiwan), Yadwiga Czarkoswka (swimming/ Poland), Adolfo Coronado (swimming/ Ecuador), Francis Conway (shooting/ USA), Nicolay Durnev (shooting/ USSR), Cselaw Gajdamovicz (volleyball/ Poland), Tien Heing Hisch (volleyball/ China), Chiu Chiao Chi (volleyball/ Taiwan) and Lin Chou Nou (volleyball/ China).

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer.Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He´ve studied political science and journalism.He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, Olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Furthermore, Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latina America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). His favorite film is "Gorillas in the Mist". Some of his favorite books are "The Return of Eva Peron and the Killings in Trinidad" (by V.S.Naipaul), "Las Mujeres de los Dictadores" (by Juan Gasparini) and "Murder of a Gentle Land" (by John Barron and Anthony Paul). His personal motto is "The future is for those people who believe in the beauty o f their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt.