University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles

Postdoctoral fellow

Trip to Bolivia

2 minute read

Published:

In December, 2019 I went to Bolivia for vacation. I try to return every year for at least 2 weeks to visit my family. That time, I had the opportunity to bring my girlfriend with me. Never before have I felt so much like a tour guide, but it was a great experience to show her my country.

La Paz

We landed at the airport in El Alto, the highest international airport in the world, situated at 4,100 meters above sea level (13,500 feet). The altitude can be challenging for some people, but Helen adapted quickly.

Vacation in Bolivia5 Illimani mountain (6,438 meters or 21122 ft. above sea level)

Vacation in Bolivia6 Aerial view of La Paz city

We went to the ancient ceremonial temple of Tihuanacu. This is a pre-Inca archeological site located 70 km from La Paz. The site is believed to be the center of the world of many cultures in the altiplano. There were a group of people celebrating a wedding in a very traditional fasion. I had no idea you could ‘rent’ an ancient ruin and UNESCO World Heritage site for a private wedding. Nontheless, it was a beautiful ceremony and we had the opportunity to try some traditional food involving dried potates and corn.

Tarija

We took the bus to my hometown of Tarija. This city is located at a lower altitude than La Paz, at 1,800 meters above sea level (5,900 feet), so the weather is a lot warmer and more humid.

Vacation in Bolivia1 The house of Moto Mendez Vacation in Bolivia2 Aerial view of Tarija city

The central valley of Tarija is known for its wine production. Many brands of wine produced in Tarija have won international awards, especially for their Tannat and Malbec varieties. We have a saying in Tarija that goes, “El que vino a Tarija y no tomó vino, ¿a qué put@s vino?” which means, “Whoever came to Tarija and didn’t drink wine, what the f@ck did they come for?”

Vacation in Bolivia3 Vacation in Bolivia3 La ruta del vino (The wine route)

Lastly, we went to the Marquiri waterfalls. This is a waterfall located 30 km from the city of Tarija. These falls are almost completely enclosed in a narrow canyon, covered by a giant rock. The water sneaks through a small opening, creating a surreal scene.

Vacation in Bolivia3 Hiking trail to the falls Vacation in Bolivia4 Marquiri waterfalls

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