Traveling To Bolivia - 12 Topics You Should Know

1. Founded / Gains Independence

Bolivia declared its independence from Spain on August 6, 1825. The struggle for independence began in 1809, with key figures like Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre leading the movement.

2. Capital, Major Cities

Bolivia has two capitals:

• Sucre (constitutional capital)
• La Paz (administrative capital)

Other major cities include:

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra (largest city, ~3.1 million people)
• El Alto (~2.3 million)
• Cochabamba (~1.9 million)
• Oruro (~264,000)
• Potosí (~240,000).

3. Currency

Bolivia’s official currency is the Bolivian boliviano (BOB). The exchange rate is approximately 1 BOB = 0.14 USD.

4. Economy, Exports, Imports

Bolivia’s economy relies on natural resources, agriculture, and manufacturing. Key exports include:

• Ores, slag, ash ($3 billion, 33.5% of total exports)
• Mineral fuels ($1.7 billion, 18.7%)
• Gems, precious metals ($1 billion, 11.2%)
• Food industry waste, animal fodder ($570 million, 6.3%).

Imports primarily consist of machinery, fuels, and consumer goods, with total imports reaching $13 billion in 2022

 

In early civilization the country was inhabited by the Incas, but in the 1550s  Spanish Quechua Diego De Huallpa started mining in Mount Cerro Rico in Potosi for Silver which made up for 85% of all silver mined in the Andes. This was the main economic driver but when the mines were depleted in the 1800 the economy collapsed. By the 1900s Tin became Bolivia main expobrt earner

5. Historic Figures

Bolivia has produced many influential figures, including:

• Simón Bolívar – Led Bolivia’s independence. Wrote their Declaration of Independence
• Antonio José de Sucre – First president of Bolivia.
• Juana Azurduy de Padilla – Revolutionary leader.
• Marco Antonio Etcheverry – Famous footballer.

6. Wars 

Bolivia has been involved in several conflicts, including:

• Bolivian War of Independence/ Revolution of Chuqu  isaca (1809–1825).
• War of the Confederation (1836–1839).
• War of the Pacific (1879–1883) – Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile. Making it now land locked.
• Federal Revolution of 1899 -  Conservatives vs Liberals
• Chaco War (1932–1935) – Conflict with Paraguay over the Gran Chaco region. For the Oil Field Land, Bolivia Lost

7. Geography

Bolivia is landlocked and covers 1.1 million km². Key geographical features include:

• The Andes Mountains (home to Mount Sajama, Bolivia’s highest peak at 6,542 m).
• Lake Titicaca (largest lake in South America, shared with Peru).
• Uyuni Salt Flats (world’s largest salt flat, covering 10,582 km²).

8. Current Population

Bolivia’s estimated population in 2025 is 12.5 million.

9. Culture / Music

Bolivia’s culture blends Indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. Popular music genres include:

• Huayño – Andean folk music.
• Saya – Afro-Bolivian dance music.
• Cueca – Traditional Bolivian dance.

10. Languages

Bolivia recognizes 37 official languages, including:

• Spanish (spoken by 75% of the population).
• Quechua (25%).
• Aymara (16.8%).
• Guaraní (0.7%).

11. Cuisine

Bolivian cuisine is diverse, featuring:

• Salteñas – Baked pastries filled with meat and vegetables.
• Pique Macho – A hearty dish with beef, sausage, fries, and boiled eggs.
• Anticuchos – Grilled beef heart skewers.
• Silpancho – Breaded beef with rice, potatoes, and fried egg.

12. Sports

Football is Bolivia’s most popular sport, with the national team competing in three FIFA World Cups (1930, 1950, 1994). Other popular sports include:

• Tennis – Bolivia has a strong tennis culture.
• Cycling – The Vuelta a Bolivia is a major cycling event.
• Climbing – Bolivia’s mountains attract climbers worldwide.