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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Bolivia

31 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Bolivia

Updated January 5, 2024

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Stories About Bolivia

In western Bolivia and southeastern Peru, angels are armed and ready—like the one shown in this 17th-century painting, Asiel Timor Dei.

Decoding the Gun-Wielding Angels of Bolivia

The 'angeles arcabuceros' morphed from Catholic messengers to symbols of Indigenous independence.
by Amy Crawford

This New Species Is a Fish out of Water by Choice

The Juan Deriba killifish, found in a tiny area of Bolivia, jumps out of water to evade threats.
by James Hall
Heavy rains and wind turned the usually featureless Salar de Uyuni salt flats into a riot of color in late January 2022.

Wild Weather Has Turned Bolivia's Salt Flats Into a Work of Art

A satellite captures the stunning effects of heavy rain and high winds on a landscape that—coincidentally—is used to calibrate satellites.
by Gemma Tarlach
The Diablada dance pits the Archangel Saint Michael, in the uniform of the Roman legions, against the servants of the devil.

Bolivia's Dance of the Devils Is a Party and a Battle Between Good and Evil

Heaven and hell, music and dance at the Carnaval de Oruro.
by Matthew Taub
The muddy shores of Lake Uru Uru in Bolivia are awash in bright sunset colors, a sign of the lake's dire straits.

In the Andes, Bright Colors Tell the Dark Story of a Dying Lake

Bolivia's Lake Uru Uru faces an uncertain future: a growing city, toxic runoff, and drought worsened by climate change.
by Gemma Tarlach
The carved-shell llama and the gold roll are recurring motifs in Inca offerings, submerged and otherwise.

Found: A Miniature Incan Llama at the Bottom of Lake Titicaca

The centuries-old offering was nestled inside an underwater stone box.
by Isaac Schultz
A miner sits at the feet of El Tio, leaving offerings for safety and prosperity.

The Liquor-Soaked Devil Shrines of Bolivia's Deadliest Mine

In the heart of the Andes, Catholic miners also pray to satanic statues.
by Luke Fater
Fires are tearing through the Brazilian Amazon, including Altamira, pictured here on August 27, 2019.

Scientists of the Future Will Unearth Traces of the Scorched Amazon Rainforest

Long after the forest stops burning, the effects of this year's fires will linger in the soil and water.
by Jessica Leigh Hester

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