Long overshadowed by its neighbours, Bolivia is a country where contemporary Indigenous culture is shaping art, food and design in ways found nowhere else on the continent.
This journey combines the creative energy of La Paz with the historic vineyards of southern Bolivia and the vast landscapes of the Salar de Uyuni. Along the way, meet artists, architects, chefs and winemakers who are redefining perceptions of the country while remaining deeply connected to its Indigenous traditions and heritage.
From colourful Neo-Andean architecture and contemporary art studios to family-run vineyards producing tiny quantities of wine from centuries-old vines, this is a journey for travellers who enjoy venturing beyond the obvious.
Every journey we create is entirely bespoke, tailored to your interests and preferred travel style; consider this itinerary as merely a starting point to inspire your travels.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
May to October
SUGGESTED LENGTH
8-10 nights
Art and Food in La Paz
Within a volcanic caldera at 3,600 metres above sea level, La Paz feels unlike any other city in South America. Cable cars glide overhead, snow-capped peaks frame the horizon, and a new generation of artists, architects and chefs are redefining what Bolivian culture looks like in the twenty-first century.
Through our local connections in the city, gain access to some of the figures driving the country’s cultural renaissance. Explore contemporary art spaces including Salar Galería and Neo Galería; visit the studio of Cristian Laime, whose work blends Indigenous cosmology with contemporary themes; and take a tour of the workshop of the late Gastón Ugalde, the ‘Andean Warhol’ and father of Bolivian modern art. Venture by cable car into neighbouring El Alto to explore the flamboyant Neo-Andean “cholets” together with the architect Freddy Mamani, whose kaleidoscopic colours and geometric forms have become symbols of modern Indigenous pride and identity.
Food is equally central to the story. We’ll introduce you to the restaurants, producers and personalities driving Bolivia’s culinary direction, including Marsia Taha’s Arami, where ingredients from the Andes, Amazon and Chaco are transformed into one of the country’s most exciting dining experiences.
Stay at Atix Hotel, a design-led property with one of the country’s most significant collections of contemporary Bolivian art.
The Vineyards of Tarija and Camargo
Few wine regions anywhere remain as undiscovered as the valleys surrounding Camargo. Travelling through southern Bolivia, the landscape shifts from high-altitude plateaus to fertile valleys where vines have been cultivated for generations. Here, many vineyards pre-date Bolivian independence, and families continue to produce tiny quantities of wine from ungrafted heritage vines planted more than two centuries ago.
This is not a polished wine tourism destination. Dirt roads connect remote vineyards, and donkeys still carry supplies between fields. Production is often only 300-400 bottles, and some of the wines are never even labelled, yet are among the highest quality that can be found anywhere.
Among the highlights is San Francisco de la Horca, a fourth-generation family vineyard whose vines grow at extraordinary elevations, producing some of the highest-altitude wines on earth. Another is Jardín Oculto, an acclaimed project founded by two sisters who returned to Bolivia after studying abroad to create a radically different vision for Bolivian wine.
Hotels in the region are extremely limited, but through our longstanding local relationships, we arrange stays at a historic hacienda near Camargo, normally closed to visitors. Once a presidential residence and briefly the seat of government, it offers a rare glimpse into a little-known chapter of Bolivian history.
Art on the Uyuni Salt Flats
Set on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, Casa Gastón is one of Bolivia’s most ambitious cultural projects: a hotel, museum and living artwork conceived by the late artist Gastón Ugalde.
Designed to feel inseparable from the landscape, the property sits at the foot of Tunupa Volcano with uninterrupted views across the salt flats. Built as a habitable extension of Ugalde’s artistic world, it brings together contemporary Bolivian design, site-specific installations and a programme of rotating artist residencies that engage directly with the Altiplano.
Guests explore the Salar in ways that go beyond the expected: sunrise walks across the salt crust, cycling into the white expanse, visits to nearby quinoa fields and llama-herding communities, and journeys up Tunupa for panoramic views across one of South America’s most striking landscapes. At night, the altitude and isolation reveal some of the clearest skies on the continent.
Our Approach
Our journeys are built around people. Over more than two decades travelling across Latin America, we’ve developed relationships with the artists, conservationists, winemakers, guides, hoteliers and local characters who bring a destination to life.
These connections allow us to open doors that rarely appear in guidebooks, whether that’s arranging a stay on a private estate, introducing travellers to a leading contemporary artist or securing access to places that aren’t normally open to visitors.
Every itinerary is designed from scratch, drawing on first-hand knowledge and a trusted network developed over years of exploration throughout the region.
CONTACT US
Tailor-made journeys across Latin America, designed by specialists with decades of on-the-ground experience.
Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
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