Study Abroad in Bolivia

Bolivia boasts of an exotic beauty with many superlatives. From the highest cities in the world to the highest navigable lake, Bolivia is filled with extremes. Studying in Bolivia enlightens students to a culture that’s extremely well preserved, and starkly different than what most international students have experienced at home.

Campesinos on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Photo by Eileen Loh

Extreme Temperatures. In Bolivia, you get to experience all sorts of climatic zones, from humid and semi-arid to Arctic cold. Bolivia’s climatic extremes occur in Uyuni with its icy winds and in Puerto Suarez with its immense heat. Climate in Bolivia can be very unpredictable, though. Don’t be surprised to find yourself sweating in Uyuni or freezing in Puerto Suarez.

Summer in Bolivia is the rainy season. From November to April, traveling can get difficult, with some areas completely mired in water and mud, making overland transportation almost impossible. The ideal time to travel around Bolivia is during winter. From May to October, the season offers dry, clear days.

Lots To See And Do. Study abroad in Bolivia is well suited to those who love rugged outdoor beauty. Bolivia’s exotic national parks, with their extensive array of fauna and flora, offer a great venue for trekking. Local guides can walk you through the native wildlife and plants. Or, take advantage of the mountain biking routes here, which are among the most awesome in the world. In a land where mountain peaks go as high as 5,000 meters, studying abroad in Bolivia is heaven for mountaineers and skiers. The world’s highest ski resort, Mount Chacaltaya, is in Bolivia.

Calle Sagárnaga, located in La Paz, offers a shopper’s paradise. It has a vast array of exquisite native handicrafts, leather bags, clothing, and textiles. Local markets are also a great place for shopping — the Sunday Market in Tarabuco is especially popular. Expect to find great deals for second-hand goods, souvenirs, handicrafts, textiles and clothing.

Proud, Complex People. The Bolivian population is 30 percent Quechua, 25 percent Aymara, 30 percent mestizo and 15 percent Caucasian. The official language in the country is Spanish, with 39 other languages spoken in different regions. Half of the country’s 10 million inhabitants identify with the indigenous culture while the other half consider themselves as white or mestizo (mixed Spanish and indigenous blood).

A discernible class system exists in Bolivia along the lines of race and socioeconomic factors. Be wary of the racial divide between the collas (Native Americans) in the west and the cambas (white and mestizo) in the east. The two groups are not on good terms. Avoid talking about your travels to the other side of the cultural region. Also, steer clear from using the word indio to refer to an indigenous person, as is sometimes done here — this is considered offensive. Use the more accepted term campesino.

In spite of the racial tensions, Bolivians are generally warm and friendly. You’ll blend right in if you say “buenos dias!” or “buen dia!” to people in the streets. It is also a common practice to offer your seat on public transportation to someone older, or to a woman.

In Bolivia, friendship is highly valued and the family is the central unit of the social system. Education is given prime importance, but not always accessible to Bolivian children. Although the law requires children to attend school from ages 6-14, fewer than half make it through primary school.

If studying abroad in Bolivia involves a homestay with a local family, embrace the rare experience to get to know the culture from a native’s perspective — and get ready to be treated with extreme hospitality. The people of Bolivia are very welcoming and generous with guests.

Eating Your Way Around Bolivia. Bolivian dishes mainly combine Spanish cuisine with native Bolivian ingredients. But other immigrants to Bolivia — namely, Italians, Basques, Germans, Russians, Poles and Croats — also influenced the local cuisine. Three important staples in Bolivian meals are potatoes, beans and corn. Other common staples are wheat, rice, pork, chicken and beef.

Breakfast usually consists of bread rolls coupled with honey, jam or cheese. Buñuelo (fried dough ball) with cane syrup is also a common breakfast and is readily available in the market of Copacabana. They also serve coffee, tea or chicha morada (made from purple corn) during breakfast. After such a light breakfast, mid-morning snacks, similar to coffee breaks, are popular in Bolivia. Served at about 10:30 am, the snack usually consists of salteña and a beverage.

Almuerzo (lunch) is quite an event in Bolivia. The people take long lunches, about three hours (from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Businesses and shops close so that workers can go home and have a leisurely meal. Almuerzo usually consists of rice, meat, potatoes and a soup, dessert and coffee. After lunch, Bolivians take a nap or siesta (a tradition that most people studying abroad in Bolivia grow to love!) There’s an early evening tea break, and dinner around 8 p.m.

Fun Facts About Bolivia

The highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, is located partly in Bolivia.

The world’s largest butterfly sanctuary is in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The two highest cities in the world, Potosi and La Paz, are in Bolivia.

The largest deposit of salt in the world, in Salar de Uyuni, is found in Bolivia. Buried under all the salt is the largest deposit of lithium in the world.

Fast Facts About Bolivia

Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani and 34 native languages

Government: Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic

Population: 10.4 million

Currency: Boliviano (BOB)

Time Zone: BOT (UTC−4)