Bolivia is geographically situated in the heart of South America; it is the country that best conserves its natural and cultural richness due to its small and highly indigenous population. Its customs and traditions are vivid and maintain themselves present in its 32 distinct ethnic groups.

The country has the most diverse contrasts in its geographic medium: From the vast altiplano on the west; protected by the Cordillera de los Andes, to its northern and western region sacredly bathed by the waters of Lake Titicaca (highest navigable Lake in the world at 3,810 m.a.s.l.) coming down the south west until reaching the large salt mines of Coipasa and Uyuni, a natural beauty of salt with more than 10,582 squared kilometers and at 3,660 m.a.s.l. and the deserts of the Eduardo Abaroa Reserve along with its colorful lagoons.

In the oriental part of the Andes is where you will find the rich subtropical area of humid cloud forests known as, the Yungas, these are located in the Andean Tropics, one of the most bio-diversified hot spots in the world, where a never-ending array of distinct products grow in abundance, like for example the sacred Incan leaf known as the coca leaf.

Its extensive valleys in the central region are where you will find the countries permanent granaries; these generated a wide variety of wealthy regional cultures. This region is the country’s mayor center of agricultural production; it was for the Inca a very important part of its empire.

Finally we have the large virgin forests of the Northern Amazon where we can find the Madidi or Noel Kempff Mercado National Parks, unique and biologically diversified. Down south is the Plata Basin in the Chaco region. It is a dry habitat and birthplace of the Guaraní culture, among others

Bolivia is a geographical synthesis of South America, located in the central part of the continent, it has a total area of 1´098,581 squared Kms. and is divided in three major regions:

• Altiplano,
  conformed by La Paz to the north, Oruro in the center, and Potosi in the south. It borders Peru and Chile on the west and southwest. Its average altitude is of 3,850 m and this region occupies 28% of the country’s territory (305.761 squared Kms.)
• Valleys,
  Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, and Tarija, the two last border Argentina on the south. Its average altitude is of 2,390 m and occupies 13% of the country (144.778 squared Kms.)
• Tropical Plains,
  include Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pano, also the northern part of La Paz and Cochabamba. This country shares borders with Peru at the northwest, Brazil in the northeast and Paraguay in the south. Its average altitude is of 330m and it occupies 59% of Bolivia’s territory (648.101 squared kms.).

The estimated population in Bolivia in 2008 was of 10 million; its urbanization process has grown and has reached approximately: 65% urban and 35% rural. Its rich cultural components with 32 distinct ethnic groups show its live culture in tradition and customs, where the 3 that are considered the most important are the following: Quechuas, Aymaras, and Guaraníes. It also has a small population of Spanish groups that emigrated mainly from Spain in the post colonial era, other European, and Asians that later generated a mixed breed that are significant but not a majority

The most important religion is catholic although it is permitted to practice others as many people in this area do indeed.

Bolivia is a very rich country in its natural resources where the most important are, the mining industry (mainly hydrocarbons), and agriculture among its strongest with tourism at fourth place. In the last few years new export products have come about through its sustainable production, development of small companies, and joint work with the chains of commercialization and social responsibility.

Bolivia is one of the riches countries in cultural legacy. Its varied and wealthy ecological terrain where the base of significant regional cultures dating back to 2,000 years before Christ, starting with the Andean north. We first have the Chiripa and Wankarani cultures, which later gave way to the Tiahuanaco Empire, one of the most advanced cultures in rock works, mining, ceramics and agriculture. This empire later made way for the mighty Aymaras who finally where taken over by the Inca Empire. In the amazonic plains the hydraulic knowledge of the Moxos culture certainly stood out. Like for example their advanced agricultural inundation techniques.

During the colonial periods the country had a strong feudal presence. Due to its rich mining and silver exploitation of the famous “Cerro Rico” of Potosi, this obviously left a wealthy colonial legacy as in its culture and architecture that can be appreciated in the colonial cities of Sucre and Potosi that also influenced other parts of the country and are known for their large churches, museums, and culture.

The republican era since its independence on the 6th of August of 1825, was very agitated for the internal social differences and scarce favorable changes of the indigenous majorities which culminated in a revolution in 1952 which in this time the mines where nationalized and the agrarian reform took place and a universal vote was imposed.

The last contemporary era of the country has also been marked with big changes in democratic periods, militant dictatorships, and social convulsion that placed the first indigenous leader in America into power, Evo Morales Ayma.