The Bolivian cuisine has its roots from a variety of cultural backgrounds, it's a mix of Spanish and native flavors, available produce, foods and cooking styles. You'll find local favorites varying from region to region, even within cities, but you'll also find international favorites and the ubiquitous fast food places. One thing for sure, you won't leave hungry!
In the altiplano, cuisine relies on carbohydrates and protein from potatoes and meats, plus trout, trout, from Lake Titicaca while in the lowlands, beef, yucca, plantains, freshwater fish, vegetables and fruits are more popular.
Use our search tool to find the restaurant that fits your hunger.
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Favorite local dishes
Try one of these local favorites when you're in Bolivia:
Chairo: beef soup with potatoes, vegetables and the special ingredient chuños (chunho; an Andean dehydrated potato)
Carne de sol: grilled salted meat served with beans, rice and vegetables
Chuño or tunta: freeze dried potato
Empanadas: cheese pasties
Humintas: ground corn steamed wrapped in corn leaves
Pacumutu: beef shish kebab like
Pique a lo macho: chopped beef over French fries, diced and sauté onions and fresh tomatoes
Pukacapas: spicy cheese empanadas
Sajta de pollo: chicken in hot sauce with tunta (an Andean dehydrated potato), diced tomatoes and onions.
Saice: spicy meat stew
Salteñas: diced beef or chicken empanada, usually eaten in the morning before lunch
Silpancho: breaded beef accompanied by eggs, rice and fried potatoes (not French fries)
Tucumana: fried beef, chicken or cheese empanada similar to salteña.
Not a dish but if you are in for a new culinary experience try Llajua or halpahuayca a popular fresh made hot sauce (only for the daring) that accompanies many of this dishes, you can request it on any restaurant across the country.
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Pubs, bars and clubs in Bolivia
Most locations offer a good selectionof pubs, bars and clubs (discotheques), ranging from trendy shot bars to old fashioned log fired drinking inns. Pubs often serve up some pretty hearty food too. Here we list in our page some of the most visited, use the search tool to find one nearest to you .Most places are in high demand during weekend and the action normally starts late, around 10:00 p.m. going all the way to the next day in some cases. There you will be able to find many of your favorite drinks as well as local specialties.
Music is very important ingredient for a good night out, in Bolivia you will listen to the best in Latin and Bolivian music as well as other international rhythms and off course good food. Use our search tool to find the one that suits your thirst.
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About the drinks
Bolivian wines are worth a try, their quality and variety have improved greatly in the last decades, been the ones coming from the Tarija area considered to be the best. A favorite drink among local experts is local spirit called Singani, which when mixed with lemon, and lemon flavored soft drink and ice has a great taste. Bolivian beer is popular and has won many international awards; the most popular brands are Paceña and Huari.
If you're visiting the Cochabamba region you can try Chicha, made of corn is a very potent, don't be fooled by its soft taste a couple glasses can take any one down and leave a bad hangover as a reminiscent of the experience. In addition to the usual tea and coffee, try maté de coca, a natural tea made of coca leafs, which helps you get used to the altitude and apí which is a sweet breakfast tea made from corn, lemon, cloves and cinnamon. There are local and imported soft drinks, fruit shakes made with milk or water. Other forms, some non-alcoholic, are also available.
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Theater and Concerts
Regularly many international and local musicians tour around the largest cities La Paz and Santa Cruz, ask your hotel desk clerk on information of shows in town while you're there Don't expect to attend to a any Broadway shows while in Bolivia normally Bolivian theaters present local plays and concerts only, they are very affordable and could be a nice ending after a long day of sightsee.
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Art Galleries, Movies, Museums and bookstores
Only large cities like La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz and other Department capitals offer this type of amenities so if you are in need of more reading material or if you have interest to enrich your cultural experience while in Bolivia, those are your only opportunities.
Movie theaters normally have on display Hollywood latest releases and other Latin American productions; there are three presentations everyday the first one at 3:30 p.m. the second one at 7:00 and the last at 9:30 p.m.
Bookstores, museums and art galleries are open only on week days on regular business hours (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the morning, and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the afternoon).
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Internet Cafes
Internet Cafes are normally in good supply and you will have no problems finding one to catch up on your e mail, check the news or adding photos to yourtravel blog.
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