Hannah, a medical student in Edinburgh, writes on Flickr that Bolivia is her choice for the one place in the world to visit: “I would recommend Bolivia without hesitation. The vibrancy of the colours at altitude are just incredible, and the country is unspoiled and ripe for exploration. There’s history, great views, culture, friendly people and fantastic climbing opportunities.”

Go to the flickr page for her photo of Huayna Potosi, which was taken from the top of Chacaltaya (5200m).

With reservations for the Inca Trail becoming harder to get and with the Salcantay Trail becoming more crowded, many people are searching for an alternative to the Inca Trail. A possibly more interesting trail (and certainly cheaper) is the Choro Trail in Bolivia. While it doesn’t end in up at Machu Picchu, the Choro Trail is considered to be one of the best treks in Bolivia. A good description of the Choro Trail is provided on the Gorp.com web site: The Choro Trek: A Three Day Hike to Los Yugas.

You’ll likely to see this article reprinted all over the place since it’s from the Associated Press but it’s a nice piece on the colonial treasures of San Jose de Chiquitos in eastern Bolivia. It’s remote and not likely to be overrun by tourists, so if you’re in the area…………..