Have you ever talked to a friend after they’ve returned from a trip abroad and walked away filled with all-consuming envy for their post-vacation glow? Do you ever find yourself wishing that Instagram photos of people submerged chest-high in a mud volcano or roaming the chaotic souks of Marrakech had a shop function, immediately purchasing a flight directly to that country? Yea, me too.

These sentiments are only further inflamed when the individual whose photos you’ve been drooling over are pros at planning like Sasha Semeniouga is. Founder of Room + Wild,  “a boutique trip-planning agency and media platform focused entirely on landscape-enhanced accommodation,” Sasha and her team “work with extraordinary, sustainable retreats all over the world, creating unforgettable and fully customizable experiences in a natural setting.”

As a serial killer-organized thorough planner myself, there are not a lot of people I’d trust to make dinner plans let alone a once-in-a-lifetime trip halfway across the world, but Sasha is definitely someone I’d happily hand the reins to.

Deceptively angelic in appearance, she is a lover of the tropics, animals, seafood, caipirinhas and anything coconut🌴🐶🦞🍹🥥 I’ve asked this little egg for intel on a locale that no one else I know has ever visited – Bolivia! She’s pretty much convinced me that Bolivia is a must for my next trip.

‘Word-of-Mouth’ is a series of interview-style posts where I solicit recommendations – from where to eat and what to see to authentic cultural experiences – for exotic locales that I’ve never been to (yet) from friends who have been. See the entry on Japan here.

RELATED READING:

➳ Word-of-Mouth: Japan Recommendations
➳ Understanding (+ Surviving) Altitude Sickness in Cusco
➳ How To Spend An Epic and Adventurous Weekend in Ica, Peru

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

What kind of traveller are you?

Au Naturel traveller 😉 I love nature. Luxury. Adventure. Local Cuisine.

Unique rock formations in the Dali Desert

How would you describe Bolivia?

Bolivia is one of the most beautiful, diverse, and mystical countries in South America. With its surreal landscapes, unparalleled nature, ancient history, and unlimited adventure opportunities.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

What surprised you the most about Bolivia?

It felt like I was visiting South America a 100 years ago. Also, the diversity of landscapes – because of the high altitude, the country has everything from snowy mountain peaks to tropical jungle.

PLANNING

What are your top 3 tips you’d give people visiting Bolivia for the first time?

▪   Buy an oxygen tank at the airport. (for altitude sickness – you’re in the highest capital in the world!)
▪  Stay for at least a week to experience what the country has to offer.
▪  Do not skip La Paz.

Moon Valley in La Paz

What’s your perfect day in Bolivia?

▪   Wake up with coca leaf tea.
▪   Visit the surreal Moon Valley
▪   Wander through the Witches’ Market in downtown La Paz and stock up on leather and alpaca goodies
▪   Have the tasting menu at Gustu
▪   Watch the sun go down over the mountains from your bed at the Atix Hotel

Witches’ Market in La Paz / Stairs at Gustu restaurant

FOOD

What was your favourite meal/dish you had the entire trip?

We ate at GUSTU – one of the best restaurants in South America, and what stood out the most was the unique way they cooked with the coca plant – incorporating it in the butter, bread, chocolate, and sauce.

Another standout meal was the chicken soup I got from room service at the Atix Hotel where we stayed. Really hit the spot.

Trout served with yuca and potato purée in a beet emulsion. (Photo: Courtesy Alexandra Meleán/Popular Cocina Boliviana via CNN.com)

What was the best thing you ate?

High-end: Ant-covered lemon cone at Gustu. Quinoa encrusted trout at Atix Hotel.
Low-end: Coca leaf tea
Dessert: Bolivian Chocolate

Salar de Uyuni / Salt Flats of Bolivia

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

What cities/areas did you visit?

La Paz. Uyuni. Tiwanaku.

Hotel Palacia de Sal i/Salar de Uyuni (Photo courtesy of the hotel)

Did you stay anywhere worth mentioning?

The Atix Hotel in La Paz. Absolutely unreal.

The Atix Hotel (Photos: Room + Wild)

ACTIVITIES

The ancient ruins of Tiwanaku (Stock photo)

What bucket list activity/experience would you recommend?

Too many. Visiting Tiwanaku – a Pre-Columbian archaeological site near Lake Titicaca. It is one of the largest sites in South America, believed to have been the centre of the world. Swimming in hot springs in the Atacama Desert, while watching the stars shine unlike anywhere else in the world. Photographing the unique landscapes of the Dali Desert or the white vastness of Salar de Uyuni (Salt Flats).

Unique rock formations in the Dali Desert

Cacti at Salar de Uyuni

Is there anything you regret missing out on that you can only do in Bolivia?

We visited Salar de Uyuni during the wet season to take advantage of the unique sky-mirror effect. However, there hasn’t been a lot of rain, so we didn’t get to see that. If we came back, would also stay at the newly opened and very “Room and Wild” Kachi Lodge, with its sustainable and otherworldly spherical domes.

TAKEAWAYS

What was your most memorable moment?

Biking 64km down the infamous Death Road. Starting with snowy peaks and ending up in a tropical jungle.

What type of person is Bolivia perfect for and why?

Anyone who loves raw nature + ancient history will be in heaven.

If you’re headed to Bolivia, depending on the person, you may have to deal with altitude sickness in part of the country like La Paz. I know when I was in Cusco before climbing Machu Picchu, the altitude made me feel like I was moving through molasses and like I was suffering from the worst hangover of my life!

Check out this post for how to survive altitude sickness…it’ll save your trip!

Keep your stalking game strong and follow me @teriaki if you aren’t already!

All photos courtesy of Room + Wild (@roomandwild) unless stated otherwise.
To view this content on Room + Wild, go here.