Bolivia Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Bolivia

Former Name

None

Capital City

La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)

Government Type

republic

Area Size

total: 1,098,580 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT -4 hours

Climate

Bolivia has a temperate climate but with wide differences between day and night. The wettest period is November to March, which, in extreme circumstances, may induce landslides in mountainous areas, and cause certain roads to become impassable. The northeast slopes of the Andes are semi-tropical. Visitors often find La Paz uncomfortable because of the thin air due to high altitude. The mountain areas can become very cold at night.

Geography

Bolivia has been a landlocked nation since 1879 when it lost its coastal department of Litoral to Chile in the War of the Pacific. However, it does have access to the Atlantic via the Paraguay river. An enormous diversity of ecological zones are represented within Bolivia's territory. The western highlands of the country are situated in the Andes mountains and include the Bolivian Altiplano. The eastern lowlands include large sections of Amazonian rainforests and Chaco. The highest peak is Nevado Sajama at 6,542 metres (21,463 ft) located in the department of Oruro. Lake Titicaca is located on the border between Bolivia and Peru. The Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, lies in the southwest corner of the country, in the department of Potosí.

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)

Culture

Bolivian culture has been heavily influenced by the Quechua, the Aymara, as well as by the popular cultures of Latin America as a whole. The best known of the various festivals found in the country is the "Carnaval de Oruro", which was among the first 19 "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity," as proclaimed by the UNESCO in May of 2001. Entertainment includes football (soccer), which is the national sport, as well as table football, which is played on street-corners by both children and adults.

History

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.

Travel Information

The national airline is Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano (LB). La Paz (LPB) (El Alto) is 14km southwest of La Paz. Coach services to the city depart whenever there are scheduled flight arrivals (journey time – 20 minutes). Services from the city to the airport depart from Plaza Isabel La Católica. Minibus and taxis are also available. Santa Cruz (VVI) (Viru-Viru) is 16km from the centre of Santa Cruz and is the largest airport in Bolivia. Taxis are available. Airport facilities: Restaurant and duty-free facilities are available. Departure Tax US$25. Payable in US Dollars for all non-residents. For visitors staying longer than 90 days: US$50. There is also a national passenger tax of Bs169. Although it is a member of the International Maritime Organisation, Bolivia is wholly landlocked. However, it is possible to reach ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru by ship and, from there, there are rail connections to La Paz or Santa Cruz. The nearest seaport is Arica in the extreme north of Chile. There are also crossings at Port Heath on the Madre de Dios river (Peru), the Bermejo or Pilcomayo rivers (Argentina) and from Brasilia to Cobija across to the Acre river and from Guayaramerin across the Heinez river (both in Brazil). Steamers cross Lake Titicaca to the Peruvian port of Puno from Guaqui, the most important port on the lake. Situated 90km from La Paz, it is accessible both by road and rail, though services are generally slow. There is a connection from La Paz to La Quiaca and Pocitos (Argentina), and a connection to Arica (Chile), as well as to Coroba (Brazil). There is also a train to Calama (Chile) with bus connections to Antofagasta. The Pan-American Highway which links Argentina with Peru crosses Bolivian territory from the south to the northwest. Driving in the rainy season may be hazardous. Principal highways are generally well-maintained.

Accommodation

Bolivia has several deluxe and first-class hotels. Service charges and taxes (amounting to 25-27%) are added to bills. Rates are for room only, except where otherwise indicated. There is an assortment of middle-range hotel accommodation available, generally of good value.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA except the following, provided travelling for touristic purposes: nationals of Malta. All nationals travelling on business do need a Specific Purpose visa. Nationals not requiring a tourist visa are usually allowed to stay for a period of 30 to 90 days; check with the embassy (or consular section at embassy). Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.Tourist visas are valid for 30 days but can be extended for up to 90 days (depending on nationality) from the date of entry. Specific Purpose visas are valid for 30 days and can be renewed for 60 or 90 additional days at the immigration office in Bolivia. Student visas are valid for 60 days. Transit visas are valid for 15 days. Apply to consulate or consular section at embassy. Passport valid for at least one year beyond the intended length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Getting Around

Airlines operating internal flights are AeroSur and LAB. Because of the country’s topography and tropical regions, air travel is the best method of transport, although delays, cancellations and general unreliability is highly possible. La Paz (El Alto), which is the highest airport in the world, and Santa Cruz (Viru-Viru) are the chief internal airports. Departure Tax Bs15. Double-decker passenger boats operate between the various small islands on Lake Titicaca and traverse the many rivers of the Amazon basin (the main thoroughfares being Ichilo, Mamoré, Beni, Madre de Dios and Guaporé rivers); most of them leave from Copacabana. Bolivia has two separate and unconnected networks - Eastern and Western. The Eastern network's hub is Santa Cruz from where trains travel to the Argentine and Brazilian borders. There is a daily train to Puerto Suarez, but services and speeds vary. The main Western line between Oruro and Tupiza runs frequently. The trains have three to four classes and some have restaurant cars. Tickets are bought at stations on day of journey. Many roads are paved, some are made of gravel and others of dirt. Traffic drives on the right. Long bus trips off the main routes can be erratic. Most long-distance bus trips are overnight. All taxis have fixed rates and sharing taxis is a common practice. Tipping is not necessary. International and local car hire companies exist in La Paz. Bus services in La Paz are operated by a confederation of owner–operators. There are also some fixed route taxi ‘Trufi’ and ‘Trufibus’ systems which show coloured flags for particular routes. Fares are regulated. In some cases, catching a 'truck' can prove a better means of transport, being half the price of a bus and usually more reliable - although transportation is less comfortable.

Health & Safety

A yellow fever vaccination is strongly advised, as outbreaks do occur, particularly after flooding, and it is a requirement for those entering from infected areas. Typhoid and Hepatitis A immunisations are recommended. Altitude sickness is the most common complaint in Bolivia with much of the country lying above 3,050m. This is particularly relevant to diabetics, those with heart complaints or chest problems, who should seek advice before travelling to Bolivia. Malaria is prevalent in some parts of the country, and dengue fever is on the increase. Sanitation and hygiene are poor in some areas so be wary of what is eaten; avoid under-cooked meat and unpeeled fruit and vegetables, and only drink bottled water. Medical insurance is strongly recommended. Street protests and strikes often affect La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz as well as the regions of the Central Highlands and the Yungus. Main tourist centres may be affected and visitors should keep up to date with current conditions. Although Bolivia is generally a safe country, visitors should still be vigilant at all times. Pick-pocketing on buses or in crowded areas is common and baggage theft occurs at stations. Female tourists should avoid taking jungle and pampas tours on their own and always avoid unlicensed guides. Express kidnappings are also on the increase and travellers should be vigilant at all times. Penalties for drug possession are extremely severe and visitors should be vigilant with luggage and any belongings. Criminals posing as police officers and taxi drivers are targeting foreign tourists; there have been increasing incidents of robberies of this nature and visitors are warned to be cautious at all times. Violent attacks have occurred recently in Copacabana, especially targeting those travelling overland between Peru and Bolivia.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 19 Feb - Carnival. 6 Apr - Good Friday. 1 May - Labour Day. 7 Jun - Corpus Christi. 6 Aug - Independence Day. 1 Nov - All Saints’ Day. 25 Dec - Christmas Day.

Currency

Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)

Electricity

220v AC

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 12.00noon and 2.30pm - 7.00pm; Sat 9.00am - 12.00noon (some offices).

Emergency Numbers

118