Packing

You will be limited in the amount of personal items you are able to bring with you on your international flight. You will fly to La Paz on either Boliviana de Aviación BOA or Avianca and the baggage allowances have been predetermined by the respective airlines. Luggage within the restrictions will be free of charge but, if you find you have more luggage than the airline allows, you will pay a fee for excess or overweight baggage. Please note that there is normally a 2-bag limit on most airlines.

Suitcases

Duffel bags are excellent for packing excess baggage and should be locked to discourage theft. Do not pack things in boxes as they tend to get damaged or set aside for closer inspection. Make sure to bring clothes and other items you’ll want in the first few days in your carry-on, just in case some of your luggage is delayed in its arrival. Warm clothes are advisable. For travel within the country bring a sturdy bag or backpack (something that can be thrown in the back of a truck or on top of a bus). To avoid trouble with customs, please do not send any suitcases or boxes as unaccompanied luggage. Make sure to place TSA-accepted locks on your checked-luggage to deter airline workers from breaking in to your luggage. Additionally, do not place any valuable items in your checked luggage.

Personal Items

Work attire is business casual. Adult and children’s clothing is easy to find in the markets and shopping areas around the city, but prices tend to be higher than in the United States. Dress shoes and tennis shoes for men and women can easily be found in La Paz unless your shoe size is above women’s 9 or men’s 11. Although these items can be purchased locally, high quality items are much more expensive than in the US or Canada. If you intend to take trips outside the city, you should plan to bring some trail shoes just in case. Seamstresses can often copy a pattern exactly so if you have something you really like, you can have another made quite simply by picture or by sample.

Most apartments will have a washer and dryer machine. Also, laundry can be done by hand by maids, if you wish to hire one. Laundry is usually line dried so cotton items will stretch. Socks and undergarments can be purchased in La Paz but the quality is a bit different.

All types of toiletries are plentiful in La Paz. If you have a specific brand of something you are attached to, bring a healthy supply but, you may find your brand at the grocery store or local market. Some hair products (dry shampoo, specific hair brands) and skin products (specific makeup brands, makeup remover, or face products for sensitive skin) are expensive or not available If you wear contact lenses, bring plenty of disinfecting solution as it is expensive in La Paz. Contacts can be purchased but supplies are limited and you may not find your brand. To err in the side of caution, you may want to bring updated prescription glasses in addition to your contacts. There are several English speaking eye doctors here if you need a new prescription.

Consult your physician and bring the generic names for the medicines and prescription drugs you may need. The trade names may be entirely different here. If you have the generic names, many types of medicine can be bought “over the counter” at local pharmacies at reasonable prices. Vitamins and ibuprofen (Advil) are less expensive in the United States. Birth-control pills are available and inexpensive but certain types of birth-control devices or medicines are difficult to find. If you choose to purchase birth control in La Paz, just bring the generic name of your brand.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free products have become available, but only at specific stores, such as Irupana, Zocco, etc.

Gear

Electronics can be found in La Paz, however the pricing tends to be higher than in the United States, but high- tech gear is harder to find. Laptops, etc. should be included in your carry-on luggage if they are part of your everyday life. Small appliances like lamps, hair dryers and electric alarm clocks should be purchased in Bolivia as they are made for the South American voltage and can be plugged directly into the wall outlet. The electrical current is 220v, 50Hz and, while it is relatively simple to change from 220v. to 110v. with a transformer, the current will still be 50Hz (or 50 cycles per second). The general rule is that anything that has a timing mechanism (e.g. American CD player) should be plugged into a transformer which, along with surge protectors, you will be able to purchase in La Paz. Laptops typically have a built-in transformer so you only need the surge protector. Bring rechargeable batteries or a healthy supply of specialty batteries (e.g. lithium batteries for digital cameras) as you can not find them easily in La Paz.

Camping and hiking equipment can be found in La Paz but it is expensive and there is nothing like an REI in La Paz. If you are a camper, bring your gear. Do not bring a stove that uses white gas or kerosene as those fuels are not available. Butane cartridges for small portable stoves are available.

Most kitchen items are available in La Paz at reasonable prices. Stainless steel or Teflon cookware is available. Bolivian spices are abundant and inexpensive. A good selection of spices also exists .

Children’s toys are available but if your child has a favorite, make sure to bring it, and games in English (children and adult) are not readily available. Paperback books in English and your South American travel guides will come in handy. The school library can supply you with plenty of English reading material but much of the library consists of children’s and young adult books. Current titles are in great demand.

Mail services such as DHL, FedEx and UPS are available to send mail to the U.S. The main La Paz post office is also an option for sending mail, although it usually takes two to three weeks to reach its destination.

School Supplies

Although the school will provide adequate supplies and resources you may want to bring teaching supplies of special interest to you; special books, stickers, e-z graders, charts, stamps, material awards, and posters for the classroom. Difficult (or expensive, or impossible) items to find here are maps in English, contact paper, games in English, cellulose sponges (other sponges are available).