The  Ultimate Traveler's Guide to Bolivia

Gateway Bolivia will take all precautions at your fingertips to ensure your safety and enjoyment when traveling with us. This document is intended to provide you with information that is useful and contributes to your well-being during your stay in Bolivia.

First thing's first

There are several things that should not be left for the last moment, this will help to have a much more pleasant travel experience.

Take some photocopies of your travel documents (passport, vaccines and others), if you do so you can present the copies to the diplomatic delegation of your country in Bolivia or to the Bolivian authorities if you need it. You can also scan your documents and send them to your mail to have them available on the internet.

You can register your travel documents at your consulate before leaving your country, so your government will be watching you and can easily monitor any eventuality.

Make sure you have good travel insurance and traveler assistance. Although one does not want it or thinks about it, it is always better to be prepared for everything. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends.

General data

Name of the country: Plurinational State of Bolivia

Government type: Republic

Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (capital)

Administrative Division: 9 departments Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Independence: August 6, 1825 (from Spain)

Executive power: head of state: Acting President Jeanine Áñez  (2nd woman President in the country)

Legislative branch: National Congress consisting of the Senate or Senate chamber with 36 seats; Plurinational Assembly of the State or Chamber of Deputies with 130 seats.

The seasons in Bolivia

While they have been changing in recent years due to climate change, they still have all four, although the fall is very short now. The most important thing when planning a trip should be the rainy season, as it is a determining factor in several regions.

Dry season: from March to October. 

Rainy season: from November to February.

Health tips

In it’s four macro regions Bolivia has very diverse climates (Andes, Valleys, Chaco and Amazonia), so you will need some advice to enjoy the exuberant diversity of climates and landscapes in the Bolivian lands.

In the Andes:

Depending in your health status, upon arrival at the heights of the Andean mountain ranges, from 2.500 m.a.s.l. (8.202 f.a.s.l.) and up, it is better to take it easy for a couple of days to acclimatize: eat lightly, hydrate well and do not drink too much alcohol.

Although it is not very common, pay attention to "Sorojchi" (Aymara word for altitude sickness or mountain sickness), symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath, drowsiness, dizziness, headache; if symptoms of "sorojchi" appear, then a “mate de coca” (coca leave infusion in Spanish) will do, but there are also capsules that help to regulate circulation, that will be enough to alleviate it.

Consume boiled vegetables unless it is a guaranteed place

Have warm clothes and windbreakers. 

Use factor 45 or 50+ sunscreen.

Wear hat or cap and sunglasses. 

Have your camera ready!

In the Valleys:

There are temperate climates in the valleys, which are the transition zone between the Andes mountain range and the lowlands of the Amazon basin.

The clothes should be light and somewhat warm, since the days are mild and the nights kind of cool.

Consume boiled vegetables unless it is a guaranteed place. Have your mosquitoes’ repellent at hand.

Use factor 35+ sunscreen. 

Get the camera at hand as well.

Chaco and Amazonia:

From dry warm climates in the Chaco and humid tropical in the Amazon, for this reason you should hydrate well.

Consume boiled vegetables unless it is a guaranteed place.

The clothes should be light, because even in winter the climate is mild. 

Get yourself a strong mosquitoes’ repellent and if you have allergies you should have -just in case- your antihistamines. 

Use factor 30+ sunscreen. 

And put your camera on hold!

In Bolivian Customs

For travelers who enter Bolivia by air, a random baggage check system is applied with the use of red and green traffic lights (similar to the one applied in several countries in the Americas).

Travelers who present the accompanied baggage affidavit with nothing to declare will be subjected to this random system. The General Customs Law states that if caught with merchandise that exceeds his baggage allowance of travelers, will be subject to process for customs offense.

The National Customs of Bolivia allows to introduce without the payment of customs tax to the following goods of accompanied luggage.

a) Clothing and personal effects used.

b) Books, magazines and printed matter of all character and advertising documents of business travelers.

c) Used articles of personal use and consumption that are detailed below:

• •   A photographic machine; 

  •   A laptop; 

  •   A video camera and accessories;

  •   A recorder, radio tape recorder or radio receiver; 

  •   A cell phone; 

  •   A dron; 

  •   Sports articles;

  •   A portable musical instrument; and

  •  Cars for children, wheelchairs for invalids and other goods for personal orthopedic use.

d) New articles of strict use or personal consumption, without commercial purposes, up to a value of 1,000 US dollars, with the following limitations:

       Up to three liters of alcoholic beverages. Up to 400 cigarettes

       Up to 50 cigars or 500 grams of chopped tobacco.

When the value of the articles exceeds the deductible of 1,000.- US dollars, but does not exceed the amount of 2,000.- US dollars, the surplus must be nationalized through declaration of import merchandise. In case the value exceeds 2,000.- US dollars, you must have the services of a Customs Broker Agent.

Persons who temporarily enter to participate in cultural, scientific, sporting or other recreational events, sponsored by public institutions, diplomatic missions or international organizations accredited in the country, may temporarily import goods destined for said events according to the payroll and description expressly indicated by the sponsoring entity and under its guarantee and responsibility for re-exportation.

A bit of patience and good attitude will be your most valuable asset.

Security Points

Bolivia is in general a safe place to be, nevertheless, it would make no harm to follow the next suggestions:

You must be alert (not persecuted, but attentive).

Do not give information to strangers (telephone or personal surveys).

Avoid routine acts.

Try not to be ostentatious (clothing, cars, jewelry, etc.). Do not carry IDs that link you with companies.

Always keep in mind how to ask for police help.

If you use cellular telephony, be sure to contact the local police.

Our Local Currency

The official monetary unit is Bolivian (Bs). Contribution of the local currency to January 2011:

One US Dollar to date is equivalent to 6.95 Bolivianos. 

A Euro to date is equivalent to 8.00 Bolivianos. (It varies up/down to 10 points regularly)

To see currently quotes or other currencies visit the following web site of the Main Bank of Bolivia: Banco Central de Bolivia

Given the subsidy of liquid fuels by the Plurinational State, the cost of living in Bolivia is cheaper than in the rest of the southern cone, especially in terms of transportation, food and lodging.

The use of the credit card is widespread and there is a network of ATMs in all the capitals of the nation, in rural areas there is no as much services as in the main cities, so it is recommended to stock up on small amounts of money in major cities.

Because Bolivia is a dollarized country, it does not represent much inconvenience to handle US dollars in capital cities, since this currency is accepted in restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, etc. and in most places of commerce, there are also exchange houses at every step. On the other hand, it is better to have Bolivians on rural routes.

Other recommendations

It is recommended to bring a photocopy of some other identification document in case of loss or theft of passport.

It is recommended, if you plan to travel by car, to bring a valid driver's license or driver's license in international format, given that it is issued in several languages.

It is recommended to take care of the details of your travel and health insurance.

Some Emergency Phones

 Some emergency telephones in the city of La Paz that can be very useful:

In case of emergencies, dial 110 to contact the patrol radio of the Special Anti-Crime Force (FELCC)

Emergencies: 911

Firefighters: 119

Airport: 171

Telephone information: 104

Touristic Police: ++ 591 2 222 50 16

Migration: ++ 591 2 211 09 60

Gateway Bolivia: ++ 591 73016600

Our Airports

If you are looking for information about airports or inbound/outbound flights, visit the website of the Bolivian Airport Services:  SABSA 

Consulates and Embassies

In the following link you will find information regarding the diplomatic services within Bolivia: https://embassy-finder.com/es/in_la-paz_bolivia 

Feedback

 Because we are interested in your opinion, we ask that please, if you have any doubts or suggestions about the guide, we would appreciate it if you send them to: consultores@gatewaybolivia.com 

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