All you are looking for is in BOLIVIA!
Culture and traditions. Original towns. Colonial architecture. History and customs. Salt lakes and volcanoes. Amazon and Altiplano. Jungles and deserts. Lake Titicaca and the Isla del Sol. Mines and carnival. Gastronomy and markets. Paceña beer and Singani. And most importantly lot of nice people.
Where is Bolivia?
Bolivia is located in the heart of South America, bordered to the north and east by Brazil, south with Argentina and Paraguay, and the west with Peru and Chile.
Bolivia is divided into 9 departments, each with its unique characteristics, with diversity of climate and altitude. In the
It has ecologically valuable nature reserves, with unique species of flora and fauna, rivers, lakes, and salt flats. In short, Bolivia is one of the few places in the still unpolluted land and the eighth most biodiverse country in the world.
Advices for the Trip
Entrance to the country
Valid passport with minimum expiration of 6 months after departure date.
A 30-day visa given upon arrival and so it is not necessary to apply beforehand.
These conditions may change. Please get information from consulate in your country prior to traveling.
BOLIVIA...
Plurinational State
Take that designation as an official name since Bolivia is a unitary rule of law plurinational, communitarian, free, independent, sovereign, democratic, intercultural, decentralized and with autonomies. Bolivia is based on plurality and political, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic pluralism, within the integrative process of the country.
Which is the Capital of Bolivia?
The city of Sucre is since the founding of the republic's constitutional capital where the judiciary functions; the city of La Paz is the seat of government where the executive branch and the legislature are.
General Information
Population
Bolivia has a population of about 10,027,644 habitants.
Surface
Bolivia's surface of 1,098,581 km² and is ranked 27th in the list of countries with larger ones.
Official Languages
Castellano, aymara, quechua and guaraní.
Politics
Despite its turbulent past, Bolivia has lived since 1981 under a stable democratic regime.
Altitude
It is necessary to acclimatize well before any extreme exercise. In general, after two days spent in La Paz, lesser symptoms (headache, loss of appetite) disappear. Our tours are designed to enable you to gradually acclimatize. In the case of symptoms persisting (which is quite rare), specialized doctors (M.D.'s) of the Bolivian Institute of Biology of the Altitude will look after you.
Weather
Dry season: Sucre and surroundings: Warm during the day when the sun shines. A little bit cold during the night (2100m to 3500m altitude). ? Uyuni Salt Deserts: Sunny during the day (15ºC – 20ºC), cold at night (3600m altitude).
Lake Titicaca: Sunny during the day (15ºC – 20ºC), cold at night (3850m altitude).
These statistics excludes the so-called "Surazo" (usually in June), a cold wind from the South that originates from the Antarctic, Tierra de Fuego and Patagonia. During these days, cold winds, rain and even snow are all possible.
Security
Bolivia is undoubtedly one of the safest countries on the continent. However, we warn against certain increasingly common practices, theft in general and little known to travelers (fake policemen, stains on clothes, spits, etc ...) scenarios. Some places are more suitable than others, particularly the central bus or minibuses, restaurants and in general all travelers frequented public places.
We recommend to watch during their travel and stay in the city, traveling with the essentials, not leave their backpacks and cameras unattended and always bring safe inside your clothing, money or travelers checks, their air tickets and passport. It is highly advisable to avoid taking them into his backpack. We would also suggest that before your trip underwrites insurance for "lost luggage" and "interruption of stay".
Currency
The Bolivian currency is the Boliviano. Floating exchange rate, set around 6.96 bolivianos per 1 $ us. Bring US dollars (in kind) and a credit card (possible withdrawals in almost every major city). Travelers checks can be exchanged at exchange houses and are accepted only in very few establishments.
Nationals Holidays
New Year, 1st. January; Carnival, mobile days in February; Friday, moving day in April; Labor Day, 1st. of May; Corpus Christi, June 14; Homeland anniversary, August 6; All Saints Day, November 2; Christmas, Departmental diciembre.Feriados 25: Oruro, 10 February; Tarija, April 15; Chuquisaca, May 25; La Paz, July 16; Cochabamba, September 14; Santa Cruz, 24 September; Pando, October 1; Potosi, November 10; Beni, 18 November.
Luggage
For your comfort during the trip, we advise you to travel light and only bring what is necessary, in the most compact way possible (one big bag and a smaller « day-pack » is advised).For treks and climbing in the Andes, it is imperative to limit the weight of your luggage to 30 lb so as not to overload the porters or pack animal.
Useful information if you are planning to make purchases on your trip: you are allowed to carry up to 40 lb on the airplane, for most regular Transatlantic flights (ask your airline to confirm these conditions), for flights to the USA usually up to 50 lb. We advise you to take out travel insurance to cover you for "loss of luggage".
Health advice for the trip
All tourists arriving in La Paz (3600m) or other altiplao city should treat height with respect, especially if one arrives sea level air. Very few people have serious problems, but it is advisable that all rest for at least 24 hours, eat light and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration from the dry atmosphere in the city of La Paz.
All physical effort should be avoided, especially the first few days. All those people who suffer from heart problems or have chest pain should consult their doctor before traveling to La Paz. Coca tea is good to avoid altitude sickness, also in pharmacies sell pills to avoid this problem.
You should not drink tap water, it is recommended to drink mineral water bottle. Salads and uncooked vegetables should be avoided like the food sold on the street or at the market stalls.
In some areas hepatitis, paratyphoid and diarrhea are common.
Vaccines for travel to Bolivia
The yellow fever vaccine may be required at some border crossings in Bolivia.
Vaccinations against hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and polio should be updated. For those going to tropical areas are recommended tablets against malaria. Mosquito nets and repellents are a good idea to help prevent many tropical diseases.
In Bolivia there are special vaccination centers. Vaccines within the country are free. International vaccines require the purchase of a card.
Laboral Schedule
Private Sector: Monday to Friday (8:30 am to 18:30 pm, suspended between 12:30 and 14:30 hours).
Public Sector: Monday to Friday (8:00 to 16:00 hour).
Banking Hours: Monday to Friday (8:30 am to 18:00 pm, suspended between 12:00 and 14:30)
Phone Calls
The international dialing code to call Bolivia is 591.
The departments of Bolivia have the following telephone codes: La Paz (2) - Cochabamba (4) - Santa Cruz (3) - Oruro (52) - Potosi (62) - Chuquisaca (64) - Tarija (66) - Beni (46 ) - Pando (842).
Voltage: 220 and 110 volts in La Paz and the rest of the country 220 volts.
