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Bolivia ToursWe offer a variety of Bolivia tours and travel options. We have tours that combine various areas of the country, as well as modules in several areas that can be bought separately or combined to form a longer tour. We can also customize itineraries for you and combine countries, such as Peru and Bolivia or Chile and Bolivia or Argentina and Bolivia, etc.
Considered probably the most authentic country in South America, the UNESCO has recognized nine “Natural, Cultural and Intangible Mankind Heritages” sites. Bolivia’s vibrant culture reflects this rich heritage shared by all visitors, offering them a genuine glimpse of South American life. Impressive landscapes, a pristine environment, smiling people, healthy, fresh and delicious cuisine, need to be experienced to understand why Bolivia is a truly unmatched destination.
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Effective February 8th, 2021, citizens from the US and Israel need a valid tourist visa to enter Bolivia. The visa cost is USD 160, which can be paid upon arrival in the country in bills in perfect condition or by a Visa or Mastercard.. It is valid for 10 years
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO BOLIVIA:
For travelers coming from abroad to Bolivia, only one of the following requirements will be required:
A) Vaccination certificate against COVID-19 in a physical or digital format with a two-dose or single-dose schedule, at least fourteen (14) days before the date of admission.
B) Certified negative RT-PCR test for persons over five (5) years of age:
Yellow Fever vaccination will be required ONLY FOR VISITORS TRAVELING TO THE ENDEMIC AREAS. People who, due to medical reasons, can not receive the Yellow Fever vaccine (those traveling to endemic areas) are asked to carry the corresponding exemption certificate and take the basic preventive measures.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO BOLIVIA:
For travelers coming from abroad to Bolivia, only one of the following requirements will be required:
A) Vaccination certificate against COVID-19 in a physical or digital format with a two-dose or single-dose schedule, at least fourteen (14) days before the date of admission.
B) Certified negative RT-PCR test for persons over five (5) years of age:
- By air, up to seventy-two (72) hours before the departure from the country of origin.
- By land, river, or lake, up to seventy-two (72) hours before the entry to the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
- By air, up to forty-eight (48) hours before the departure from the country of origin.
- By land, river, or lake, up to forty-eight (48) hours before the entry to the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Yellow Fever vaccination will be required ONLY FOR VISITORS TRAVELING TO THE ENDEMIC AREAS. People who, due to medical reasons, can not receive the Yellow Fever vaccine (those traveling to endemic areas) are asked to carry the corresponding exemption certificate and take the basic preventive measures.
Bolivia is a beautiful, geographically diverse, multiethnic, and democratic country in the heart of South America. It is surrounded by Brazil to the northeast, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina and Paraguay to the south. It shares with Peru control of Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), the world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m).
Sometimes referred to as the Tibet of the Americas, Bolivia is one of the most "remote" countries in the western hemisphere; except for the navigable Paraguay River stretching to the distant Atlantic, Bolivia and Paraguay are the only two landlocked nations in the Americas. It is also the most indigenous country in the Americas, with 60% of its population being of pure Native American ancestry.
Capital - La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Government – Republic
Currency - Boliviano (BOB)
Population - 8,989,046 (July 2006 est.)
Language - Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Religion - Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Electricity - 220V/50HZ
Time Zone - UTC-4
Climate
Bolivia's climate varies drastically with altitude and from one climatic zone to another. It ranges from humid and tropical to cold and semiarid. In most parts of the country winters are dry and summers are somewhat wet. Despite its tropical latitude, the altitude of cities like La Paz keeps things cool, and warm clothing is advised year-round. The summer months in Bolivia are November through March. The weather is typically warmer and wetter during these months. April through October, the winter months, are typically colder and drier.
Money/Atms
Sizeable towns have cajero automaticos (ATMs) – usually Banco Nacional de Bolivia, Banco Mercantil and Banco de Santa Cruz. They dispense bolivianos in 50 and 100 notes (sometimes US dollars as well) on Visa, Plus and Cirrus cards, but in the past, many Europeans have reported trouble using their cards. In smaller towns, the local bank Prodem is a good option for cash advances on Visa and MasterCard (3% to 5% commission charged) and many are meant to be open on Saturday mornings; the hours and machines are often unreliable.
Exchanging money
Visitors fare best with US dollars (travelers have reported that it’s difficult to change euros). Currency may be exchanged at casas de cambio (exchange bureaux) and at some banks in larger cities. You can often change money in travel agencies and sometimes stores selling touristy items. Cambistas (street moneychangers) operate in most cities but only change cash dollars, paying roughly the same as casas de cambio. They’re convenient after hours, but guard against rip-offs and counterfeit notes. The rate for cash doesn’t vary much from place to place, and there is no black-market rate. Currencies of neighboring countries may be exchanged in border areas and at casas de cambio in La Paz. Beware, too, mangled notes: unless both halves of a repaired banknote bear identical serial numbers, the note is worthless
Eat
The cuisine of Bolivia might be called the original "meat and potatoes" -- the latter (locally called papas from the Quechua) were first cultivated by the Inca before spreading throughout the world. The most common meat is beef, though chicken and llama are also easily found. Pork is relatively common. Deep frying (chicharron) is a common method of cooking all sorts of meat, and fried chicken is a very popular quick dish; at times the smell permeates the streets of Bolivian cities. Guinea pigs (cuy) and rabbits (conejo) are eaten in rural areas, though you can sometimes find them in urban restaurants as well. A common condiment served with Bolivian meals is llajhua, a spicy sauce similar to Mexican salsa.
Some notable Bolivian dishes:
Pique a lo macho - grilled chunks of meat in a slightly spicy sauce with tomatoes and onion, on potatoes
Ensalada de frutas - Many different fruits chopped in a bowl of yogurt. Very filling. Some stalls may have honey, nuts or gelatin on top, if you like.
Vegetarians will find decent to very good options in Gringo-places around the country. But also at market places, there are good vegetarian options on offer (usually potatoes, rice, fried egg and salad for about 7Bs.) In bigger cities, there are some (decent to good) fully vegetarian restaurants.
Coca leaves
Coca has been part of Andean culture for centuries, and chewing is still very common (and perfectly legal) in Bolivia. You should be able to buy a big bag of dried leaves at the local market. Coca is a stimulant, and it also suppresses hunger. Chewing a wad of leaves for a few minutes should bring slight numbness to your lips and throat. Remember the slogan (printed on souvenir T-shirts): Coca no es Cocaina ("The coca leaf is not cocaine"). But cocaine most definitely is an illegal drug. Remember this, only chew the leaf; if you eat the coca leaf you will get a very sick stomach.
Drink
Juice bars appear at most markets. Shakes (either with water or milk) are 2-3Bs. Locals can be seen to drink Vitaminico an egg, beer and sugar concoction or "Vitima" which includes coca leaves.
Bolivia's traditional alcoholic drink is chicha, a whitish, sour brew made from fermented corn and drunk from a hemispherical bowl fashioned from a hollowed gourd (round-bottomed so you can't put it down). It's customary to spill a bit of chicha on the ground before and after drinking it as an offering to Pachamama, the Inca earth goddess.
Stay healthy
Some parts of Bolivia like La Paz (3650), Potosí (4010), Oruro (3950) and the Lake Titicaca region are high altitude, so adequate precautions against "sorojchi" altitude sickness should be taken.
At local pharmacies they sell sorojchi pills, that are supposed to help with altitude problems. It has painkillers as well as natural herbs to help cope with the symptoms of "sorojchi". In many parts of the Altiplano you can purchase coca leaves, which are reputed to be useful against soroche. Coca tea ("mate de coca") is available in tea bags in many markets.
However, severe cases of high altitude disease can be treated at the High Altitude Pathology Institute at Clinica IPPA . This Clinic has the most advanced technology including a hypoxic adaptation chamber. In addition, the sun's ultraviolet rays are much stronger -- up to 20 times -- than at sea level. A sun hat, sunglasses, and skin protection (sunblock or long sleeves) are advised.
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for those who plan on spending time in the Bolivian Amazon. It must be taken 10 days prior to the person’s arrival into the country if the visitor plans to visit rural areas.
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended if the visitor plans to visit tropical-rural areas.
As a preventive measure, taking the following vaccines is recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Measles Booster-Vaccines.
Respect
Do not use the word "indio" in Bolivia to describe indigenous people. It is considered offensive. The term they use is "campesino" which translates to peasant or "indígena". "Cholo" is a campesino who moved to the city, and though originally derogatory, has become more of a symbol of indigenous power. Nevertheless, some locals still use the word cholo as a derogative term.
Contact
Bolivia's national phone company Entel has outlets on practically every block in major cities. Most Punto Entel shops also have internet-connected PCs, typically Bs4/hr.
While traditional payphones still exist, you can also make local calls for Bs1 from cellular phones at kiosks.
If you are staying for a while, consider buying SIM cards for your cellphones. They are quite cheap and you get good network coverage in all main cities and towns.
Sometimes referred to as the Tibet of the Americas, Bolivia is one of the most "remote" countries in the western hemisphere; except for the navigable Paraguay River stretching to the distant Atlantic, Bolivia and Paraguay are the only two landlocked nations in the Americas. It is also the most indigenous country in the Americas, with 60% of its population being of pure Native American ancestry.
Capital - La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Government – Republic
Currency - Boliviano (BOB)
Population - 8,989,046 (July 2006 est.)
Language - Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Religion - Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Electricity - 220V/50HZ
Time Zone - UTC-4
Climate
Bolivia's climate varies drastically with altitude and from one climatic zone to another. It ranges from humid and tropical to cold and semiarid. In most parts of the country winters are dry and summers are somewhat wet. Despite its tropical latitude, the altitude of cities like La Paz keeps things cool, and warm clothing is advised year-round. The summer months in Bolivia are November through March. The weather is typically warmer and wetter during these months. April through October, the winter months, are typically colder and drier.
Money/Atms
Sizeable towns have cajero automaticos (ATMs) – usually Banco Nacional de Bolivia, Banco Mercantil and Banco de Santa Cruz. They dispense bolivianos in 50 and 100 notes (sometimes US dollars as well) on Visa, Plus and Cirrus cards, but in the past, many Europeans have reported trouble using their cards. In smaller towns, the local bank Prodem is a good option for cash advances on Visa and MasterCard (3% to 5% commission charged) and many are meant to be open on Saturday mornings; the hours and machines are often unreliable.
Exchanging money
Visitors fare best with US dollars (travelers have reported that it’s difficult to change euros). Currency may be exchanged at casas de cambio (exchange bureaux) and at some banks in larger cities. You can often change money in travel agencies and sometimes stores selling touristy items. Cambistas (street moneychangers) operate in most cities but only change cash dollars, paying roughly the same as casas de cambio. They’re convenient after hours, but guard against rip-offs and counterfeit notes. The rate for cash doesn’t vary much from place to place, and there is no black-market rate. Currencies of neighboring countries may be exchanged in border areas and at casas de cambio in La Paz. Beware, too, mangled notes: unless both halves of a repaired banknote bear identical serial numbers, the note is worthless
Eat
The cuisine of Bolivia might be called the original "meat and potatoes" -- the latter (locally called papas from the Quechua) were first cultivated by the Inca before spreading throughout the world. The most common meat is beef, though chicken and llama are also easily found. Pork is relatively common. Deep frying (chicharron) is a common method of cooking all sorts of meat, and fried chicken is a very popular quick dish; at times the smell permeates the streets of Bolivian cities. Guinea pigs (cuy) and rabbits (conejo) are eaten in rural areas, though you can sometimes find them in urban restaurants as well. A common condiment served with Bolivian meals is llajhua, a spicy sauce similar to Mexican salsa.
Some notable Bolivian dishes:
Pique a lo macho - grilled chunks of meat in a slightly spicy sauce with tomatoes and onion, on potatoes
- - beef pounded to a thin, plate-sized patty, served on a bed of rice and potatoes, with a fried egg on top (Similar to wiener schnitzel).
- - Beef hearts grilled on a skewer, served with potatoes and a spicy corn sauce
- - Thinly sliced sausage fried with potatoes
- - Chorizo (spicy sausage) sandwich, served with grilled onions and lots of sauce
- - A baked bun filled with meat and potatoes in a slightly sweet or spicy sauce. Be careful when you take a bite, as the sauce will drip all over!
- - Like a salteña but fried
- - Similar to a saltena, often filled with cheese as well as meat
- - A small roll filled with cheese, similar to Brazilian pão de queijo. The bread is made from cassava flour.
Ensalada de frutas - Many different fruits chopped in a bowl of yogurt. Very filling. Some stalls may have honey, nuts or gelatin on top, if you like.
Vegetarians will find decent to very good options in Gringo-places around the country. But also at market places, there are good vegetarian options on offer (usually potatoes, rice, fried egg and salad for about 7Bs.) In bigger cities, there are some (decent to good) fully vegetarian restaurants.
Coca leaves
Coca has been part of Andean culture for centuries, and chewing is still very common (and perfectly legal) in Bolivia. You should be able to buy a big bag of dried leaves at the local market. Coca is a stimulant, and it also suppresses hunger. Chewing a wad of leaves for a few minutes should bring slight numbness to your lips and throat. Remember the slogan (printed on souvenir T-shirts): Coca no es Cocaina ("The coca leaf is not cocaine"). But cocaine most definitely is an illegal drug. Remember this, only chew the leaf; if you eat the coca leaf you will get a very sick stomach.
Drink
Juice bars appear at most markets. Shakes (either with water or milk) are 2-3Bs. Locals can be seen to drink Vitaminico an egg, beer and sugar concoction or "Vitima" which includes coca leaves.
- - Water or milk blended with your favorite fruit combination. A big spoonful of sugar will be added unless you specifically ask them not to. Try the milk and papaya licuado.
- - Don't ask what's in here. Many fruits, milk, sugar, a shot of beer, and, if you wish, a whole egg (with shell).
- - A drink made by brewing peaches and spices together in water. Very good but some people are turned off by the shriveled peach which is typically served with each glass.
- - A traditional corn base drink usually found in the open-air markets. If you didn't know it was corn you'd never guess it though because this stuff is good.
Bolivia's traditional alcoholic drink is chicha, a whitish, sour brew made from fermented corn and drunk from a hemispherical bowl fashioned from a hollowed gourd (round-bottomed so you can't put it down). It's customary to spill a bit of chicha on the ground before and after drinking it as an offering to Pachamama, the Inca earth goddess.
- is a grape liquor that's mixed with Sprite or ginger ale with lime garnish to make a cocktail called chuflay.
Stay healthy
Some parts of Bolivia like La Paz (3650), Potosí (4010), Oruro (3950) and the Lake Titicaca region are high altitude, so adequate precautions against "sorojchi" altitude sickness should be taken.
At local pharmacies they sell sorojchi pills, that are supposed to help with altitude problems. It has painkillers as well as natural herbs to help cope with the symptoms of "sorojchi". In many parts of the Altiplano you can purchase coca leaves, which are reputed to be useful against soroche. Coca tea ("mate de coca") is available in tea bags in many markets.
However, severe cases of high altitude disease can be treated at the High Altitude Pathology Institute at Clinica IPPA . This Clinic has the most advanced technology including a hypoxic adaptation chamber. In addition, the sun's ultraviolet rays are much stronger -- up to 20 times -- than at sea level. A sun hat, sunglasses, and skin protection (sunblock or long sleeves) are advised.
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for those who plan on spending time in the Bolivian Amazon. It must be taken 10 days prior to the person’s arrival into the country if the visitor plans to visit rural areas.
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended if the visitor plans to visit tropical-rural areas.
As a preventive measure, taking the following vaccines is recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Measles Booster-Vaccines.
Respect
Do not use the word "indio" in Bolivia to describe indigenous people. It is considered offensive. The term they use is "campesino" which translates to peasant or "indígena". "Cholo" is a campesino who moved to the city, and though originally derogatory, has become more of a symbol of indigenous power. Nevertheless, some locals still use the word cholo as a derogative term.
Contact
Bolivia's national phone company Entel has outlets on practically every block in major cities. Most Punto Entel shops also have internet-connected PCs, typically Bs4/hr.
While traditional payphones still exist, you can also make local calls for Bs1 from cellular phones at kiosks.
If you are staying for a while, consider buying SIM cards for your cellphones. They are quite cheap and you get good network coverage in all main cities and towns.
