Bolivia is a fascinating country in South America about twice the size of France, surrounded by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. It is a high-altitude place, with the highest commercial capital in the world, La Paz, (Sucre is the admin capital) and the world’s highest commercially navigable body of water, Lake Titicaca.
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La Paz is the second largest city and is the administrative capital, while Sucre is the constitutional capital. La Paz is the world’s highest capital located 3,660 metres above sea level, and the country’s main airport is located there.
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The weather in Bolivia is diverse and unpredictable due to its elevation, ranging from extremely humid to, at times, freezing cold. Summer is between November and April and this is also Bolivia’s rainy season. The most popular time to travel is in the winter from May to October when the country is at its driest. The temperature reduces with altitude and when the sun goes down it can get really chilly, especially in the mountainous and salt desert areas. When the sun is out, the rays can be really fierce, so always keep your sunblock handy.
Visas may be required in order to enter or transit through certain countries depending on your passport nationality, your reason for travel and how long you intend to stay.
Visa, passport and entry rules are subject to change and you should check the most up-to-date information from the relevant embassy or visa specialist.
To make things easier we have teamed up with The Travel Visa Company who are one of the UK’s leading travel visa specialists. You can use their website, alongside embassy websites, to find out the specific entry requirements for the countries you intend to travel to.
For a fee, their dedicated team of experts can also apply for visas on your behalf, taking away the hassle and streamlining the process for you if you wish. For more details on the services they provide please click here – The Travel Visa Company
Passports must be kept in good condition. Travellers with damaged passports may be refused entry at immigration. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure that all travel documents are in good condition before they travel. Most countries will also require at least 6 months of validity on your passport from the time you finish your trip.
Some countries will require proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever or covid, in order to gain entry. Please check with the relevant embassy or a visa specialist before travelling.
There are over 30 different local languages officially listed in Bolivia, but over 75% of the population speaks Spanish, a hangover from the conquistadors. English is not understood by many people and if you want to get the most out of a trip to Bolivia, we recommend spending at least 2 weeks or, better, 4 weeks at a language school learning basic Spanish
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Bolivia is the third largest cocaine producer in the world. Avoid contact with illegal drugs and take care of your luggage and belongings. Penalties for drug trafficking or possession are severe, with a minimum sentence of 8 years. Prison conditions in Bolivia are very basic.
Bolivia has several illegal bars and if caught in one you may be detained for questioning, especially if there are drugs on the premises.
If you are carrying cameras or binoculars to remote areas, especially coca-growing areas such as the Chapare and the Yungas, take care and always check before taking photographs of local people.
Although homosexuality is not illegal in Bolivia it is still frowned upon by the majority of Bolivians. Altiplano is more conservative than Santa Cruz, where attitudes are usually more liberal.
We have selected what we believe to be the key points that you should be aware of when travelling in Bolivia.
Gap 360 follows advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and we recommend that you frequently check the FCDO for updated travel advice. You can find the website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Keep vigilant when travelling in Bolivia as petty crime can be a problem in tourist destinations and in central La Paz, especially in busy areas or on buses. Don’t leave your belongings unattended and keep your valuables, passport and travel tickets in a secure place.
So-called ‘Express kidnappings’ can be a problem in Bolivia, which are opportunistic and usually short-term, random abductions, the goal of which is to extract cash from the victim. Victims can be held for up to several days for the use of their bank or credit cards. Travellers are particularly vulnerable at overland border points with Peru, Chile and Argentina. Take care in the Cementerio General and Sopocachi areas of La Paz and try to use direct buses if travelling from Copacabana to La Paz.
There have been some reports of kidnappings involving taxis, mainly in Santa Cruz and La Paz. If travelling by taxi you should only use an established firm of ‘radio taxi’ which can be identified as they display the name of the taxi company and the phone number on the roof, and those registered with the mayor’s office display a yellow sticker in one of their windows. Radio taxis should carry no other passengers. Remain vigilant around transport when in tourist sites such as Rurrenabaque, as there have been some reported attacks on lone travellers using motorbike taxis. Beware of anyone who tries to offer help at taxi ranks or bus terminals as thieves may work in teams and use distraction methods.
You may be subject to an ID check by either the police or immigration officials, so you should keep a photocopy of your passport (with Bolivian immigration stamps) with you, and leave the original document in a safe place. Criminals have sometimes been known to impersonate police officers, using false ID, uniforms and even bogus police stations, and then team up with fake taxis to target travellers. Bogus police officers may ask for passports or other information and then try to persuade you to get into a taxi, where you may be robbed or taken to a cash point to withdraw money. In Bolivia, you cannot be searched without a written order from a state prosecutor.
Travellers are advised not to use airports outside the 9 departmental capitals in Bolivia as standards of safety outside these areas are of concern.
The road system in Bolivia is poor and accidents involving public transport have been reported, especially on long-distance buses, often because bus drivers drive for long hours. Most buses and taxis do not meet European standards and often don’t have seat belts.
Other than the principal roads, many roads in Bolivia are unpaved tracks. During the rainy season from November to March, roads can be washed away or flooded. 4-wheel drive vehicles are the best form of transport during the rainy season.
At night, broken-down vehicles with no warning lights can be a hazard.
We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.
As the political situation in Bolivia is unpredictable, demonstrations can become violent without warning so travellers are advised to avoid large crowds and demonstrations. Border areas and other remote regions are also at risk from demonstrations. Road blockades can be set up by protest groups without warning; do not attempt to cross these blockades.
While in Bolivia you may be offered a prison tour, but not only are these illegal they are also unsafe and no guarantee can be made of your safety once you are on prison premises.
Bolivia is well known for its adventure activities, which include mountain biking, salt flat tours and jungle tours. No official minimum standards are applied to tour operators, so always use reputable companies and make sure that your travel insurance policy covers you for the activities you wish to do.
If you want to take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca or go on a jungle river excursion, please note that the boats used on such trips are often very basic.
‘Death Road’, which runs from La Paz to Coroico through the Yungas Valley, is a popular spot for mountain biking, but always ensure that your bicycles are in good condition and that your guides have all the appropriate safety equipment and carry first-aid kits.
The rainy season, from November to March, can cause regular floods and landslides, especially in mountainous areas, often making roads impassable for days.
You should be in touch with your GP around 8 weeks before you travel for vaccination or health advice. A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for those travelling to areas below 2,300m east of the Andes Mountains, including the entire departments of Beni, Pando, and Santa Cruz, and some areas in the Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz and Tarija departments. If an outbreak of yellow fever happens in an area designated as ‘high risk’ for yellow fever, the government will set up vaccination points at police checkpoints at which you may be vaccinated if you do not already hold a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
An outbreak of AH3N2 flu has recently been confirmed in Bolivia, with La Paz, Oruro and Potosi the most affected areas due to their low temperatures.
Dengue Fever is common in Bolivia, with rain and flooding increasing the mosquito population leading to greater vulnerability to dengue breakouts. Malaria is also common in lowland tropical areas such as Beni, Pando, Yacuiba and Paracari.
Altitude sickness can be a problem, so take care when staying in high altitude areas. Don’t drink alcohol for the first couple of days, and make sure you eat only light meals and drink LOTS of water. It is important that you visit your GP before travelling to areas of high altitude if you suffer from either high blood pressure, respiratory problems or a heart condition.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should carry a letter from your doctor describing your condition and any medication you have been prescribed. If you carry your own medicines with you, make sure they are in original, clearly labelled containers.
Diarrhoea can be caused by contaminated food or water so we advise you drink bottled water.
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