travel tips | bolivia (eng.)

BOLIVIA

TRAVEL TIPS

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OVERVIEW

What comes on your mind when you think about Bolivia? La Paz, mountains covered with snow, llamas and colorful ponchos? Those are not the only things that Bolivia has to offer. Genuine, beautiful and fascinating, this is how Bolivia is. The country stands out for its natural beauty and interesting culture.

Bolivia is certainly one of the most exciting destinies in South America. Although its poor economy, the country is rich in tourist attractions. Its majestic landscapes, the historic buildings that register the remote past and the nice people make Bolivia more beautiful and colorful and will make your trip unforgettable.

The country is located in South America and is close to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. Sucre is the Constitutional Capital and La Paz is the Seat of Government.

Its almost 1 100 000 km² are divided into 7 regions: Altiplano, Vale Central, Tropico, Chacho, Yungas, Pampa and Amaon. The Altiplano is a big plateau in the centre of the country where most of the bolivians live. Its east side is covered by the Amazon Forest and in its western part there is the biggest salt flat of the world, the Uyuni Salar. La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Cochabamba, Oruro, Uyuni and Copacabana are the most visited cities in the region.

The natural beauties, the biodiversity, the fascinating landscapes and the historic legacy (like the Tiahuanaco Culture) surprise all

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBOLIVIA

visitors, especially the ones who are looking for adventure and that enjoy ecotourism.

The official language is the spanish with its dialect variations like the Quechua and the Aimara. Most of the population is Catholic but the folkloric habits and celebrations, especially the ones about the Pachamama Godness (Mother-Earth), are never forgotten.

For Mercosul members and European people there is no need to have a prior Visa, but it is always required to have the International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever (ICV) to enter the country.

Even though Bolivia is located in the Tropical Zone, the country has strong climate variations between its regions. In La Paz, at an elevation of almost 3700m, the average temperature is 10° C and in Trinidad, in the south part of Bolivia, it stays around 28° C.

The summer is hot and rainy. If you travel to Bolivia during this season (from December to March) you will probably find many closed roads. But during the winter (from June to August) the weather is drier.

In the Altiplano region the day starts really cold but it gets hotter during the day. At night it gets colder again. These temperature variations cause health problems, especially to the tourists who are not used to these changes. Get some Vitamin C, comfortable clothes, some jackets and a lot of water to hydrate the skin. To chew the coca leafs

is a normal practice among bolivians. The taste could be better, but at least it stabilizes the body temperature and eases the uncomfortable sensation in the ears.

Due to Bolivia’s location and its altitude, in the south the weather is hot and in the Altiplano (very high) it is always cold. The summer is the rainy season and many roads tend to get blocked.

Another important fact to consider are the bolivian festivals occurring during different times in the year. Take a look the most famous ones:

Beyond the traditional New Year’s Day on January 1, on July 21 it is celebrated the New Year’s Day in the Aymara culture. It happens on this date because of the beginning of winter and according to the legend, it is the coldest night in the year. The Tiahuanaco ruins (one hour from La Paz) turn into a stage for a wonderful ceremony with music, typical food and costumes where everybody awaits the dawn through the Sun Gateway.


The bolivian Carnival is so famous as the brazilian one. During four days everybody celebrates throughout the entire country. It usually happens in February or March and it lives up the cities with costumes, music and a lot of fun. The Oruro Carnival was declared a masterpiece of the UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The party starts one week before the traditional Carnival and is a nice invitation to a huge fun. Many flokloric bands and dance groups go on stage. The music played in Oruro spreads throughout Bolivia and unites everybody in a great singing.

The merging of pre-Columbian religions and the Roman Catholic faith created many religious observations, including the “Gran Poder” party, that happens in May and puts thousands of musicians and dancers together in La Paz. The Diablada is one of the most

awaited parades. With masks, dragons, serpents and adornments, it represents the battle of good versus evil. The interesting is that all kinds of people enjoy together this celebration that can last 15 hours. Since it is a tribute to the “Señor del Gran Poder”, people dress the best clothes and the best jewelry, waiting to be recognized for the effort.

On August 6 the Bolivian Independence Day is celebrated everywhere. It is worth taking a look at the celebration that happens in Independencia, a small village only 90km away from La Paz. For the ones who prefer quiet places, this is not the best time to visit Bolivia. The party lasts 4 consecutive day, day and night. Residents, workers and visitors enjoy the festivities all together and it is useless to try to rest at night, since the party continues until the sunrise.

TRANSPORT

There are three international airports in Bolivia: the Viru Viru Airport (in Santa Cruz de la Sierra), the El Alto Airport (in La Paz) and the Jorge Wilstermann Airport (in Cochabamba). Beyond those airports there are some airlines that make connections in countries like Peru and Chile.

The public transportations are really cheap. The microbuses, largely used by locals, take you to different places with less than 50 cents. They do not offer any luxury, actually, there is a great risk that the vehicle present some mechanical problem. But it is worth the adventure and the experience. There is always someone screaming the itinerary through the vehicle’s window and sometimes they do that with open doors. It is hard to understand, but sometimes this mess can help the tourists. They can stop at any time and make it easier for you to get to your destiny.

The taxis are also an excellent and cheap option to get around the town. A 20 minutes drive can cost only 3 dollars. Do not forget to negotiate the price before entering it. They do not have a taximeter, so they can charge any price. It is also important to bargain because since you are a tourist the taxi drivers will want to charge even more from you. If you insist a little they will lower the price.

To rent a car is not such a good idea. The roads are not so well paved and to get to some touristic attractions it is necessary to know the place well. What seems to be an advantage can turn into a huge headache in the end.

The trains in Bolivia are only worth the adventure. In poor conditions, the hours inside the trains can turn into an infinity. There is no comfort and many bolivians come and go through the wagons selling lemonades, empanadas, meals and even toilet paper. The “Tren de la Muerte” is the most famous one with four itineraries: Quijarro - Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Villazón – Uyuni, Uyuni – Oruro and Uyuni - Estação Varoa. The name of the train refers to the danger from the poor rails and from the expectation of surviving the difficulties from the trip. There are some divisions: the Class A (or 1) costs less than 10 dollars the ticket and the seats are really small and uncomfortable. If you pay around 18 dollars you can travel in the Super Pullman category with more space and a subtle reclination of the seats.

ATTRACTIONS

SALAR DE UYUNI

Imagine how would it be the union of the sky and the earth... If you visit the Salar de Uyuni, you will be able to see it for real. It is the world’s largest salt flat with 12,000


square kilometers and it is located in the Altiplano region. It is known for “the vision of the end of the world” and this experience is unforgettable. It is necessary to have a high car, like a 4x4, to get to the Salar. The tourism agencies in Potosi offer many kinds of tours. Do not forget the sunglasses and the sun block! The sun reflects a lot in this white area and it is dangerous, you can get a sunburn or even suffer injuries in the eyes. You will also need special outfits because it is really cold there, even during the day.

TITICACA LAKEThe highest navigable lake in the world is circa 3800m above the sea level. Located between Peru and Bolivia it covers an area of 8500km² and has more than 40 islands. Cities like Huarina, Guaqui and Copacabana are situated on the margin of the lake. Its color varies between a green and blue, depending on its deep. With the growth of the population, some locations are not appropriate for bathing. But check with the local people, depending on the season it is possible to swim over there. Just take care with the cold wheater!!

ISLA DEL SOLIt is the biggest and the most famous island in the Titicaca Lake. With more than 180 temples and sanctuaries ruins dedicated to the Sun God, the island was sacred by the incas. To visit the Isla del Sol visitors just have to take a boat in Copacabana. Usually there are motorboats that leave Copacabana every day from 8am until 1h30pm. Some of the local attractions are the Sacred Stone, the Bureau of Sacrifices, the Yumani Trail and the Fountain of Youth.

TRAIN CEMETERYLocated in Uyuni (Potosi) this is one of the major tourist attractions of the area. The antique train cemetery draws the attention of everybody because of its peculiar beauty. The town served in the past as a distribution hub for the trains carrying minerals on their way to the Pacific Ocean ports. But when the mining industry collapsed, the train were abandoned thereby producing the train cemetery.

SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRAThe city was founded in 1561 and was slightly modified. Spending just one afternoon in the Historical Center will not be enough to appreciate all the beauty and the monuments like the Metropolitan Cathedral and its observatory, the Museum of Sacred Art, the Noel Kempff Natural History Museum, the Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the El Arenal Park and much more.

COPACABANAThe main bolivian town on the shore of the Lake Titicaca is 150km away from La Paz and is bordered by Peru. Its name comes from “kota kahuana”, which means “lake view” in the Aymara dialect. Boats leave for the islands in the lake every day. The Calle 6 de Agosto offers a great variety in restaurants and hotels. The Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana is the greatest attraction in the city. Built during the spanish colonization, the Basilica has many paintings and sculptures and a wonderful gold altar. A visit to the Avenida Costanera is also worthwhile.


SUCREThe constitutional capital of Bolivia became in 1991 a UNESC World Heritage Site. In Sucre visitor will find many museums, churches, parks that have a lot to do with the country’s history. When visiting the town you must go to the Museo Casa de La Libertad. The museum has relics of the spanish colonization available and is located at the famous Plaza 25 de Mayo. The entrance costs 2 Dollars. Other interesting places to visit are the Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Cal Orcko is also another place worth mentioning. Situaded 20 min away from Sucre, the place has the largest trail of dinosaur footprints in the world, with almost 347m.

ESTRADA DE LA MUERTEThe “Death Road” is considered the most dangerous road in the world and it connects La Paz to Coroico. The track is supposed to be done by bicycle. Cyclists from all over the world look for this road. Just a part from the track is paved, the rest is only sand and rocks. The adrenaline is even higher in the parts of the road where there are no protective railings.


CHACALTAYAIt is a mountain the Cordillera Real, one of the mountain ranges of the Andes. The mountain is located 30km away from La Paz and has the world’s highest lift-served ski area of the world. It is possible to go up for trekking without the help of climbing gear, but you have to take care. There is a great difficulty when breathing, since the mountain is really high. For those who are not used to it, it is normal to get a little dizzy. But the sensation of being in the top of the world is sensational and unforgettable. It is recommended to visit the mountain during the summer, when the snow is in better conditions.

WHERE TO STAY

There are many different kinds of accommodations, but if you enjoy luxury hotels you will not have so many choices. Visitors can choose between hotels and hostels with nice but simple accommodations.

It all depends on where you want to stay, but the prices are relatively cheap. In La Paz, as in any other capital, there is a bigger variety of hotels. The Residencial Sorata is a hostel located at the Plaza Principal in Yungas (only 4 hours away from La Paz) that offers accommodations for only 5 Dollars. The Hotel El Castilho del Loro, in the Chulumani road (20km away from Unduavi) offers rooms in a castle replica for only 20 dollars. The El

Castilho also has a wonderful view and a really tasty and complete breakfast with teas, hot chocolate, milk, a great variety of breads, pies and cookies.

For those who enjoy the big city rush and crowd, La Paz is the best place to go. But for those who want peace and tranquility, Santa Cruz or Tarija are the best options. The Residencial Altiplano, located in the Calle Junin in Tarija, offers cozy and comfortable bedrooms for only 40 dollars.

If you want to explore the new, the Hotel de Sal, located in the Salar de Uyuni, is really


interesting. The hotel was built out of salt blocks caved from the white, salty lake surrounding it. The only things that are not made of salt are the tin roof covered by straw, the pool table, the lightening devices and the toilets. It is not the most comfortable place, but it is worth the experience. To stay one night in the hotel it costs more or less 20 dollars.

You can stay in La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Uyuni, Cochabamba, Oruro, Copacabana or in any other city, you will always find a nice place that will make your trip even more interesting.

DINING OUT

The bolivian culinary is very simple but it varies a lot according to each region. Carbohydrates like breads and pies are mostly found in high cities like Potosi and La Paz. Fruits and vegetables are consumed in the whole country.

The meals are almost always based on pollo (chicken). It is possible to eat chicke with potatoes, milanese chicken and in many other ways.

The “locro” is a kind of soup made of corn and parts of the cow with bones and marrow. It is largely consumed because of its tonic value, really necessary in cold climates. The “chairo” is a thick broth made mostly with potatoes, carrots, meat with bones and condiments. The “Sajta” is a well-seasoned chicken recipe accompanied by potatoes. In Cochabamba you can enjoy the “silpancho”, which is made of fried bread, meat, egg, rice and banana.

There are different kinds of breads, each one with a name and a filling. The “cuñape” is made with cheese. For those who like carbohydrates this is a great choice.

The sandwiches are always filled with eggs. Even if the name says “cheeseburguer” (the famous bread, meat and cheese sandwich) there will be eggs. Always remember to ask them to take the eggs out, if you do not like it.

You will also find the famous fast-foods in Bolivia. Beyond those ones, there are also the “salteñas” (a kind of tartlet) and the “tortillas” (a thin bread that is similar to a pizza dough).

One of the reasons for the excessive use of oil in the food preparation is the attempt to minimize the effects of the altitude and the cold weather.

Do not drink the water from the faucet! There is no appropriate treatment for the water and only one glass of water can cause some problems. But do not worry, you will find appropriate water to buy everywhere. Beyond that, do not wait to get cold beverages. Most of the beverages are served at room temperature.

The “chicha” is one of the most traditional drinks in Bolivia. It was produced by the native andeans since the Inca Empire and it is based on corn. If a local native offers you the chicha, do not refuse it, because it means that he liked you.

The coca tea is popular in Bolivia. But there is no hallucinogen effect and it does not harm the health. By the way, it relieves the effects caused by the high altitude, like dizziness, nausea and even the cold. Chewing the coca leaves is also really common.


A typical bolivian fruit is the “chirimoya” (Guanabara). With its thick green skin and the juicy white flesh, the fruit has a sweet and sour taste.

SHOPPING

Shopping in Bolivia can be irresistible. The bolivian currency is devalued, so the prices are really tempting. Beyond that, do not forget to bargain. Even though you think the price is okay, you can bargain a little bit more and get a better price.

In La Paz, just as in any other capital of the world, you can find a great variety of products. But the city is well known for its camping, climbing, sportswear and winter clothing stores. Most of these stores are located close to the Calles (streets in spanish) Sagarnaga and Illampu. At the Shopping Norte, situated in the Calle Socabaya, you will find great brands with even better prices.

Guayamerin is considered the “shoppers paradise”. The city is a mandatory stop for those who enjoy shopping. The city borders Porto Velho, a brazilian city, so you will find many brazilians over there. It is possible to by electronic devices, clothes, accessories, shoes, watches, make up, parfums and decoration objects.

It does not matter which city you are going to visit, the inca colors and inspiration are everywhere. You can buy all kinds of typical

products like handcrafts, jewelry, the famous ponchos, the colorful bowler hats, the alpaca’s wool clothes, woodwind instruments and local decoration objects like painting and sculptures.

STREET MARKETSTo find street markets in the bolivian cities is an easy thing. The bolivians are really simple and so is the infrastructure of the country. The markets are the best and cheapest way they found to promote and sell their products.

The “Mercado de las Brujas” (Witches Market) is a mystical place with exotic objects. Nowhere else you will find frogs, toads and even dry llama’s fetuses. Although it seems pretty awkward, it is a tradition to bury the fetuses as an offering to the Pachamana Goddess in order to always have luck and protection. The “Witches Market” is located close to the streets Jimenez and Linhares, in La Paz. There are different kinds of herbs, spices, condiments, plants and insects. A visit to this place can be both interesting or creepy. The merchants can teach you many interesting things like how to prepare homemade medicaments.

The “Mercado Rodriguez” is located at the Calle Rodriguez, also in La Paz. It is open daily and is one of the oldest and most traditional market in the city. It is recommended to arrive early there, then you can get fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and fishes from the Titicaca lake.

The “Feria del Alto” is a market located in the suburbs of La Paz, where you can find a huge diversity of products. The sellers put up their


tents every Thursday and every Sunday to offer a bit of everything: handcrafts, leather clothes, coats and alpaca ponchos.

La Cancha, in Cochabamba, is considered the biggest open air market in South America. Everything you can think of you will find there. Accessories, books, traditional and modern clothes, typical food and many souvenirs. Located at the south of the city, it begins in the San Martin Avenue. During the week some stores are closed, but Saturdays all of them are opened.

CURRENCYThe currency used in Bolivia is the “Boliviano”. The peso Boliviano was replaced by the boliviano in 1987, after a long period of inflation.

One Boliviano (B$ or Bs$) is divided into 100 cents. There are six different coins: 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 Bolivianos. The banknotes are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 bolivianos. One US Dollar almost equals seven Bolivianos.

If it is necessary, you will find exchange agencies and banks in many places in Bolivia. But do not worry, most stores and restaurants accept Dollar and Euro. Maybe you will have some problems using the credit card. The bolivians are used to commercialize only with cash.

+591+591 (2)+591 (4)+591 (3)+591 (2)+591 (2)+591 (4)+591 (4)+591 (3)+591 (3)

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COUNTRY CODE

LA PAZ

COCHABAMBA

SANTA CRUZ

ORURO

POTOSÍ

CHUQUISACA

TARIJA

BENI

PANDO

POLICE

FIRE DEPARTMENT

AMBULANCE

UDEM (MEDICAL EMERGENCIES)

CARDIOCRUZ (MEDICAL EMERGENCIES)

SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA (VIRU VIRU) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

+591 (3) 338 5000

LA PAZ (EL ALTO) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

+591 (2) 215 7300

COCHABAMBA (JORGE WILSTERMANN) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

+591 (4) 412 0400

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

travel tips | bolivia (eng.)

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