Australia
Bolivia Travel and Destination Guide
PRE-DEPARTURE INFO
Street protests, strikes and demonstrations are reasonably common in Bolivia and have the potential to become violent. Travelers should avoid becoming caught up in such events and check local news sources to be aware of any developments.
Travelers contemplating a visit to the silver mines of Potosí should be aware of the potential health risks before they set out. Check the Potosí pages of World Guide for more details.
At least sixteen people have been killed in vehicle accidents on the Salar De Uyuni salt plains since May 2008. Four people were killed in an accident on July 13 - a tour company driver, two French tourists and a Belgian tourist. There have been alarming reports of ill-equipped vehicles, speeding tour operators and a lack of emergency equipment - travellers must be cautious and ensure they are dealing with reliable tour companies.
When to Go
Travelers will encounter just about every climatic zone in Bolivia, from stifling humidity and heat to arctic cold. Summer (November to April) is the rainy season, when overland transportation becomes difficult if not impossible in some areas. In the lowlands it can be utterly miserable, with mud, high humidity, biting insects and relentless tropical downpours. The most popular, and arguably most comfortable, time for exploring the whole country is during winter (May to October) with its dry, clear days. This is also the best season for climbing.
The high tourist season falls between late June and early September, due not only to climatic factors, but the timing of European and North American summer vacations and the fact that it's also Bolivia's major fiesta season. Both international visitors and lots of South Americans are traveling during this period, so prices are generally higher than during the rest of the year.
Visas Overview
Passports must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry. Entry or exit stamps are free, and attempts at charging should be met with polite refusal; ask for a receipt if the issue is pressed.
Bolivian visa requirements can be arbitrarily changed and interpreted. Regulations, including entry stays, are likely to change. Each Bolivian consulate and border crossing may have its own entry requirements, procedures and idiosyncrasies.
Citizens of most South American and Western European countries can get a tourist card on entry for stays up to 90 days, depending on the nationality. Citizens of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are granted 30 days while citizens of Israel are granted 90 days. In January 2007, the Morales government announced that from March 2007 all US citizens visiting Bolivia would require a visa. Check with the Bolivian embassy (www.bolivia-usa.org) for the latest.
Visas are issued by Bolivian consular representatives, including those in neighboring South American countries. Costs vary according to the consulate and the nationality of the applicant. See the website of the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto (Bolivian Ministry of Exterior Relations & Culture; www.rree.gov.bo) for a complete list of overseas representatives and current regulations.
In addition to a valid passport and visa, citizens of many Communist, African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries require 'official permission' from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a visa will be issued. Anyone coming from a yellow-fever infected area needs a vaccination certificate to enter Bolivia. Those entering some neighboring countries, including Brazil, from Bolivia, are also required to have proof of a yellow-fever vaccination. If necessary, a jab can often be administered at the border.
Electricity
220V 50Hz
Electric Plug Details
European plug with two circular metal pins
plug with two parallel flat blades
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