Bolivia

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Overview

Bolivia is beautiful and striking; there are currently 10 national parks and eight protected areas. Although Bolivia is landlocked, it never feels claustrophobic - blessed with breathtaking lakes and lofty mountains.

Throughout the country's colonial history, Bolivia was known as 'Upper Peru', until after Simon Bolivar led the country to independence in 1825, when it was named in his honour. Therefore, the country's name instigates great national pride, which has unfortunately been marred by years of turmoil and tyranny under the lead of caudillos (military dictators).

Liberation retains a dual meaning in Bolivia; a country of great expanse, extensive lakes and salt plains induce an elated sense of freedom for any traveller. But there is little of such freedom for Bolivians, many of whom count for some of the poorest people in Latin America. Although Bolivia has entered an unprecedented era of political stability, it follows a record of 192 coups in the 156 years from independence to 1981.

The fight to keep their land mirrors the Bolivians' fight to preserve their traditions, such as the Pachamama ('Mother Earth'); shrines to her are found everywhere.

Area
1,098,581 sq km (424,164 sq miles).

Population
9 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
7.6 per sq km.

Capital
Legal: Sucre. Population: 250,000 (official estimate 2006). Administrative: La Paz. Population: 830,000 (official estimate 2006).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1825.

Language
The official language is Spanish, but the main native languages are Quechua, Aymará and Guaraní. English can be spoken by a small number of officials and businesspeople in commercial centres.

Religion
Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority.

Time
GMT - 4.

Social Conventions
Normal social courtesies in most Bolivian families and respect for traditions should be observed. Remember to refer to rural Bolivians as campesinos rather than Indians, which is considered an insult. Western dress and diet are gradually being adopted by the campesinos; a suit and tie for men and dress for women should be worn for smart social occasions. Casual wear is otherwise suitable. Smoking is accepted unless indicated otherwise.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin (circular) plugs or Japanese-style two-pin (perpendicular flat) plugs.

Head of State
President Evo Morales since January 2006.

Culture

Food and Drink
Bolivian food is distinctive and is generally good. Dishes are dominated by meat. International- and local-style restaurants are available in La Paz and other main towns. Bottled water and other drinks are available.

Things to know: Local bars are increasing in number and are unrestricted with no licensing hours.

National specialities:
o Empanada salteña (a mixture of diced meat, chicken, chives, raisins, diced potatoes, hot sauce and pepper baked in dough).
o Lomo montado (fried tender loin steak with two fried eggs on top, rice and fried banana).
o Picante de pollo (southern fried chicken, fried potatoes, rice, tossed salad with hot peppers).
o Cuño (naturally freeze-dried potato used in soup called chairo).
o Lechón al horno (roast suckling pig served with sweet potato and fried plantains).

National drinks:
o Bolivian beer, especially paceña, is some of the best on the continent.
o Chicha, made from fermented cereals and corn, is very strong.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: It is customary to add 10% as a tip to the 13% service charge added to hotel and restaurant bills. Porters also expect tips for each piece of luggage.

Nightlife
La Paz has many nightclubs, which generally open around midnight. There are also numerous whiskerias, local bars. On Fridays and Saturdays there are folk music and dancing shows, which start late in the evening. Cochabamba and Santa Cruz have several discos.

Shopping
Special purchases include woodcarvings, jewellery, llama and alpaca blankets, Indian handicrafts and gold and silver costume jewellery.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 and 1500-1930; Sat 1000-1500.

Environment

Climate
Bolivia has a temperate climate but with wide differences between day and night. The wettest period is November to March, which, in extreme circumstances, may induce landslides in mountainous areas, and cause certain roads to become impassable. The northeast slopes of the Andes are semi-tropical. Visitors often find La Paz uncomfortable because of the thin air due to high altitude. The mountain areas can become very cold at night.

Required Clothing
Lightweight, natural fabrics; raincoat. Warmer clothing is necessary at night, and particularly in the Altiplano and the Puna, including La Paz, Oruro and Potosi.

Bolivia is a landlocked country bordered by Peru to the northwest, Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south and Chile to the west. There are three main areas: the first is a high plateau known as the 'Altiplano', a largely barren region lying approximately 4,000m (13,000ft) above sea level. It comprises 10% of the country's area and contains 70% of the population, nearly one-third of whom are urban dwellers. The second area is a fertile valley situated 1,800m (5,900ft) to 2,700m (8,850ft) above sea level. The third area comprises the lowland tropics which stretch down to the frontiers with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, taking up some 70% of the land area. Rainfall in this region is high, and the climate is hot.

Money

Currency
Boliviano (BOB; symbol Bs) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of Bs200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Bs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 centavos.
The Boliviano is tied to the US Dollar.

Currency Exchange
Money can be changed in hotels and casas de cambio.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most mid- to top-range hotels and restaurants, but otherwise have limited acceptance. ATMs are available in most larger towns and cities.

Traveller's Cheques
US Dollar traveller's cheques are probably the best form of currency to take to Bolivia at present. Pounds Sterling cheques can sometimes be exchanged, but only with difficulty.

Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1430-1800. Some banks open Sat 0900-1300.

Duty Free

The following goods may be imported into Bolivia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:

o 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
o 3l of alcoholic beverages.
o New articles up to US$1,000.

Traveller's Guide

Passports
Passport valid for at least one year beyond the intended length of stay required.

Visas
Not required except the following, provided travelling for touristic purposes:
(a) 1. nationals of Malta.
Note: (a) 2. All nationals travelling on business do need a Specific Purpose visa. (b) Nationals not requiring a tourist visa are usually allowed to stay for a period of 30 to 90 days; check with the embassy (or consular section at embassy).
Types of Visa and Cost Tourist/Transit:
Cost depends on nationality; enquire at the embassy (or consular section at embassy). Specific Purpose: £61.50. Student: £31.

Validity
Tourist visas are valid for 30 days but can be extended for up to 90 days (depending on nationality) from the date of entry. Specific Purpose visas are valid for 30 days and can be renewed for 60 or 90 additional days at the immigration office in Bolivia. Student visas are valid for 60 days. Transit visas are valid for 15 days.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required
One to two for nationals requiring tourist visas without special authorisation. Approximately six weeks for all other nationals requiring tourist visas and special authorisation from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Contact Addresses

Viceministerio de Turismo
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz, Edificio Cámara de Comercio, Piso 11, La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (2) 233 4849 or 235 2479 or 237 5129.
Website: www.turismobolivia.bo

Embassy and Consulate of the Republic of Bolivia in the UK
106 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AD, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 4248 or 4255.
Website: www.embassyofbolivia.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700 (general enquiries); Mon-Thurs 1000-1400 (consular and visa enquiries).

Embassy of the Republic of Bolivia in the USA
3014 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 483 4410 or 232 4828 (consular section).
Website: www.bolivia-usa.org

Health Care
Medical insurance is strongly recommended. In case of a medical emergency, La Paz has a good US clinic. Note * Risk varies from area to area (as does resistance to preventative drugs); check before travel.
** A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected countries. Vaccination is recommended for incoming travellers from non-infected zones visiting risk areas such as the Departments of Beni, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and the subtropical part of the La Paz Department.

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