Social ConventionsNormal 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. Female
campesinos still adhere to their traditional dress. 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. Time keeping is poor.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
AeroSur (
website: www.aerosur.com).
Air Passesoneworld Visit South
America Pass: valid for unlimited travel to 34 cities in ten countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include
American Airlines (AA),
British Airways (BA),
Iberia (IB) and
LAN (LA). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. A minimum of three flights must be booked, with a maximum of 20; prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.
Departure TaxUS$24. Payable in US Dollars for all non-residents. There is also a national passenger tax of Bs169 for international departures.
Main AirportsLa Paz (LPB) (El Alto International) is 14km (8.5 miles) southwest of La Paz.
To/from the airport: Regular minibus services to the city depart after scheduled flight arrivals (journey time - 20 minutes), heading for the terminus at Plaza Isabel La Católica.
Facilities: restaurant and cafe,
call center and Internet access.
Santa Cruz (VVI) (Viru Viru International) is 16km (10 miles) from the center of Santa Cruz and is the largest airport in Bolivia.
To/from the airport: Regular minibus services to the city depart after scheduled flight arrivals (journey time - 30 minutes), heading for the terminus at the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
Facilities: Cafe, sandwich bar, call center, hotel reservations, Internet access and duty-free facilities.
For further information, contact the
Bolivian Airports Service (SABSA) (website:
www.sabsa.aero).
Getting There by WaterAlthough it is a member of the International Maritime Organization, Bolivia is wholly landlocked and not served by cruises. However, it is possible to reach ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru by
ship and, from there, there are rail connections to La Paz or Santa Cruz. The nearest seaport is
Arica in the extreme north of Chile. There are also crossings at Port Heath on the Madre de Dios river (Peru), the Bermejo or Pilcomayo rivers (Argentina) and from Brasilia to Cobija across to the Acre River and from Guayaramerin across the Heinez river (both in Brazil).
Steamers cross Lake Titicaca to the Peruvian port of Puno from Guaqui, the most important port on the lake. Situated 90km (56 miles) from La Paz, it is accessible by road but the journey is a rough one.
Getting There by RailThere are rail connections from Oruro to La Quiaca and Pocitos (Argentina), and a connection to Corumba (Brazil).
Getting There by RoadThe Pan-American Highway, which links Argentina with Peru and Ecuador, skirts Bolivian territory from the south to the northwest. Driving in the rainy season may be hazardous. Principal highways are generally well-maintained.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Bolivia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
• 3l of alcoholic beverages.
• New articles up to US$1,000.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirInternal flights are operated by
AeroSur (website:
www.aerosur.com). Because of the country's topography and tropical regions, air travel is the fastest, but not cheapest, method of transport, although delays, cancellations and unreliability are common.
La Paz (El Alto), which is the highest airport in the world, and
Santa Cruz (Viru Viru) are the principal domestic air hubs.
Getting Around by WaterDouble-decker passenger boats operate between the various small islands on Lake Titicaca with regular departures from Copacabana. Motorised canoes traverse the many rivers of the Amazon basin with the most regular departures from Rurrenabaque.
Getting Around by RailBolivia has two separate and unconnected networks - Eastern and Western. The Eastern network's hub is Santa Cruz from where
Ferroviaria Oriental (website:
www.ferroviariaoriental.com) runs trains to the Brazilian borders, the latter known locally as 'the death train'. The Western line, running from Oruro via Uyuni and Tupiza to Villazon for trains to Argentina, is run by
Empresa Ferroviaria Andina (
FCA) (website:
www.fca.com.bo). Trains have three to four classes and restaurant cars. Buy tickets in advance from the offices in Santa Cruz and La Paz respectively.
Getting Around by RoadMost major roads are paved, but B roads can be made of gravel or dirt in country areas. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus: Long bus trips off the main routes can be erratic. Regular long-distance bus departures between major cities are often overnight services.
Taxi: Taxis generally have fixed rates and sharing taxis is common. Tipping is not necessary.
Car hire: There are international and local companies in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 90kph (55mph). The use of seat belts is not enforced.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. This can be issued by
Federación Inter-Americana de Touring y Automóvil on production of a national license, but it is wiser to obtain the International Permit before departure.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesBus services in La Paz are operated by a confederation of owner-operators. There are some fixed-route taxis, known as
‘Trufis', which show colored flags for particular routes. Fares are regulated. In rural areas, catching a 'truck' is a cheap but rough form of transport.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times from
La Paz (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Bolivia.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Cochabamba | 0.30 | 6.00 | - |
| Santa Cruz | 1.00 | 24.00 | - |
| Sucre | 1.00 | 16.00 | - |
| Uyuni | - | 12.00 | 7.00 |
Note: Visitors should heed the dangers of altitude sickness, especially in the Altiplano.
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