Language: Spanish is the official language, but only 60 to 70% of the people actually speak it, and then often only as a second language. The other main languages are Quechua and Aymar.
Currency: The official currency is the Boliviano (BOB), which is divided into 100 centavos, and is tied to the US Dollar. Money can be exchanged at exchange bureaux called casio de cambios in the main centers, at banks and hotels. Banking facilities are good in the main cities and ATMs cater for Visa, Cirrus and
MasterCard. Many hotels and other tourist-oriented institutions accept US Dollars.
Major credit cards, including MasterCard, Diners, Visa and
American Express, are accepted in the bigger hotels, restaurants and shops. Travelers cheques can be exchanged in casio de cambios in the major cities and are best taken in US Dollars to avoid additional charges.
Time: GMT -4.
Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz. US flat two-pin plugs and one with round grounding pin are used.
Communications: The international access code for
Bolivia is +591. The outgoing code depends on what network is used (e.g. 0010 for Entel, or 0013 for Boliviatel), which is followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001044 for the
United Kingdom). The area code for
La Paz is 2, but the access code to make a call within the country from another area also depends on what network is used (e.g. (010)2 for Entel, or (013)2 for Boliviatel). Mobile phones operate on a GSM network. Internet cafes are widely available in La Paz and other tourist areas.
Duty Free: Travelers to Bolivia over the age of 18 years can bring the following items into the country without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco as well as 3 liters of alcohol. Technology such as cameras, laptops and cellphones are limited to one per person for personal use. Newly purchased goods to the value of US$1,000 per person are also duty free. Travelers departing from the country should note that it is illegal to leave with the following items without prior written permission from the appropriate local authority: pre-Colombian artifacts, historical paintings, items of Spanish colonial architecture and history and native textiles.
EmergencyEmergencies: 911.
Embassies
Bolivian Embassy,
Washington DC,
United States: +1 202 483 4410.
Bolivian Embassy,
London, United Kingdom (also responsible for
Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 4248.
Bolivian Embassy,
Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 236 5730.
Bolivian Consulate,
Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9241 4235.
Honorary
Consulate of Bolivia,
Johannesburg,
South Africa: +27 (0)11 883 3416.
United States Embassy, La Paz: +591 (2) 216 8000.
British Embassy, La Paz: +591 (2) 243 3424.
Canadian Embassy, La Paz: +591 (2) 241 5141.
Australian Consulate, La Paz: +591 (2) 211 5655.
South
African Embassy,
Lima, Peru (also responsible for Bolivia): +51 (0)1 440 9996.
Consulate of Ireland, La Paz: +591 (2) 242 1408.
