Bolivia: Information for Travelers

•  The first thing you should do when you come to Bolivia is to leave European standards behind. Patience is another useful virtue. It is not unusual for a coach ride of 400km to take up to 18 hours due to road conditions.
  
  
•  Cash should be withdrawn in dollars from cash machines, because foreign exchange bureaus offer a better exchange rate compared to banks.
  
  
•  Take dollar bills (and avoid folding them). This could be important when you cross the border into another country and you do not want to change Bolivianos anymore. It is often a problem to change bigger bills.
  
  
•  If you are looking for an inexpensive, nutritious meal, follow the signs that say "Hoy almuerzo". This is a meal normally comprising soup, a main dish and a banana for desert, and it is often served in homey surroundings.
  
  
•  Coach rides:
  - People will often try to sell things on the bus. When someone gives you a sweet, remember that it is not free. If you eat it, you will have to pay for it.
  - There is no need to take food. The coach will stop frequently and you can buy inexpensive food and drinks by the side of the road.
  - Take into account that a toilet is not standard on a coach.
  - Tall people should sit in the front row if possible. The space between seats is designed for the average person, so it is rather small. Coach travelers often push back their seats without thinking; this can be hard on your knees.
  - It often pays to compare prices at the coach terminal.
  - It is important to ask for the exact time and place of departure, but being there a few minutes earlier is essential, too. Most coaches start their trips late, but early starts are not uncommon either.
  - Sometimes it seems like the average Bolivian must be deaf, because the music on the bus can be extremely loud. It is a good idea to bring earplugs.
  - Avoid traveling on and around holidays. Coaches are generally more expensive and overcrowded then. It is not unusual for coaches to carry 80 people plus huge sacks of potatoes, car tires and all sorts of other things.
  
  
  
•  If you are going by taxi, it is good advice to agree on a fixed price before the ride. This way you can avoid becoming the victim of sudden inflation. Do not hesitate to negotiate.
  
  
•  It is safe to eat boiled or cooked food that is offered on the street. If you want to get fresh juice, however, you should ask for paper cups, because the water used for washing glasses is often not very hygienic.
  
  
•  Not all policemen are real. If you are told to come to the police station without any apparent, and are asked to get into a cab that seems to appear out of nowhere, insist on walking there or driving in an official police car.
  
  
•  If you want to call home, Internet phones offer a cheap alternative. They are available in most larger cities. You can also find fairly-priced Internet cafes almost everywhere in the country. Another possibility is to call collect. Remember to ask the phone provider in your home country for the number before you leave.
  
  
•  Since large parts of Bolivia are located fairly high above sea level, make sure you use sufficient sun protection.
  
  
•  In order to avoid cathcing sochore, the serious altitude sickness, avoid any physical exertion at the beginning, and give your body time to acclimatize. The mate de coca that is offered throughout the country is also helpful.
  
  
•  All prices are tourist prices, which means that in most cases they are negotiable (even in Internet cafes). Therefore, make sure you do not only carry large notes with you, but coins as well.
  
  
•  If you want to go on a trip to the salar de Uyuni and you have enough time, you should wait till the morning of your departure to book the trip, because then last-minute tickets are often fairly cheap. English-speaking tour guides promised to you often do not show up, or are only available for an additional charge. Usually the price includes everything except for water, but make sure to ask. It is also possible to cross the border to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile or to Argentina. In order to do this, you will have to get an exit stamp (and pay a service charge) in Uyuni beforehand.
  
  
•  Book tickets for Amboro National Park when you arrive in Samaipata-it is a lot cheaper than in Santa Cruz.
  
  
•  If you want to visit Tihuanaco, you can do this on your own by taking the bus from La Paz. This way you can save a lot of money.
  
  
•  It is possible to extend your visa at the border, but it requires either a 24-hour compulsory stay in the neighboring country or a voluntary donation.