Cash
Thse currency in Bolivia is Bolivianos. Rough conversions
as of 2002:
$1 US = 7 Bolivianos
£1 = 10 Bolivianos
EURO = 6 Bolivianos
For accurate conversion rates consult your local currency
exchange bureau.
You will find that travel, food and accomodation are all
very cheap in Bolivia compared to the prices in America and
Europe; Bolivia is also cheaper than other South American
countries with a meal and basic room for the night easily
attainable for $5 or less.
Credit cards are not widely accepted in Bolivia. Travellers
Cheques are certainly the safest way to carry your money whilst
travelling and it is advisable buy your cheques in US dollars
rather than sterling.
Climate
The Best time to travel is between May and November. The rainy
season is from December to March, however you will find that
the climate varies extremely depending on which region you
are in.
The Northern Antiplano is the region with the harshest
climate due to its high altitudes, yet despite this it houses
70% of the population. The Antiplano is subject to harsh winds,
strong sunlight and chilly weather and in Winter (June- August
) temperatures can sink as far as -25C To the North East and
further South are the Lowlands, the Yungas and
the Puna Plains. These regions are much more fertile
and have a tropical climate with high average temperatures
and high levels of humidity, especially in the valleys.
Dress
As you might expect, due to the extreme diversity of climate
across Bolivia, it is advisable to bring a wardrobe that can
be easily adapted to the different ranges of temperature.
However this is not as stressful as it sounds; for the colder
places there are plenty of warm clothes to buy in Bolivia,
very cheaply! The alpaca wool products are especially
good as they are plentiful and extremely warm. A hat, sunscreen
and sunglasses are not just advisable but essential
in the Antiplano.
Visas
A visa is not required for tourist visits of up to 90 days
by nationals of most EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia,
most South American countries and some Caribbean countries.
Health
It is important to be aware of the effects of altitude
and to take time to adjust properly when travelling from lower
altitudes to higher. Ignorance of this can lead to altitude
sickness or 'soroche' which can be extremely unpleasant and
can make you seriously ill.
In order to adjust, it is advisable to be slow in your movements
and take time to relax. Coca tea, which is abundant
in Bolivia is a useful remedy for altitude sickness symptoms.
If you suffer from heart or lung complaints and are travelling
to the high altitudes you must seek medical advice before
travelling to Bolivia.
The advisable vaccinations for Bolivia are; Typhoid, paratyphoid,
hepatitis 'A', tetanus and polio. There are areas
in Bolivia that are infected with Yellow Fever such
as Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and the subtropical regions.
Before visiting the country you will need a yellow fever vaccination.
As well as this, if you are arriving in Bolivia from other
countries which are infected with yellow fever, a vaccination
certificate will be required.
Bolivian tap water is not safe to drink and water precautions
should be taken.
Travel
Travelling around Bolivia is without a doubt an enjoyable
and fascinating experience, however it is also one which can
at times demand an immense patience from the traveller. Only
4% of roads are paved, a statistic that you will find hard
to ignore once you are there. This can often make for quite
a harrowing journey and some roads in particular are not advisable
for the faint hearted. Many Bolivian buses do tend
to break down at some point on a long journey, however you
will see that these events often turn into amusing and spirited
occasions as all the passengers tend to pull together with
the drivers and help the journey get back on its way.
The buses leave from central bus terminals, but not necessarily
on a regular basis. Make sure that you investigate the bus
times and days of travel in advance, otherwise you are liable
to be stranded in one place for quite some time.
The majority of cars on the road are taxis or taxi vans.
Bolivia does not have many private cars so taxi travel
is cheap. The taxi tariff is fixed, although to make more
profit on a journey it is not unusual for the Bolivian drivers
to try and get as many passengers into the car as possible.
Another way of travelling around Bolivia is by internal
flights. These can be obtained at about $100 for a one
way journey or there is a special pass that costs $200 for
four flights. You should ask around for these deals and prices
in the travel agents in La Paz. |
