people

bolivia

salt flat sunset

llamas

volcano

salt flats at night

panpipes

toucan

people

bolivia

OVERVIEW

The high elevations of the Andean mountain range, descend into the steamy tropical jungle regions of the Amazon. The one thing that Bolivia does not have is a sea border, which was taken from them by Chile during the Atacama border dispute during the war of the Pacific in 1884. Since then, Bolivia has been a landlocked country. Bolivia is a large country geographically but has a relatively low population count with just over 10 million inhabitants. These people can generally be found in the cities such as La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz and Potosi. A large part of the country is covered in jungle and is also the home to a wide range of animal species and the biodiversity is even greater due to the geography of the country. Bolivia is renowned as being somewhat politically unstable but has regained a certain amount of stability in recent years under the government of Morales. Bolivia is also "infamous" for its massive cocaine production and exportation. The coca leaf is legally grown in the country and it is suggested that it forms a significant, yet illegal part of the Bolivian economy. Bolivia however remains one of the most exciting places to visit in South America, which its cultural traditions still intact, its stunning mountains, Lake Titicaca, The Uyuni salt flats and The Amazon jungle. The country is a backpacker's paradise as it is really cheap to travel with lots to see and do. Life is a little more basic and rugged than in other parts of Latin America, but this naturalness only adds to the Bolivian charm and the country is still one of the safest places to visit in the Americas! 

Where to go in Bolivia

Highlights in

Best time to visit

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
La Paz 16°C 15°C 16°C 16°C 15°C 15°C 15°C 16°C 16°C 18°C 18°C 17°C
Uyuni 11°C 10°C 10°C 8°C 5°C 3°C 3°C 4°C 7°C 9°C 11°C 12°C
Sucre 22°C 22°C 22°C 22°C 22°C 22°C 22°C 23°C 24°C 24°C 24°C 23°C
Potosi 18°C 18°C 18°C 17°C 18°C 16°C 16°C 17°C 19°C 21°C 21°C 19°C
Rurrenabaque 29°C 28°C 29°C 29°C 27°C 27°C 27°C 30°C 32°C 32°C 31°C 30°C
El Alto 9°C 9°C 9°C 8°C 6°C 5°C 5°C 7°C 8°C 10°C 10°C 8°C

 

Travel Facts in Bolivia

  • Bolivia is landlocked with no sea access and borders 5 countries; Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.
  • Bolivia is amongst the wettest countries on the planet averaging over 5 metres of rain per year!  
  • There are 36 official languages in Bolivia! Spanish is the widest spoken language and the native languages of Aymara and Quechua are widely spoken primarily in the Andean regions. 
  • Bolivia is the home of the world's largest salt flats! Salar de Uyuni contains more than 64 million tons of salt!  
  • Bolivia has two of the highest cities in the world! Potosi was the centre of Spanish interest when they arrived due to the high amount of silver and can be found at 4090 metres elevation. El Alto is the sister city of La Paz and the administrative centre of Bolivia. It can be found at a whopping 4150 metres elevation. 
  • The highest navigable lake in the world can be found in Bolivia, as well as Peru! Titicaca borders both countries! 
  • Bolivia is home to 40% of the world's natural flora and fauna making it one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! 
  • Bolivia and NOT Brazil is the biggest exporter of brazil nuts! With over 70% of the brazils nut exportation worldwide!
  • The coca leaf can be legally grown in Bolivia and is native to the lower Andean region as well as in Peru. Nowhere else is allowed to cultivate this leaf in the world! 
Travel Fact

Travel Advice

Health and Insurance

Health and Insurance

Accommodation

Accommodation

Money

Money

Safety

Safety

Visas

Visas

Culture

Culture

LGBTQ

LGBTQ

Activities

Activities

Eating and drinking

Eating and drinking

FAQs

You can check our safety protocols in the following link:

We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.

We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.

We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.

As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.

We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.

Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.

VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.

Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.

Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.

Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.

We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.

We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.

We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.

The official currency in Bolivia is the Boliviano (BOB). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.

Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: https://boliviamilenaria.com/sustainable-travel/

Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.

Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. 

The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.

This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests. 

For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +59170176589 

At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. An example of our sustainable projects: Visit to Native bees farms and local communities, visit to local communities that promote organic coffee production, camelid program for the conservation of Wild Vicuñas in Sajama National Park.

All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +59170176589 . For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com 

This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.

This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.

The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.

Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.

For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.

In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.

In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.

It depends on each itinerary. Please ask your sales representative for this information.

We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. At various points on your trip there will be places where you can fill your water bottle. We include in all the programs 20 liters of water and passengers can refill their bottles with no trouble  

Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaexpeditions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaexpeditions/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vaexpeditions

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaexpeditions

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaexpeditions/

You can check our safety protocols in the following link:

We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.

We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.

We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.

As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.

We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.

Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.

VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.

Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.

Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.

Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.

We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.

We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.

We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.

The official currency in Bolivia is the Boliviano (BOB). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.

Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: https://boliviamilenaria.com/sustainable-travel/

Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.

Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. 

The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.

This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests. 

For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +59170176589 

At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. An example of our sustainable projects: Visit to Native bees farms and local communities, visit to local communities that promote organic coffee production, camelid program for the conservation of Wild Vicuñas in Sajama National Park.

All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +59170176589 . For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com 

This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.

This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.

The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.

Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.

For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.

In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.

In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.

It depends on each itinerary. Please ask your sales representative for this information.

We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. At various points on your trip there will be places where you can fill your water bottle. We include in all the programs 20 liters of water and passengers can refill their bottles with no trouble  

Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaexpeditions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaexpeditions/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vaexpeditions

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaexpeditions

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaexpeditions/