USEFUL TRAVEL TOOLS BOLIVIA

A country that is dominated by the altiplano (high mountain plateau), with plains and valleys, and whose ethnic roots are Aymara. It boasts a mixed heritage that both grants the country its identity and engages it in a deeply rooted in tradition. Bolivia is Lake Titicaca, the Uyuni salt flats, the Andes, and the Amazon.  You can find impressive churches, mansions, and monuments that are part of the country’s cultural heritage. Bolivia is also full of adventure activities for the adrenalin junkie in you.  To help make your trip to Bolivia as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible, as well as get the most out of your travel budget, we’ve put together some travel tools to help.

 

Uyuni Salt Flats

 

Accommodation

 

Airbnb – A great alternative to staying in hotels, renting an apartment in Bolivia is now easier than ever. If you are staying for a longer period of time, then this could be the best option for you.
Hostel world – The best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and availability. A great option for the budget wary traveler. 
Booking.com – Excellent service and reputation. They even have some special offers on hotels exclusive if you book via their platform.
Trip Advisor – Trip Advisor have millions of helpful and trustworthy reviews from other travellers as well as useful filters for narrowing your search. We never book a hostel without checking Trip Advisor first!

 

Salt Hotel, Uyuni

Booking Flights

 

Sky Scanner – a great flight search comparison website saving you both time and money. Skyscanner searches through a large variety of airlines, including budget carriers to find you the best deal. You can look for flights on a specific date, week, month, or see prices over the whole year.
Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) – Bolivia’s nationally-owned airline making more than 70 flights per day to a growing number of Bolivian and international destinations.
Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM) – Operating flights between Bolivia’s main cities and to some of the more remote locations other commercial airlines don’t service.
Amaszonas – Flights to the Amazon jungle in Bolivia are largely operated by Amaszonas, serving La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
Avianca – Colombia’s national airline servicing flights to and from Bolivia from a number of international destinations
American Airlines – American airline with direct flights to Bolivia.

 

 

Bolivian Airline

 

Visa Requirements

 

Many nationalities require a visa to enter Bolivia, including visitors from the USA. The visa requirements for each individual depends on the nationality on the passport under which you will be travelling. Some visas are free, others require payment. Some can be obtained upon arrival to the Bolivian border. Others MUST be obtained in advance. It is impornant  to research your visa requirements before travel and apply for your Bolivia visa within the necessary timelines. See our blog about visa requirements to enter Bolivia here.

 

 

Bolivia Visa

Travel Health

 

Some vaccines are recommended or required for travel to Bolivia. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Bolivia: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles. Dengue fever is high-risk in the jungle regions but there is no vaccination.

You can buy most medicines at pharmacies in the cities, but brand names can be different. It is best to know the generic name of the drug. Many drugs are available without prescriptions. Drugs for mental health conditions require a prescription. There are many pharmacies in Bolivian cities, clearly signed as “farmacias”.
Foreign nationals aren’t entitled to free medical treatment in Bolivian public hospitals. Public hospitals tend to be crowded and often don’t meet international standards. Private healthcare facilities that work with international insurance companies are available in major cities. Some of the tourist destinations in remote areas of Bolivia only have basic medical facilities.
It is important to make sure you have adequate travel insurance before you leave and don’t forget to make sure you have a secure supply of money throughout your Bolivia  trip.

 

First Aid Kit