Bolivia is not only
the most indigenous country in the whole of South
America but at the same time it is the poorest. A
land-locked, incredibly varied destination with harsh
deserts, desolate altiplano, subtropical lowlands
and virgin rainforest jungle, the visitor will bear
witness to a variety of astonishing landscapes along
with communities whose lifestyle has changed little
since the time of the Spanish
conquest.
With the highest capital city in the world, La Paz,
Bolvia also boasts the highest navigable lake in the
world with Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is home to
tranquil islands steeped in mythology and abundant
birdlife. Bolivia’s salt lakes are probably
the most incredible site in the whole country and
with wellpreserved
colonial cities and grandiose architecture; Bolivia’s
cities are also fabulous places to explore.
Potosí, an old mining town rivaled London and
Paris as one of the richest cities in the western
world nearly four hundred years ago.
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz (La Paz has 110V, & 220V,
50Hz)
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4
Dialling Code: 591
Climate
The rainy season falls between November
and March with an average per month rainfall of 50mm.
Festive Calendar
January 6th - Dia de los Reyes – A festival
commemorating the day the three wise kings visited
the baby
Jesus. Some of the best celebrations for this festival
take place in Sucre, Potosi and Oruro
January 24th - Alasitas - The Festival of Abundance
- (La Paz) This festival dates back to Inca times
and
is dedicated to Ekeko, the little household god of
abundance. Small stalls selling miniature collections
of
seeds for good harvest, dollar bills for wealth, airline
tickets for travel and all sorts of other miniatures
to signify what you hope to obtain in the new year
are everywhere.
First week of February - La Virgen
de Candelaria - A week-long festival especially celebrated
in Copacabana, near Lake Titicaca
2nd Sunday in March - Phujllay (meaning
‘play’ in Quechua celebrates the battle
of Lumbati and is
Bolivia’s largest
festival
March-April - Semana Santa - Holy
week
May 3rd - Fiesta de la Cruz
May 27th - Dia de la Madre - Honours the women and
children who defended their homes and cities in
the battle of 1812
June 24th - San Juan Batista - A nationwide celebration
although most colourful in Santa Cruz
Ausgust 6th - Independence Day
Last week of August - Chutillos (Potosi) – A
festival that celebrates the traditions of dance and
music. It
has achieved international acclaim in the past few
years.
November 1st and 2nd - All Saints Day and All Souls
Day
Currency
The Boliviano is divided into 100 centavos. You can
change excess Bolivianos at the Peruvian border at
a good rate. The US dollar is again the most widely
accepted form of currency and many purchases will
be cheaper in cash. Banks and Casas de Cambio operate
from 9am to 6pm but are usually closed during lunch.
Travellers’ cheques and credit cards are still
the safest form of currency, but you may have difficulty
using them in some of the smaller villages. There
is little or no commission charged for using travellers’
cheques and credit cards. Always ask for small denominations.
Visas
Most nationalities do not require a visa for stays
less than 30 days, but please consult your embassy
for current requirements. Notable exceptions include
Irish nationals and nationals of Singapore.
Health
Vaccinations
Recommended although not compulsory
are typhoid, tetanus, altitude sickness, rabies, Chagas'
disease,
malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis, cholera, dengue
fever.
Best time to go
So close to the equator yet the
altitude in most parts of Bolivia makes it a much
cooler country than one might think. Evenings can
be quite cold, so a warm fleece is a good idea. Daylight
hours are often warm, and shorts may be the most comfortable
wear. Exceptions to this are Puerto Suarez, which
is very humid, and Uyuni, where cold winds blow in
from Patagonia. It is best to pack for all types of
weather. While the highlands and altiplano can be
cold in the winter and wet in the summer, the only
serious barrier to travel will be the odd road washout.
In the tropical lowlands, however, summer can be miserable
with mud, steamy heat, bugs and relentless downpours.
Travel is difficult, and services may be stifled by
mud and flooding.
Also consider that the high tourist
season falls in the winter (late June to early September),
due not only to climatic factors, but also to the
timing of European and North American summer holidays
and the fact that it's also Bolivia's major fiesta
season. This means that both overseas visitors and
lots of South Americans are travelling during this
period.
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