Bolivia

A valid passport is required upon entry to Bolivia expiring a minimum of 6 months past the date of entry into the country. US citizens traveling to Bolivia require a tourist visa. It is best to obtain a visa prior to one’s arrival, but in some ports of entry may be purchased using US dollar bills upon arrival. Tourist visas cost $160 for US travelers. The tourist visa can be used up to three trips per calendar year, and will last for a 10-year period, with a maximum stay of ninety days, yearly.

Every traveler planning to visit Bolivia should be fully up to date on his or her routine vaccines prior to entering Bolivia. Additionally, the CDC recommends that people visiting Bolivia get vaccinated for Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Rabies. Any travel clinic will be able to provide the needed vaccinations.

Bolivia’s climate is broken into two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season, also known as Bolivia’s winter, takes place from May to October. Temperatures are generally less humid, with moderate weather during the day to freezing cold at night. The rainy season, or summer in Bolivia, occurs from November to March. The days are typically warmer and more humid, with more mild evening temperatures.

The country code for Bolivia is +591. The cell phone service in Bolivia is good and is widespread across the country. Though the service may be slightly patchy in some rural areas, for the most part cell coverage widely available. The access to Internet is very good in Bolivia. Most cafes, restaurants, malls, hotels all will have Internet with adequate speed.

Bolivia’s voltage is 220-230AC, 50HZ. Some older buildings in Bolivia use 110V outlets, so be sure to check before using your device. Two types of plugs are most commonly used in Bolivia: one with two flat parallel pins and the other with two round pins. If you are coming from the US, you will most likely need a power plug adapter.

The Zika virus has been reported in Bolivia, so it is important to take proper health precautions. It is also recommended that travelers exercise a high degree of caution due to political and social tension and illegal roadblocks throughout the country. Make two photocopies of your passport, tickets, and visas. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

The currency used in Bolivia is the boliviano ($b). Using US dollars in larger cities is acceptable, but not in smaller towns. It is best to exchange your money at an official money exchange location, bank or even at the airport in the US or upon arrival. ATMs are also in many cities in Bolivia, as well as larger towns—but not everywhere.

The type of government active in Bolivia is a presidential republic. The president, Evo Morales Ayma is both the chief of state and the head of government. He was elected into office on January 22, 2006. The Vice President is Alvaro Garcia Linera, assumed this position in office on January 22, 2006, as well. The cabinet is appointment by the president.

The largest affiliated religion present in Bolivia is Roman Catholic, making up 76.8% of the population. 8.1% identify as Evangelical and Pentecostal, 7.9% as Protestant, 1.7% as other, and 5.5% report having no religious beliefs.

Approximately 70% identify as Mestizo (combined Native American and European Ancestry), 20% Indigenous Bolivian, 5% as White Bolivian, 1% as Black Bolivian, and 4% as other ethnic groups.

For a long time, Bolivia had three official languages but now 36 indigenous languages are recognized by the Bolivian constitution. The original three include Spanish, Aymara and Quechua. Spanish is spoken by nearly one third of the population. Aymara and Quechua are spoken by one third of the population. The remaining portion of the population speak other languages, including Guaraní.

The leading export in Bolivia has been soybeans, since 2001. Bolivia also exports cotton, coffee, and sugarcane. It is also one of the world’s largest producers of coca. It is the least developed country in Latin America. The National Economic and Social Development Plan was approved by the Government of Bolivia for 2016-2020 that aims at reducing poverty by maintaining a growth of 5%.