Travel Bolivia • South America | She is Wanderlust Travel Blog

Located in western-central South America, Bolivia is home to 40% of all animal and plant species in the world. The country is blessed with an incredible diverse nature, from fauna to flora, as well as an array of different cultures, traditions, attractions and a rich and colorful history. It is also very cheap to western standards.

Why Visit Bolivia

LANDSCAPES

Bolivia boasts an incredible diversity of natural wonders. The country is made up of deserts, grasslands, mountains, jungles and the highest lake in the world, the Lake Titicaca. However, the country is famous for the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s second largest salt flat.

WILDLIFE

Bolivia boots thousands of species of birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. The country is home to about 40% of the animal species of the world, one of the most bio-diverse there are. Its dramatic geography and climate have led to the development of different ecosystems.

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Bolivia is a multiethnic society, with a variety of cultures, traditions and languages. Bolivian society has people from spanish descent, indigenous groups and mestizos. However, the country is home to the largest population of indigenous tribes (36 different indigenous cultures) in South America, as 62% of its population is from indigenous descent. Some of them still practice ancient customs and wear traditional clothes, combining modern lifestyle with traditional values.

AFFORDABLE

Bolivia is a budget destination. It offers a really good value for money. You can experience all the comforts you have at home for $40/day. You can stretch the budget even further and survive for around $25/day.

Why Visit Bolivia

LANDSCAPES

WILDLIFE

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

AFFORDABLE

Name: Plurinational State of Bolivia
Capital: La Paz and Sucre
Official Languages: Spanish, Aymara, Guarani and 30 others
Currency: Boliviano
Time Zone: UTC−4

Name: Plurinational State of Bolivia
Capital: Sucre and La Paz
Official Languages: Spanish, Aymara, Quechua, Guarani and 30 others
Currency: Boliviano
Time Zone: UTC−4

Bucket List

What to expect

LANGUAGE

Bolivia is a multicultural country. Spanish is the first official language of Bolivia, together with as many as 40 other indigenous languages. 44% of its populations speaks Spanish only. English is not widely spoken at all in Bolivia, much like the rest of South America. It would only be spoken in tourist attractions / destinations.

ELECTRICITY

In Bolivia the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa.

CURRENCY

The Bolivian boliviano is the official currency in Bolivia. US Dollars might be accepted at tourist attractions and hotels, but they won’t be accepted at other establishments, any other currencies wouldn’t be accepted at all. Credit cards are widely accepted, and you can exchange your money at any bank or withdraw directly from the ATM. Cash will be necessary. 1 USD equals 6.89 bolivianos (as of 2020)

CLIMATE

Bolivia has different climates depending on the altitude and geography of the area. It goes from tropical weather in the jungle to polar climates in the Andes. There are primarily two seasons in Bolivia: The dry season from May to October and wet season from November to April.

SAFETY

Bolivia is relatively safe. Crowded areas, public transportation tourist hotspot are places where most petty crime occur. Unfortunately, pickpocketing and theft are common, but violent crime not really, it exists in low income neighborhoods and some streets at night. Caution is recommended at all times.

How to get around

By plane: Flying is the best way to get around fast, however is not the cheapest option (still cheap for western standards) and there aren’t many routes available. Boliviana de Aviacion, Amaszonas and TAM are are the main airlines of the country, flying to and from La Paz, Santa Cruz, Uyuni, Sucre, Cochabamba, Rurrenabaque, Trinidad and Riberalta.

By Car: Renting a car in offers flexibility and access to remote areas, while enjoying the scenic views. If you are going to rural areas. an 4WD will be required. Major agencies have officesin almost every airport, and most of them will accept your regular driver’s license. Be aware of the road conditions.

By Bus: Bus is the most common way of traveling in Bolivia. The country has an extensive bus network, with buses being run by a variety of private companies in Bolivia, offering a range of prices depending on the amenities you wish to pay for. Rates are very affordable, but road conditions can be poor depending on the route.

By Train: Bolivia offers a relatively decent train network, offering affordable fares competitive with bus. Although they are more comfortable, they are also slower. There are 3 different companies offering different routes: Empresa Ferroviaria Andina operates routes from Oruro to Villazón on the Argentinean border, Ferroviaria Oriental from Santa Cruz to the Brazilian frontier at Quijarro Tren Turístico Guaraní between El Alto and Tiwanaku every second Sunday.

Visa Policy & Passport

Citizens of the following 52 countries are allowed to enter Bolivia without a visa for a period up to 90 days annually, including European Union citizens, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican city and Venezuela.