Cars 4 Rental - Cheap Car Rentals Online Bookings

General Money Health Climate Passport

(back to contents)

Cars 4 Rental Information on Bolivia

General

Area: 1,098,581 sq km (424,164 sq miles).

Population: 8,328,700 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 7.6 per sq km.

Capital: Legal: Sucre. Population: 223,436 (official estimate 2000). Administrative: La Paz. Population: 1,004,440 (official estimate 2000).

GEOGRAPHY: Bolivia is a landlocked country bordered by Peru to the northwest, Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south and Chile to the west. There are three main areas: the first is a high plateau known as the ‘Altiplano’, a largely barren region lying approximately 4000m (13,000ft) above sea level. It comprises 10 per cent of the country’s area and contains 70 per cent of the population, nearly one-third of whom are urban dwellers. The second area is a fertile valley situated 1800m (5900ft) to 2700m (8850ft) above sea level. The third area comprises the lowland tropics which stretch down to the frontiers with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, taking up some 70 per cent of the land area. Rainfall in this region is high, and the climate is hot.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1825. Acting Head of State and Government: President Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert (2003).

Language: The official languages are Spanish, Quechua and Aymar. English is also spoken by a small number of officials and businesspeople in commercial centres.

Religion: Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority.

Time: GMT - 4.

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC in La Paz, 220 volts AC, 50Hz in the rest of the country. Most houses and hotels have two-pin sockets for both electrical currents. Variations from this occur in some places.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 591. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone

GSM 1900 network. Network operators include Entel SA (website: www.entelmovil.com.bo) and Nuevatel PCS de Bolivia SA (website: www.nuevatel.com).

Fax

Services available.

Internet

ISPs include Megalink (website: www.megalink.com). There are Internet cafes in main towns.

Telegram

Facilities are available from the West Coast of America Telegraph Company; head office at Edificio Electra, Calle Mercado 1150, La Paz.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes 3 to 4 days. A poste restante service is available.

Press

The Bolivian Times is published weekly in English. The main papers published in La Paz are El Diario, Hoy, La Razn, Presencia and ltima Hora.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Back to Top

Money

Currency: 1 Boliviano (Bs) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of Bs200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Bs2 and 1, and 50, 20, and 10 centavos.

Note: The Boliviano is tied to the US Dollar.

Currency exchange: Money can be changed in hotels and casas de cambio.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa have very limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: US Dollar travellers cheques are probably the best form of currency to take to Bolivia at present. Sterling cheques can sometimes be exchanged, but only with difficulty.

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or the export of either local or foreign currency, subject to declaration.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Boliviano against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 13.18 14.30 14.13 14.60
$1.00= 7.77 7.86 7.91 7.92

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1430-1800. Some banks open Sat 0830-1200.

Back to Top

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera 2 No
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected countries. Vaccination is recommended for incoming travellers from non-infected zones visiting risk areas such as the Departments of Beni, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and the subtropical part of the La Paz Department.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Bolivia. However, cases of cholera were reported in 1996 and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.

3: A moderate to high risk of typhoid exists, especially outside main cities and tourist areas.

4: Malaria risk exists throughout the year below 2500m, in the Departments of Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz and Tarija, and provinces of Lacareja, Rurenabaque, and North and South Yungas in the La Paz Department. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been reported. The disease occurs predominantly in the benign vivax form but falciparum malaria occurs in Beni and Pando, especially within the localities of Guayaramern, Puerto Rico and Riberalta. There is lower-risk Malaria in Cochabamba and Chuquisaca.

Food & drink: Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid all dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases and hepatitis A are common. American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis occur. Hepatitis B and C, Japanese encephalitis and TB are a risk. Epidemics of viral encephalitis and dengue fever may occur. Plague has been reported in natural foci.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.

Health care: There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Medical insurance is strongly recommended. All travellers, but especially those with heart conditions, should allow time to acclimatise to the high altitude of La Paz. In case of a medical emergency, La Paz has a good US clinic.

Back to Top

Climate

Bolivia has a temperate climate but with wide differences between day and night. The wettest period is November to March, which in extreme circumstances, may induce landslides in mountainous areas, and cause certain roads to become impassable. The northeast slopes of the Andes are semi-tropical. Visitors often find La Paz uncomfortable because of the thin air due to high altitude. The mountain areas can become very cold at night.

Required clothing: Lightweight linens with a raincoat. A light overcoat is necessary at night, particularly in the Altiplano and the Puna.

Back to Top

Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes 1 Yes
Australian Yes 1 Yes
Canadian Yes 1 Yes
USA Yes 1 Yes
OtherEU Yes 1 Yes
Japanese Yes 1 Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least one year beyond the intended length of stay required by all except holders of an identity card issued to nationals of Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

VISAS: Required by all except the following, provided travelling for touristic purposes:
(a) 1. nationals of countries mentioned in the chart above (except nationals of Malta who do require a visa);
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Holy See, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, The Philippines, Serbia & Montenegro, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela;
(c) transit passengers (except nationals of China (PR)) continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: (a) All nationals travelling on business do need a Specific Purpose visa. (b) Nationals not requiring a Tourist visa are usually allowed to stay for a period of 30 to 90 days; check with the Embassy (or Consular section at Embassy). (c) In addition to a visa, nationals of the following countries also require special authorisation: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Congo (Dem Rep), Korea (DPR), Iran, Iraq, Laos, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist: cost depends on nationality; enquire at the Embassy (or Consular section at Embassy). Specific Purpose: £61.50. Student: £31. Transit: cost depends on nationality.

Validity: Tourist visas are valid for 30 days but can be extended for up to 90 days (depending on nationality) from the date of entry. Specific Purpose visas are valid for 30 days and can be renewed for 60 or 90 additional days at the immigration office in Bolivia. Student visas are valid for 60 days. Transit visas are valid for 15 days.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) One passport-size photo. (b) Completed application form. (c) Passport with remaining validity of at least one year. (d) Fee, payable by cash or cheque. (e) Return airline ticket or travel itinerary as proof of onward travel. (f) A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required (see Health section). (g) For Specific Purpose visas, a letter of introduction from the relevant company or institution as proof of business intentions and the dates of travel. Student: (a)-(g) and, (h) Medical certificate proving that applicant possesses no contagious diseases.

Working days required: One to two for nationals requiring Tourist visas without special authorisation. Approximately six weeks for all other nationals requiring Tourist visas and special authorisation from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Temporary residence: Enquire at Bolivian Consulate.

Back to Top

Cars4Rental - Worldwide Car Hire

Cars 4 Rental Information on Bolivia

Car Hire Bolivia