Altitude sickness, or Soroche, can hit pretty hard in Bolivia, since many well-known places, like La Paz, Uyuni, and Lake Titicaca, are already above 3,500 metres (11,500 feet). For some people, it starts with light headaches and breathlessness, but it can turn dangerous too, leading to HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema) or HACE (High Altitude…
Spanish is the main language used throughout Bolivia, alongside 36 officially recognised indigenous languages. In rural highland zones, Quechua and Aymara are the most widely spoken native languages, while Guaraní is commonly used in the southeast. Although English is commonly heard from tour guides, hotel staff, and operators in big tourist spots like La Paz…
You usually need a minimum of 10 to 14 days to really see Bolivia’s main highlights comfortably, meaning La Paz, Salar de Uyuni, and Lake Titicaca. If you also want the Amazon basin plus a few historical cities, a three-week plan is what most people go for. A two-week trip works well for getting used…
Bolivia is one of the cheaper travel spots in South America, and it gives a really good bang for your buck for budget backpackers as well as mid-range travellers. Most days, lodging, local plates, and domestic transport cost a lot less than you would pay in nearby places like Chile or Brazil, and that makes…
Visiting Bolivia at the right moment is usually easiest from May through October. During this time, the dry season occurs, the skies are clearer, and getting around is more predictable with roads that are easier to handle. Then again, if you’re after that mirror-like effect on the Uyuni Salt Flats, the rainy season (from December…
Visa requirements for Bolivia depend entirely on your nationality, as the country classifies passports into three different categories. For Group 1, no visa is required. In the second, Group 2, you usually get a visa on arrival. In the third, Group 3, you must arrange it ahead of time. People from most European Union countries,…
Bolivia is mostly safe for visitors, as long as you take standard care against petty crime, like pickpocketing in busy places. Serious attacks against travellers are not very common, but road conditions and political rallies can sometimes mess with plans. Most trips go smoothly. Still, it is smart to stay on guard in big transport…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving at the Tiwanaku Archaeological Site Stepping out of your transport at the Tiwanaku Archaeological Site, the absolute lack of shelter is the first thing you notice. You are standing on a vast, flat expanse of the high Andean plateau. There are no trees to break…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving in Santa Cruz de la Sierra Stepping out of Viru Viru International Airport, the humidity hits you like a wet towel. If you are arriving from the freezing, oxygen-starved heights of La Paz or Cusco, the heavy, tropical air of Santa Cruz de la Sierra…
Table of Contents Quick Info Box The Reality of Arriving at Lake Titicaca Stepping off a bus in Puno, Peru, the first thing that hits you is the sheer lack of oxygen. At over 3,800 metres, the air is aggressively thin. Walking a single block with a backpack feels like you have just run a…