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General Information
Bolivia, with
1’100’000 km2, the highest and most isolated country in
the heart of South-America, is often called the “TIBET” of
the Americas! The Altiplano in the widest stretch of the
Andean Cordillera, the deep Valleys with its Colonial
Cities and the vast forests and savannas of the Amazon
are defining the great variety of landscape. Bolivia is,
with more than 60 % of the population of pure Indian blood
and speaking Quecha or Aymara, the most traditional,
colourful, indigenous cultural state of Latin America and
hosts 6 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES.
HOSTELLING
INTERNATIONAL NEW IN BOLIVIA: In La Paz, Santa
Cruz, Sucre and at the most scenic places HI-BOLIVIA
offers accommodation in 15 hostels. The
IYHF-standards-scheme in a low-cost-country give very
good value for money. International experience and deep
local knowledge make HI-BOLIVIA a strong partner for tours
and adventure options: The INCAS/Lago
Titicaca to Cuzco/MachuPicchu - “El Salar de Uyuni”
The world biggest salt flat - Ché Guevarra - The
revolutionary tour.
Foreign
travellers have only recently begun to discover this
country of natural attractions, mysterious ancient
civilizations, colonial treasures and national music. So
underrated, it is still easy to stay from worn out routes.
Individual or
Group travelling with buses on a daily base, all year,
with attractive package-pricing; visit
www.hostellingbolivia.org
!!
Price Range
Prices are in
shared roms, with sheets and breakfast included US $
5.-- - 10.—
Prices for a
2-bed room, with private toilet/shower, TV-Cable US $
24.-- - 30.—
Rooms and Reservations
See list for
Hostels that can be booked and paid through IBN. All
others and tours can be booked on
www.hostellingbolivia.org
Guests
All ages,
Individual, Groups and Families are welcome (kids under 5
are free) – HI-Membership Card as well as Passport is
required.
Open Times
All Centres HI
are open all year, 24 h a day reception – no closing
Meals
All Centres HI
serve breakfast (included in price) – check individual
services at each Hostel for members kitchen, lunch or
dinner in their own restaurant.
Discounts
HI-Members
Discounts available – each Centre HI will inform you about
a lot of excellent opportunities.
Travelling around
For ease of
travel use: national Air flights ( with US $ 3.—tax;
international departure: 25.—US $ tax); good daily,
long-distance Bus-Connections (between US $ 10.—and 15.--)
or Self-Drive with a hired car (international driving
licence and passport required all the time)
Electricity is
220 Volts, in La Paz both 110 and 220 V
The country is
considered to be quite safe throughout. There have been
some problems reported in certain isolate areas in the
Chapare (Cocaleros) or in the Amazon Region along the
Peruvian Border. None of our tours brings you into theses
areas. When staying in a Centre HI, leave your valuables
in a locker you can lock yourself or with the
administration. Be careful at markets and bus stations and
lookout for pick-pocketing. Don’t enter a taxi, or leave
it, if there are other people in it and agree on price
before starting.
Passports and Visa
When travelling
anywhere in Latin America you should carry your passport
or a copy of it with you all the times. Store photocopies
of all essential documents in a separate location.
-
upon
entering BOLIVIA the citizens of all EU-Countries, USA,
Poland and Israel get a free 90-days tourist VISA.
-
Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Asian
Countries only for 30 days.
-
for other
nationalities you have to consult for a VISA the Bolivian
Embassy in your country
Health
No Malaria or
Yellow Fever treatment is required unless you are
travelling in the “Oriente” and Amazon Region. (But
leaving Bolivia for Brazil there is a Health inspection,
which requires certificate of YF-Vacc.)
Tap water should
not be drunk, mineral water from the bottle will do
better.
Do not eat food
from street cooking.
La Paz – Potosí
and the Altiplano/Titicaca/Salar – Region is between 3500m
and 4500 m high. It is best to allow yourself a day or two
to acclimate upon arrival. Rest frequently, avoid alcohol
and drink a lot of fluid.
(Mathé de Coca)
Banking Hours and Money
Bolivianos
(11/02: 7.45 Bs for 1 US $/EURO) is the quite stable
national currency, but you can pay most services in
Hostels, Restaurants, shops etc. also in Dollars or change
them at banks or “Casa de Cambio”. (Nobody here likes to
accept bills that are old or torn!).
Credit Cards are
accepted in the main cities, where you also will find a
good network on Cash Maschines for withdrawn in US $ or
directly in Bolivianos. (ENLACE)
Banking Hours
are: 08:30 – 11:30 am and 02:30 – 05:30 pm – on Saturday
morning.
Post Offices and
Shopping
Post Offices
(also Government offices) are daily open like Banks.
Shops and Markets
(also Buisnesses) are open during the week: 08:00 – 12:00
am and 02:30 – 07:00 pm; on Saturday 08:00 am - 04:00 pm
ENTEL and a
heavy competition of Phone-, Fax-, E-mail- and
Internet-Services are daily open until 10:30 pm.
Travel and Weather Conditions
Flights:
Bolivia has two International Airports – Santa Cruz VIRU
VIRU and La Paz EL ALTO and is daily served by Lloyd Aero
Boliviano (LAB), Aero Sur, American Airlines (AA), Varig,
Aerolinas Argentinas, TAM, TACO, Lan CHILE, Lan Peru. -
The big cities and capitals of the Departments are
connected by national flights of LAB, AS and SAVE.
BUS:
Bolivia has a quit reliable, comfortable and economic
long-distance, privately operate bus-network. Due to the
great distances (and still some parts unpaved) between the
big cities you have to expect a travel time of 9 – 15
hours, mostly at night.
Rail:
Bolivia has two private Train-Operator: In the “Oriente”
from Santa Cruz to travel to Brazil and to Argentina. (3-5
trains per week in both directions) and on the “ALTIPLANO”
from Oruro to Uyuni and crossing over either to Chile (the
desert of Atacama) or into Argentina. (3 trains per week
in both directions). The services are in three classes and
have improved over the last two years after privatisation.
(Ticket reservation with passport number required)
SELF-DRIVE:
21-years of age (not 18), a credit card, a international
drivers licence at least two years old. For what ever
excursion you need a 4x4 – wheel-drive with insurance for
US $ 50-100.--/day and be prepared for rough roads,
without any signs.
Climate:
The climate varies greatly depending on the regions. For
cooler nights in the Valleys and the Altiplano bring warm
clothes and good shoes. (Head and Sun protection in any
case)
Rain stuff for
the “sub-tropical”, but very warm (28 – 40 C) areas.
Basically you can visit Bolivia all year, even so from
November to March is a greater chance of some rain
showers and thunderstorms. (but also the countryside shows
more green).
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