BOLIVIA

Bolivia is one of the few places on earth where ethnography and ecology are preserved in their original state or very close to its original condition.

Bolivia is also unique, intriguing and colorful, yet remains largely undiscovered by tourism.

This bizarre country, culturally diverse, geographically exceptional and striking in so many other ways is the ideal destination for an authentic cultural experience in the Americas.

Bolivia’s unique blend of cultures and climates are due in part to its long-standing isolation from the rest of the world, thanks to its land-locked location and low immigration rates. As such, Bolivia’s indigenous religions, languages, clothes, dances, music and medicine remain all intact, untouched by the passing of time and are an integral part of daily life. Also, the country’s diverse landscapes set it apart from any other. Indeed, in many ways, Bolivia is two countries in one: the high-altitude Western area and the lowland tropical Eastern area. The contrast between these two extremes could not be more marked: from mentality to lifestyle.

As a land of staggering contrasts, Bolivia is home to an astonishing range of landscapes and sights; from snow-covered peaks of the Andes Mountain Range to windswept deserts, spectacular salt flats, lush valleys, tropical and subtropical rainforests and ancient historical treasures.

The country where McDonald’s failed, where the Spanish left the living legacy of their colonial conquest and where ancient cultures still exist shoulder to shoulder with the trapping of modernity.

It is this clash of cultures that makes Bolivia such an authentic, unique and intriguing touristy destination.

Bolivia at a glance

Bolivia is situated in the heart of South America bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru and it covers 1,098,581km2 (428,446 square miles).

 

Bolivia has an extreme range of climates depending on the altitude. Summer / rainy season falls between November-April and winter/dry season from May to October.

Sucre (constitutional), La Paz (administrative). Bolivia is a democratic Pluri National State.

Approximately 10,027,254, with 7 inhabitants per km2 (11 per square mile)

95% Roman Catholic but many people also hold traditional Inca and Aymara beliefs.

The Boliviano rate of exchange; 7 Bolivianos = 1 U.S. Dollar

4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Bolivian time is constant throughout the year and throughout the country.

La Paz runs on both 220v and 110v. The rest of the country is 220v.

From 9:00 to 12:00 in the morning and 14:30 to 18:30 in the afternoon.

A 10% tip is expected

By air, there are direct non stop flights from Spain, the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Panama.

By land, the most common and suitable entry point is Peru, crossing Lake Titicaca. The Catamaran Cruise ships offer daily connections between Puno (Peru) and La Paz (Bolivia). The two other land entryways used by tourists are from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) to the Uyuni Salt Flats and from La Quiaca (Argentina) to the city of Potosi.

 

                New Years Day                  January 1st

                Creation of the

                Plurinational State          January22nd

                Carnival                               February/March

                Good Friday                       Friday before Easte

                Labor Day                           May 1st

                Aymara New Year            June 21st

                Corpus Christi                    May

                Independence Day         August 6th

                All Saints Day                     November 2nd

                Christmas Day                   December 25th