One Week in Bolivia

What You Should Know Before Going On A Bolivia Tour

How safe is Bolivia?

• As of December 2019, Bolivia is in a level 4 Travel Advisory
  

There can be some safety concerns while traveling to Bolivia, but playing it smart is the best way to try to prevent problems from arising. Most of the crime is petty. Transportation can be unreliable, because of strikes. Pickpocket risks are high, so you’re better off keeping money and valuable items in hidden pockets, and leaving the bag at home.

There have been cases of mugging, where tourists are taken to an ATM and demanded to withdraw money. Make sure to use reputable services (such as taxis). Persons can pose as police officers and demand money, but an official officer will not do this. A copy of your passport with a proper visa is enough.

While it’s exciting to meet the locals, be cautious about who you speak with, as this can be a trap for petty crime. Traveling with a tour group can help ease some of the safety worries of traveling to Bolivia. You’ll have a tour guide that speaks the language, knows which places are safe, and can help figure out safe plans if a safety issue arises.

Note – as of December 2019, Bolivia is in a level 4 Travel Advisory, meaning do not travel. Civil unrest is occurring, from the demonstrations, strikes, and marches happening in major cities across Bolivia. Protests block major infrastructure and transportation hubs. Crowd control measures have been used during violent confrontations. Road travel is often impeded, and some flights (both domestic and international) have been delayed and/or cancelled.

Bolivia packing suggestions

One of the most important things you pack is proof of a yellow fever vaccine depending on what region of Bolivia you are traveling to. While not all places require the vaccine verification, it’s better to have it on hand rather than show up and get turned away. If you’re going to the salt flats, you’ll definitely need sunglasses.

The reflections are extremely bright, and you want to protect your eyes. The reflection can be painful and even cause damage to eyes, so make sure the lenses have UV protection and they are dark. As mentioned above with the safety issues, a travel wallet that can be hidden is important.

Bolivia is known for it’s high altitude, and the adjustment can be difficult for some travelers. Bring some medicine that will help with high altitude sickness. The water isn’t safe to drink either, so bringing some form of a water filter is crucial for Bolivian travel.

Is English spoken in Bolivia?

English is not widely spoken in Bolivia. Of course, you’re more likely to find people who speak English in the bigger cities, such as La Paz and sucre, and on tours to the major tourist destinations. If you stay in these areas, you’ll be mostly okay. If you expand out to smaller cities and towns in Bolivia, it’s important you know some Spanish, or it’ll make traveling more difficult.