Get ready to travel Bolivia
Useful information to travel Bolivia
We traveled Bolivia in January 2018 within our 6 months South America trip and did not regret it at all. In contrast we were sorry to not have spent more time in this highly underestimated travel destination.
Bolivia is not (yet) touristy, as the country’s government and society don’t believe in tourism. This was also reflected in the daily contact with the locals.. They were neither specifically friendly nor entirely unfriendly. They are just not (yet) used to tourists.
However, I am pretty convinced that tourism will boom within the next years, provided the current unstable political situation resolves peacefully. Unfortunately, there is still a serious risk of the country running into dictatorship. This could lead to similar severe conflicts as currently found in Venezuela.
In this post you’ll find some basic travel information for Bolivia, to be prepared and know what to expect. Of course, all based on our personal experiences.
Transportation and infrastructure in Bolivia
During our stay we noticed the population’s resentment against the country’s current president and political initiatives via daily protests. Most of them included a shut down of public transport, which caused some extra time (and expenses) traveling within Bolivia.
Apart from the protests, the bus system is pretty sophisticated. There are numerous bus operators, that cover most of the distances and go several times a day. Overnight buses also offer “cama” seats for some extra space and comfort. Best is to check out the timetables and prices (we never paid more than 15 EUR for up to 8-10 hours connections) directly at the respective bus terminal. You cannot find and book all bus connections online.
BUT: don’t expect toilets on the buses (which can be a pain on rides longer than 8 hours). And once the bus stops for a short toilet break (at least that’s what you think it is) don’t count on the bus driver to wait for you!! If it was not for Georg shouting at the driver, I would probably still sit on the toilet somewhere between Uyuni and Potosi.
Public transport within the larger cities is mostly covered by “collectivos”. They are like shared taxis going through town. They collect waving passengers from the pavement and drop them off at any desired point along their route. This type of transport is as cheap as 0,3 EUR per person and ride. The same price applies for the city buses.
Food in Bolivia
The 3 most favorite dishes of Bolivian’s are pollo, pollo and pollo. Either fried, grilled, baked or cooked – you get chicken in every possible type of preparation. Besides you can find lots of different (mostly meat dominated) street food. For example the “Saltenas”, which are the delicious, Bolivian style Empanadas. If you are vegetarian or vegan you will have a pretty hard time. At least you have to arrange yourself with side dishes like rice or potatoes. In every large city you will find international restaurants though, especially pizza can be found almost everywhere.
Please note: hygienic standards in Bolivia are not comparable to Europe. Be prepared that a bad tummy will be your travel company throughout traveling Bolivia.
(Backpacker friendly) price levels
Especially after traveling through Patagonia, we highly appreciated the cheap prices in Bolivia. Transportation is very affordable for good value, so is the food. For instance the daily Almuerzo (=lunch) deals, that include a soup, second course and dessert only cost between 1,5 – 4,5 EUR.
You will also find lots of markets in Bolivia, as it is a much more common way to shop (for locals and tourists alike) than common shops or supermarkets as we know it from the “western world”. Bargaining is not that common as you might think. At least I had no success. This of course did not stop me from buying THE one woolen sweater, as worn by literally every tourist in Bolivia. =)
The beauty of Bolivia’s diverse landscapes
If you are an outdoor lover and nature fan, you will love Bolivia. The landscapes are fascinating and different to anything else I’ve ever seen before. The high altitude of Bolivia makes it a paradise for mountain lovers too. La Paz, the country’s second largest city, for example is located at 3.600 m above sea level. Bolivia has the world’s most and easiest accessible 6.000m mountain, the “Huayna Potosi”. Apparently it is even doable for hiking beginners.
Besides you find the Amazonas with its jungle, crazy rock formations, the gorgeous Titicaca lake, stunning canyons, deserts, caves, lagoons and of course the world’s largest salt flat in Uyuni. No wonder, the dinosaurs already felt comfortable in these landmarks millions of years ago.
Bolivia is most famous for the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat on earth. If you want to read more on this you find more information here. I also recommend to do the tour with the agency Quechua Connection 4wd. But there are still a lot of hidden beauties, less known to tourists, just like Torotoro or Villa Tunari. Still a lot to explore in this highly interesting country.
Did you travel Bolivia yet? What were your experiences you’d like to add? Is there something additional you want to know in case you’re planning to travel Bolivia? Just share in the comments section 🙂