Bolivia Travel Information

The situation with the coronavirus is constantly changing. Follow the information from the Bolivian authorities. It must be expected that new measures and restrictions can be implemented at short notice, including on entry and quarantine regulations. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health. There is still a somewhat uncertain political situation in Bolivia, although it has been decided that presidential elections will be held on May 3, 2020, with a possible second round of elections within 45 days after that. In October and November 2019, there was widespread unrest in the country, with demonstration and a number of roadblocks in the major cities. As of today, the security situation is better, but it is generally recommended to familiarize yourself with the situation before departure. According to Abbreviationfinder, BOL stands for Bolivia in geography.

Safety

As a result of the elections in Bolivia on October 20, 2019, there was widespread political unrest in the country. There were demonstrations, roadblocks and general unrest in several parts of the country, which led to several deaths and many injuries in October and November. As of today, the situation has calmed down and there is an ongoing political process for holding the May 3 presidential election.

Travelers are encouraged to keep up to date on news and any reports from the police and the country’s authorities.

Norway is represented in Bolivia by an honorary consulate general in La Paz. The Embassy of Norway in Argentina is accredited to Bolivia (contact details below).

In general, most trips to Bolivia are carried out without any special problems. The greatest risk is related to transport security and criminal acts aimed at tourists. It is recommended to be aware of details about safety and to inquire about areas that are considered less safe. The risk of terrorist incidents in Bolivia is considered low.

The level of crime in Bolivia is lower than in other countries in the region, but far higher than in Norway. Recently, more and more criminal acts have been reported against tourists, such as purse seizures and credit card fraud. Particularly on buses and other forms of transport, travelers are subject to theft. This is especially true in urban areas such as La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. In most cases, these are purse seizures and the like, but there are also several examples of armed robberies, kidnappings and the perpetration of violence against tourists, although the risk of this is considered low.

  • Countryaah: Sucre is the capital of Bolivia. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

It is recommended to exercise particular caution in connection with ATM withdrawals and taxi rides after dark. There have also been reports of tourists who have been exposed to false civilian police. Tourists are asked to show credentials and to check for counterfeit banknotes and drugs, whereupon they are deprived of valuables. If one is exposed to criminal acts, this should be reported to the nearest police station.

There are many traffic accidents in the country. It is recommended to avoid traveling after dark. Boliviana de Aviaci¨®n – BoA is the only Bolivian airline to be a member of Iata – the International Organization of Airlines. Roadblocks as a political tool mean that significant delays or canceled bus departures can occur.

In Bolivia, floods and landslides often occur during the rainy season (November to March). In many cases, the authorities declare state of emergency in the most vulnerable areas. Travelers should keep up to date on regional weather forecasts and plan their trip accordingly.

Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance when traveling to Bolivia.

Emergency numbers:

Police: 110
Fire: 119
Ambulance: 118
Tourist Police in La Paz: (591 – 2) 2225016

Travelers are subject to local laws and a serious offense can result in prison sentences that must be served in local prisons. Norwegians who are arrested or imprisoned have the right to contact the responsible Norwegian authority (the embassy in Buenos Aires). The embassy can provide a list of lawyers on request.

Major Landmarks in Bolivia

Entry

Norwegian travelers should follow the advice and directions from local authorities about the consequences for entry due to the coronavirus.

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

It is the responsibility of the travelers to ensure that travel documents, possibly visas etc. are valid. The Danish embassy in La Paz mainly provides information on entry rules for foreigners who wish to travel to Norway. Bolivian authorities are responsible for entry regulations in Bolivia, and therefore also have the competence to respond to inquiries regarding these regulations. For information on entry rules in Bolivia, please contact the country’s authorities at the Bolivian Embassy in Denmark or Sweden.

Embassy of Denmark in La Paz:

Embajada de Dinamarca
Av. Acre No. 2799, esq. Cordero
Edificio Fortaleza – Piso 9
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: 00 591 2 243-2070 and 00 591 7 156-2213

The Bolivian Embassy in Denmark:

Embajada del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia and Dinamarca
Store Kongensgade No. 81, 2nd floor, 1264, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel.: +45 33 12 49 00
Fax: +45 33 12 49 03
E-mail: embocopenhagen@mail.dk
Website: http://embassyofbolivia.dk/

The Bolivian Embassy in Sweden:

Embajada del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia and Suecia
Stjärnvägen 2A, 7 etg., 181 32 Lidingö, Stockholm, Sweden
Tel.: +46 87 31 58 30
Fax: +46 87 67 63 11
E-mail: embolivia-estocolmo@telia.com
Website: http://embolivia.se/

In Bolivia – Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
Website: http://www.cancilleria.gob.bo/

Direcci¨®n General de Migraci¨®n (Immigration Authorities) –
Website: http://www.mingobierno.gob.bo/migracion.html

Website about Norway in Bolivia.

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of how the coronavirus is developing in the country. Follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not create travel advice because of the risk of infection. It is the Public Health Institute that provides health professional travel advice. You can find more information and guidance from Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Information from the Bolivian authorities is available (in Spanish) on the Ministry of Health of Bolivia’s website.

The situation is constantly changing. It must therefore be expected that new measures and restrictions can be implemented.

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Malaria occurs in the Amazon area and dengue fever in the lowlands below 2,500 meters. In Bolivia, there is also a high incidence of tuberculosis.

(There is a big difference between private and public health services, especially when it comes to access to medicines.)

Travelers are advised to consult a doctor or specialist in travel medicine well in advance of the trip to assess health risk and necessary vaccines. It is referred to the website of the National Institute of Public Health.

Practical information

Bolivia is five hours after Norway (six hours when it is summer time in Norway).

Power: 220 volts (110V may also occur). The electricity supply is relatively stable in the larger cities.

According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Bolivia is + 591. Telephone kiosks are easily accessible in the street image in all Bolivian cities. The mobile phone network in Bolivia is relatively well developed, especially in urban areas.

In large and medium-sized cities, the internet cafes are many and easily accessible. Prices are low. The national web domain is.bo

The currency unit in Bolivia is peso boliviano, most commonly referred to as Bolivianos (BOL). http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

The use of credit cards as a means of payment is relatively widespread in the major cities, but smaller shops, restaurants and hotels will often not accept credit cards or there will be delays and extra costs when using them. In rural areas cash is used more or less exclusively.

Most ATMs in the major cities accept Visa and Master Card, but we recommend caution as several tourists have been robbed in connection with ATM withdrawals.

Normal opening hours are – Bank : Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm. Public Offices : Mon.-Fri. 08.30-16.00. Shops : Mon-Sat. 08.30 / 09.30 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 5.30/19.00

National holidays are January 1st, two moving holidays in conjunction with the Carnival in February, Long Friday, May 1st, one moving holiday in connection with Christ’s Body Day in May/June, August 6, November 1, December 25. In addition, there are various regional holidays.

Driving in Bolivia requires an international driver’s license. This is obtained prior to entry, through NAF, (Norwegian Automobile Association), KNA (Royal Norwegian Automobile Club) or MA (Motor Driver’s Association).

Bolivia has a full 37 official languages, including Spanish and 36 indigenous languages. Spanish, Aymara and Quechua are most prevalent. English and other languages ​​are limited to a limited degree.