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This country offers breathtaking panoramas from the eternal glaciers of the Andes to the Amazon jungle. A unique legacy of millenary cultures within a clean and safe environment is complemented with the symbiosis of races. Bolivia's smiling people are hospitable and proud of its past. Last but not least it counts with a most modern infrastructure and good connections with neighbor countries and beyond. The most outstanding attraction is the Lake Titicaca. Comprehensive Andean programs, cover Lake Titicaca combined with the archeological destination of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
Bolivia consists of two main regions: the highlands and the eastern lowlands, divided between the Amazon and Parana basins.
The Andes
The highlands of Bolivia encompass three distinct parts: the Cordillera Occidental; the Altiplano; and the Cordillera Oriental.
The Cordillera Occidental is part of the Andean range that extends along the western fringe of South America. It features many active volcanoes, and part of them run from southwest Peru to Chile.
The Altiplano situated at 12,000-13,000 feet above sea level, is a high plateau that lies between the Occidental and Oriental ranges. The Altiplano is divided into a number of basins by spurs of the Andes. The northernmost of these basins, which extends into Peru, is partly occupied by Lake Titicaca, situated at 12,507 feet, being the world's highest lake.
The Capital La Paz, the highest (11,900 feet) large city in the world, is situated in a valley southeast of Lake Titicaca, below the rim of the Altiplano.
The Cordillera Oriental is more varied and complex, with different landscapes and habitats in the northeast, which follows a northwest to southeast direction, and the south, a north to south direction. The northeastern part rises abruptly to great heights above the Altiplano (the Titicaca basin and La Paz Valley) with snow-capped peaks of over 21,000 feet. The eastern slopes, densely covered by forest and known as the Yungas, are the wettest part of the Bolivian Andes.
The southern part (from the vicinity of Santa Cruz) rises abruptly from the Altiplano. It is a precipitous escarpment but has a less rigged upper surface that slopes gently toward the eastern lowlands. This high level surface of 12,000-14,000 feet is surmounted by a number of short ranges with higher peaks.
The eastern lowlands
In the eastern lowlands, there are differences between the natural features of the northeast and those of the southeast. The Llanos de Mamore, in the northeast, slopes gently to the Amazon Basin, is well watered by rain and rivers and has rich natural vegetation. However, the Gran Chaco in the southeast, which slopes toward the Pilcomayo and Paraguay rivers, is semiarid, with dry scrub and savannah and occasional gallery forests along the rivers. The eastern lowlands are sparsely populated. The discovery of oil and natural gas, the development of roads between Santa Cruz (the region's main urban center) and the urban government-backed settlement of the Altiplano, have resulted in a significant increase of population in this region since 1950s. The eastern lowlands are Bolivia's main source of tropical agricultural products.
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| MONEY EXCHANGE |
The official currency is the boliviano, which contains 100 centavos. The Bolivian peso ceased to be legal tender in 1990 and the new boliviano is equivalent to 1 million of the old Bolivian pesos. Notes are available in denominations of 200.00, 100.00, 50.00, 20.00 and 10.00. Coins are in denominations of 2.00 and 1.00, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos.
The boliviano is tied to the US Dollar, and US Dollars can easily be exchanged at hotels and banks, or at slightly better rates at casas de cambio (exchange shops). Damaged bolivianos or dollars are generally not accepted, so don't offer or accept them.
Credit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club, Visa and American Express have very limited acceptance. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: US Dollar travellers cheques are probably the best form of currency to take to Bolivia at the present time. Sterling cheques can sometimes be exchanged, but with difficulty
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| PEOPLE |
Bolivia's population was estimated at 7 million in 1989 (5.9 million at the 1982 census) and has been increasing over the last decade by an average annual rate of 2.6 percent. It has more than doubled over the last forty years, numbering just over 3 million at the 1950 census. Approximately 55 % of the total population is believed to be "pure" indigenous Indian descent, 25-30 % mestizo, and about 15% European. The Indians make up the great majority of the population in the northern parts of the Altiplano and the higher valleys and basins of the Andes.
Spanish is the official language, but more than half of the population speaks native languages. About 34% percent speaks Quechua and 25% Aymara (mainly in the Cordillera Oriental and southern Altiplano). More than 95 % of the people are Catholic and about 1 % Protestant.
Bolivia's population is concentrated mainly in the northern parts of the Altiplano and the basins and valleys of the Cordillera Oriental. The eastern lowlands (with the exception of Santa Cruz and its surroundings), most of the Cordillera Occidental, and the southern parts of the Altiplano, are sparsely populated. Only two of Bolivia's nine departments (17 % of total area) have a population density of 16-20 persons per square kilometer (40-50 per square mile), while 59 % of the total area has a density of less than 3 persons per square kilometer (7.5 per square mile). The average population density for the country as a whole is 6.4 persons per square kilometer (16 per square mile). The portion of the urban population is 49 percent; it was 33.5 percent in 1950.
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| SHOPPING |
Shopping hours are generally from 09:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 15:00 pm to 19:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 am to 15:00 pm on Saturday.
Banks are open from 09:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 14:00 pm to 16:30 pm Monday to Friday, and closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
In Bolivia, as in most of Latin America, few prices are fixed. Almost everything is negotiable, not only for artesania, but also for food, transport and even lodging.
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| TAX |
| The departure tax is US$20, levied on all international departures (non-residents cannot pay this in Bolivian currency). Children under two are exempt.
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| HOLIDAYS & FESTIVITIES |
| Jan |
1 |
New Year's Day |
| Feb/Mar |
Varies |
Carnival |
| Apr |
Varies |
Good Friday |
| May |
1 |
Labour Day |
| Jun |
Varies |
Corpus Christi |
| Aug |
6 |
Independence Day |
| Nov |
1 |
All Saints' Day |
| Dec |
25 |
Christmas Day |
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| COUNTRY ORIENTATION |
Tourist visa required for U.S. citizens visiting Bolivia. Visas must be obtained in advanced from the Consulate of Bolivia.
La Paz, the seat of national government, is situated 3632m (11,910ft) above sea level and is the world's highest capital city. Mount Illimani stands in the background. The city contains many museums and is well provided with modern and comfortable hotels. Nearby attractions include Lake Titicaca, the Yungas Valleys, the Chacaltaya skiing resort and the exceptional rock formations in the Moon Valley.
Santa Cruz is rich in natural resources; the city itself, despite considerable modernisation, still retains much of its colonial past. This region is also rich in tradition and folklore. There are abundant opportunities for fishing and hunting, and many natural bathing places. The area's rich cuisine is also to be sampled.
Oruro is a traditional mining centre, and preserver of many relics of a colonial past. Every year one can witness one of the most extraordinary and faithful expressions of folklore in South America during the famous carnival (February/March).
Sucre, in the state of Chuquisaca, played an important part in the struggle for independence, and is rich in museums, libraries and historical archives. Among the most important are the Cathedral Museum, the National Library, the Colonial Museum, the Anthropological Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Recoleta Convent.
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| WEATHER |
Altitude and the changes in annual precipitation toward the southwest dominate the climate of Bolivia. Widely varing conditions can often be seen over short distances. The average temperature in La Paz (at 11,900 feet above sea level) of the coldest period (June/July) is 43.5F, and the warmest month, (November) is 51.8F
Lake Titicaca, with nearly constant water temperature of 51F throughout the year, has a moderating influence on its surroundings; winter temperatures are slightly higher than those at similar altitudes elsewhere on the Altiplano. The southern areas that form the Bolivian part of the Gran Chaco, have the highest temperatures in South America, with highs over 104F and an average of 82.5F and 72F for the hottest and coolest months respectively.
The rainy season lasts from approximately October to March and is longer in the north. The southwestern part of Bolivia is arid, and agriculture is largely dependent on irrigation. The northeastern flanks of the lowlands have abundant rainfall (an annual average of over 60 inches). The average annual precipitation at La Paz is 22.6 inches.
The extreme south is semiarid, with an average annual rainfall of 20 inches and frequent drought. The northern part of the eastern lowlands and the adjacent lower slopes of the Cordillera Oriental are covered by dense evergreen forests. The vegetation of the Bolivia Chaco is dry savannah with scrublands, thorny bushes, and high grass.
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