Bolivia - Land of Celebration, Colour & Contrast
(COVID-19 Update as @ 18 Jan 2021): All international flights to and from Bolivia were suspended in March 2020 and all land border crossings were closed until further notice. This was changed on 1 Sep 2020, with commercial air services now operating with reduced flights, including for visiting foreigners, but all under strict entry regulations. Limited land crossings are also possible, also under strict entry regulations.
UK FCO Travel Advice - Bolivia is NOT yet on the UK list of countries exempt from "all but essential" travel;
US State Travel Advice - Level 3; "Reconsider Travel."
(for MORE see links on Travel Advice below)
TRAVEL ADVISORY - BOLIVIA: (Update as @ 18 Jan 2021)
Following a disputed Presidential election held in Bolivia on October 2019, social tensions soared and demonstrations led to violent clashes between citizens and the police/military throughout the country until late November 2019, including a substantial number of fatalities. Accordingly, both the UK Foreign Office and US State Department issued Travel Alerts recommending international travellers should NOT visit Bolivia unless absolutely necessary. Whilst this has since been LOWERED, and access is now permitted by the Bolivian authorities (from early Sep 2020), a visit to the country for tourism purposes is best delayed until the pandemic has stabilised and social tensions have reduced. On 18 October 2020 NEW elections were successfully held in Bolivia, resulting in the election of a socialist president, Luis ARCE, who has pledged to return the country to stability and onward progress. This is holding well for future tourism in Bolivia, best planned for late 2021 onwards once COVID vaccination is well established.
For updated Travel Advice see the links at the bottom of this page.
Following a disputed Presidential election held in Bolivia on October 2019, social tensions soared and demonstrations led to violent clashes between citizens and the police/military throughout the country until late November 2019, including a substantial number of fatalities. Accordingly, both the UK Foreign Office and US State Department issued Travel Alerts recommending international travellers should NOT visit Bolivia unless absolutely necessary. Whilst this has since been LOWERED, and access is now permitted by the Bolivian authorities (from early Sep 2020), a visit to the country for tourism purposes is best delayed until the pandemic has stabilised and social tensions have reduced. On 18 October 2020 NEW elections were successfully held in Bolivia, resulting in the election of a socialist president, Luis ARCE, who has pledged to return the country to stability and onward progress. This is holding well for future tourism in Bolivia, best planned for late 2021 onwards once COVID vaccination is well established.
For updated Travel Advice see the links at the bottom of this page.
For visitors seeking the unusual, and far from the seething crowds, Bolivia is rapidly becoming THE destination of choice for discerning travellers! Twice the size of France* or California**, its CHEAPER than most places in South America! Here, you can visit the colourful highest capital in the world; meet the Limache brothers who built explorer Thor Heyerdahl's Ra II and Tigris; take a ride down the world’s legendary "Road of Death" that plummets from a snow-decked summit of 4,650m AMSL to the humid and lush vegetation of the pre-Amazon jungle in just 60kms; and view jaguar, puma and anacondas in one of Bolivia's pristine National Parks! Consider combining a tour to Bolivia with top destinations in a neighbouring country!
There is SO much to see and enjoy!
(* Metropolitan France - 550,000 km2; ** California - 424,000 km2)
There is SO much to see and enjoy!
(* Metropolitan France - 550,000 km2; ** California - 424,000 km2)
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Off the beaten tourist track, Bolivia is a great choice of destination, with an astounding variety of ethnic diversity, vibrant and colourful celebration, and plunging landscapes that range from the Amazon jungle to the soaring Andes. Surrounded by other nations, Bolivia shares Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, with Peru. Also sharing a part of the Amazon with Peru and Brazil, the contrasts in its geography and terrain are as diverse as its people, its customs, and its flora and fauna! As access can be complex, prior planning is the key to success here! |
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Machu Picchu & La Paz: Our favourite tour combines a visit to Machu Picchu in Peru, with one that starts in Bolivia's La Paz. Often cheaper to fly into than Lima, La Paz's striking location at 4,100m AMSL impresses from the start, especially if viewed from the EXTENSIVE teleferico gondola system that now straddles the city! With truly unique and amazing sights that range from the "Witches Market", to unusual items in the Coca Museum and other specialist museums in the City, we recommend that a visit to La Paz culminates in a visit to the impressive "Valley of the Moon" and a full day trip down the "Road of Death" to Coroico and the pre-Amazon! Most guests then set off for Peru, visiting the ancient Tiwanaku site on Lake Titicaca en route!
For MORE on the La Paz experience click HERE! |
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Lake Titicaca: the continuation of our tour from La Paz to Machu Picchu can otherwise be done as a separate package. This includes transfer from La Paz via either the fascinating home and museum of the Limache brothers on Lake Titicaca, builders of Thor Heyerdahl's famous ocean-going rafts, or the astounding Temple of the pre-Incan civilisation of Tiwanaku (300BC - 300AD). Also, guided boat tours to the Inca "navel of the world" islands of the Sun and Moon. Then overnighting in Puno on the Peruvian shores of Lake Titicaca, guests are encouraged to visit the astonishing community that populates the "Floating Islands of Uros", before boarding the luxurious Andean Explorer train, or catching a flight, for the final leg across the Andean altiplano that will bring them to Cusco and Machu Picchu. For MORE on this click HERE!
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Bolivia's National Parks: As shown on the map, Bolivia boasts a series of excellent national parks, most bereft of visitors, yet offering access to pristine nature and abundant wildlife. Unique Destinations has visited most of these Parks and recommends the following (for MORE detail click HERE):
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Finally, demonstrating a whole world of celebration, colour and contrast like no other, a host of other destinations offer unique delights within Bolivia that can be added to visitors' programs depending on their interests and geographic proximity. This includes:
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TRAVEL ADVICE & HEALTH The vast majority of visits to Bolivia are trouble free, normally earning a Level 1 rating from the US State Department - Exercise Normal Precautions! HOWEVER, in Oct 2019 social tensions emerged that raised the travel restictions, now exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Now that a NEW President has been elected (Oct 2020) , political tensions have significantly relaxed, boding well for tourism in late 2021. For updated information see the links below. Otherwise, the most common crimes are those of "opportunity theft", also "express kidnapping", most usually occurring in the main cities at busy tourist destinations. Historically, there were also a high number of demonstrations, roadblocks and other political assemblies that should be avoided. For CURRENT DETAIL click HERE (UK) for current UK FCO advice, or HERE (US) for State Department guidance. HEALTH There are also health risks when visiting "hot" Amazonia, particularly from Yellow Fever and Zika. Both links above give advice on HEALTH issues, and additional information can be obtained from the (US) Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - click HERE.