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Bolivia Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
Bolivia travel guide - Bolivia
holidays, holiday packages & Bolivia hotels.
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Top destination guides for Bolivia
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La Paz Holidays
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Bolivia Holidays, Bolivia Holiday
Packages Overview
Bolivia is known as the 'Tibet of
the Americas', the highest and most remote of the countries in
South America. It is a landlocked region with two Andean mountain
ranges binding the Altiplano, or High Plain, between them. This
plain has an altitude ranging from 9,000ft to 13,000ft (3,000m to
4,000m) and is where the majority of the population live.
The history of the region dates back to the pre-Columbian
times, from the ancient Aymará civilisation in 1,500 BC
who lived on Lake Titicaca, to the Tiahuanaco and the Inca Empire
of the Altiplano, until the conquest of the Spanish in 1538.
Reminders of these civilisations is evident in the architecture of
the colonial cities, displayed in informative museums that can be
visited at the sites of ancient ruins. It is one
of South America's more intriguing countries, as one with the most
indigenous population on the continent, the majority of whom still
maintain their firmly established culture and beliefs. This living
historical culture is one of the reasons that Bolivia is such an
exciting tourist destination. Travellers will encounter shy people
in traditional clothing, colourfully dressed and red-cheeked from
the mountain air. The landscape is imbued with traditional houses
and age-old methods of agriculture, and visitors will find
remarkable traditions kept alive in the ancient techniques of
weaving, handcraft and food production. The sounds of this cultural
legacy echo in the haunting melodies of the panpipes from the high
Altiplano or in the lively tunes emanating from the warmer
lowlands. The dramatic geography affords many
adventure opportunities: explorers can track wildlife in the
Amazonian basin, drive across the surreal landscape of the Salar de
Uyuni, take a boat trip on the world's highest navigable lake,
Titicaca, scramble through muddy shafts in the silver mines of
Potosi, or hike in the magnificent Andes mountains. There is enough
diversity to meet many tastes. The country is a
juxtaposition of extraordinary altitudes and spectacular
landscapes, fascinating remains of ancient civilisations, a rich
indigenous culture and vast colonial
treasures.
Tourist Offices - Viceministerio de Turismo/Tourist Office,
La Paz: +591 (2) 236 7463
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Entry Requirements
for Bolivia Holidays & Bolivia Travel
All visitors that require a visa must hold
a passport valid for at least six months beyond the length of stay;
if no visa is required then only a passport valid on entry to
Bolivia is necessary. All visitors should also have return tickets
as well as sufficient funds to see them through their
stay.
- For Australians -
Australians need a passport, but do not require a visa
for touristic stays of up to 30 days.
- New Zealanders need a passport, but do not require a
visa for a touristic stay of up to 30 days.
- US nationals must have a passport but do not require a
tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- US nationals must have a passport but do not require a
tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- UK Nationals holding valid passports do not need a
visa for stays of up to 90 days if the cover states 'United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland', 'Jersey', or 'Guernsey and
its Dependencies'. Other types of British passports require a
visa.
Bolivia Holidays - Currency of Bolivia
The official currency is the Boliviano (BOB), which
is divided into 100 centavos, and is tied to the US Dollar. Money
can be exchanged at exchange bureaux called casio de
cambios in the main centres, at banks and hotels.
Banking facilities are good in the main cities and ATMs cater for
Visa, Cirrus and MasterCard. Many hotels and other tourist-oriented
institutions accept US Dollars. Major credit cards, including
MasterCard, Diners, Visa and American Express, are accepted in the
bigger hotels, restaurants and shops. Travellers cheques can be
exchanged in casio de cambios in the major
cities and are best taken in US Dollars to avoid additional
charges.
Bolivia
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for Bolivia
is +591. The outgoing code depends on what network is used (e.g.
0010 for Entel, or 0013 for Boliviatel), which is followed by the
relevant country code (e.g. 001044 for the United Kingdom). The
area code for La Paz is 2, but the access code to make a call
within the country from another area also depends on what network
is used (e.g. (010)2 for Entel, or (013)2 for Boliviatel). Mobile
phones operate on a GSM network; the network operators are Entel
SA, Telecel and Nuevatel PCS. Internet cafes are widely available
in La Paz and other tourist areas.
Bolivia
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Bolivia over the age of 18 years
can bring the following items into the country without incurring
customs duty: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco as well
as 3 litres of alcohol. Technology such as cameras, laptops and
cellphones are limited to one per person for personal use. Newly
purchased goods to the value of US$1,000 per person are also duty
free. Travellers departing from the country should note that it is
illegal to leave with the following items without prior written
permission from the appropriate local authority: pre-Colombian
artefacts, historical paintings, items of Spanish colonial
architecture and history and native textiles.
Bolivia
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
A service charge is normally added to restaurant
and hotel bills but it is customary to add a 5 to 10% tip. Hotel
porters also expect a small tip. Taxi drivers are not usually
tipped unless they are hired for a full day, in which case 10% is
acceptable.
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