Bolivia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 158

The easiest way to go trekking or
climbing is with a tour operator. There
are dozens of these in La Paz and in
several other cities (see box below). Prices
depend on group sizes.
The activity rated by many travellers
as one of the highlights of South America
is a bike ride down the road from La Paz
to Coroico in the Yungas, a thrilling
3500m descent along what was once
dubbed the world's most dangerous road .
There are plenty of tour companies
- beware unscrupulous operators - and
it is easy to organize as a day-trip from
La Paz. You don't need any previous
experience, but bear in mind that several
bikers have been killed on this route in
the past, and though the most dangerous
stretch was bypassed in 2007, some

vehicles still use it. Attempting the trip
in the rainy season (Nov-March) is not
recommended.

COMMUNICATIONS
Airmail ( por avión ) to Europe and North
America tends to take between one and
two weeks to arrive; mail to the rest of
the world outside the Americas and
Europe takes longer. Letters cost about
B$10-15 to Europe, the US, Canada,
Australia or New Zealand. For a small
extra charge, you can send letters certified
( (certificado), ), but even then don't send
anything you can't afford to lose.
here are ENTEL phone centres in all
cities and most towns, where you can
make local, national and international

2

ORGANIZED TOURS
Tours to the salt flats, the jungle and Bolivia's national parks are offered by most operators and
agencies across the country. Some agencies are less reputable and responsible than others,
and it is always worth shopping around before booking a tour.
TOUR OPERATORS
Amboró Tours (based in Santa Cruz but can organize
tours by phone or email) C Libertad 417 2nd Floor, Santa
Cruz T 03 3390600, W amborotours.com. Specializes in
trips to Amazonian national parks.
America Tours Ground-floor o ce 9, Edificio Avenida,
Av 16 de Julio 1490, La Paz T 02 2374204, W america
-ecotours.com. E cient and reliable, they're the main
booking agent for Chalalán Ecolodge in Parque Nacional
Madidi, and a good resource for booking internal flights.
Andean Epics Upstairs at C Linares 940 near Café
Illampu T 71276685, W andeanepics.com. Excellent
option for mountain biking and trekking in the Sorata
region. Their April-Dec five-day bike, jeep and canoe
trips from Sorata to Rurrenabaque are recommended
(around B$2700/person). Travellers already in Sorata
can join up with the groups there.
Bolivian Journeys Sagárnaga 363, La Paz W bolivian
journeys.org. Highly regarded mountaineering specia-
lists, offering professionally equipped expeditions into
the Cordillera Real.
Crillon Tours Av Camacho 1223, La Paz T 02 2337533,
W titicaca.com. Offer a variety of tours throughout Bolivia,
including pricey hydrofoil cruises on Lake Titicaca and
tours of Tiwanaku.
Fremen Av 20 de Octubre 2396, Edificio María Haydee,
La Paz T 02 2421258, W andes-amazonia.com. A highly
respected agency offering a wide range of tailor-made

tours throughout Bolivia, including river trips on the Río
Mamoré on their own floating hotel.
Kanoo Tours C Illampu 832, Zona Rosario, La Paz
T 02 2460003, W kanootours.com. Englishman Phil is
fast becoming La Paz's leading source of information for
the budget traveller, with quality tours and bookings
arranged across the country. Also has branches in the
Loki Hostel , the Adventure Brew Hostel .
La Paz On Foot Prolongación Posnanski 400, in
Miraflores near the stadium T 02 2248350, T 71543918,
W lapazonfoot.com. Offers an interesting range of
trips in the immediate vicinity of La Paz, not least the
“Urban Trek”, but also head further afield with an ethos
of responsible, rural community-supporting travel.
Ruta Verde Tours C 21 de Mayo 318, Santa Cruz T 03
3396470, W rutaverdebolivia.com. Pricey but excellent
Dutch/Bolivian-run tour operator offering trips to the
salt flats and jungle, with sustainability as a priority.
Topas Travel C Carlos Bravo 299, in Hotel El Consulado
T 02 2111082, W topas.bo. A wide-ranging, well-
respected operator.
Travel Tracks Sagárnaga 366 & 213 T 02 2316934,
W travel-tracks.com. Run by affable Dutch woman Aly
Bakker and specializing in climbing, trekking and Uyuni
tours.
Zig Zag C Illampu 867 T 02 2457814, W zigzagbolivia
.com. Climbing and trekking specialists, including the
Yunga Cruz trail.