Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
100 and 200 bolivianos; coins in
denominations of 1, 2 and 5 bolivianos,
and of 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos. At the
time of writing, the
exchange rate
was
roughly B$7 = US$1; B$9.30 = €1;
B$10.70 = £1.
US dollars can be
withdrawn at ATMs
,
and changed at banks and some hotels,
shops and by street moneychangers, so
they're a good way of carrying emergency
backup funds. Most day-to-day costs will
be charged in B$ though tourist-based
activities - especially the more upmarket
kind - will often be quoted in US$. The
easiest way to access funds in cities and
larger towns is by using plastic; Visa and
MasterCard are most widely accepted. In
rural areas and smaller towns carry plenty
of
cash
, as plastic and travellers' cheques
are fairly useless.
BOLIVIA ON THE NET
W
bolivianexpress.org
Well-written site
a
liated to a free monthly English-
language current affairs magazine.
W
boliviabella.com
Fascinating website
set up by a woman with detailed
knowledge of the Santa Cruz region and
a passion for everything related to the
country.
W
2
chiquitania.com
In-depth site about
the Jesuit Mission churches and the
surrounding region.
It is advisable to get vaccinated against
yellow fever
before you travel to Bolivia;
bring a doctor's certificate with you. Use
mosquito repellent with a high DEET
content and wear long sleeves and
trousers to avoid insect-borne diseases
such as malaria and dengue fever.
Bolivia is home to a wide range of
venomous
snakes and spiders
. Watch
where you step and seek medical advice if
you are bitten or stung.
When looking for healthcare, it is always
best to opt for
private clinics
(
clínica
) rather
than state-run hospitals, which are often
overcrowded and poorly equipped.
OPENING HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Public offices in Bolivia have adopted
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Jan 1
New Year's Day (
Año Nuevo
)
February/March
Carnaval, celebrated
throughout the country in the week
before Lent. The Oruro Carnaval (see
p.187) is the most famous, but Santa Cruz,
Sucre and Tarija also stage massive fiestas.
Easter
Semana Santa is celebrated with
religious processions throughout Bolivia.
Good Friday is a public holiday.
May 1
Labour Day.
May/June
Corpus Christi. La Paz stages
the Señor del Gran Poder, its biggest and
most colourful folkloric dance parade.
June 21
Aymara New Year (
Año Nuevo
or
Inti Raymi
). Crowds flock to the Tiwanaku
ruins for a colourful ceremony of thanks to
the sun and Pachamama (mother earth).
July 16
Virgen del Carmen. Processions
and dances in honour of the Virgen del
Carmen, the patron saint of many towns
and villages across Bolivia.
August 6
Independence Day (
Día de la
Patria
). Parades and parties throughout
the country, notably in Copacabana.
November 1-2
All Saints (
Día de Todos
Santos
) and Day of the Dead (
Día de los
Muertos
).
December 25
Christmas Day (
Navidad
).
INFORMATION AND MAPS
Most major cities have a regional
tourist
o
ce
, either run by the city municipality
or by the departmental prefecture. Tour
operators are often a better source of
information, and many are happy to
answer queries, often in English, though
obviously their main aim is to sell you
one of their tours.
It's worth buying a good map of the
country to take with you, as these are
rarely available in Bolivia itself. The best
general map is the
Travel Map of Bolivia
(1:2,200,000), produced by O'Brien
Cartographics. It's difficult to get hold of,
so look out for secondhand copies.
MONEY AND BANKS
The Bolivian currency is the
boliviano
.
It's usually written “B$” or “Bs” and is
subdivided into 100 centavos. Notes
come in denominations of 10, 20, 50,
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