Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BREAKING BAD IN BOLIVIA
Bolivia offers plenty of opportunities to 'Break Bad.' With its status as a major cocaine- producing nation and a
reputation for lax law enforcement, Bolivia is a popular destination for drug and sex tourism. Travelers who come
to Bolivia to engage in these and other marginal activities can find themselves in trouble, however, as these activ-
ities have serious consequences and legal ramifications.
Prostitution
Prostitution is legal for adults aged 18 and older, and is common throughout the country. While legal, there are
few protections for sex workers or controls on the industry (raising the chances of contracting an STD). Child
prostitution (the average sex worker starts at 16 years old) and human trafficking are also real issues in the coun-
try, especially in the Chapare and major urban centers. Young children are sold into prostitution, especially from
the tropical lowlands, and brought to large urban centers or sold overseas either as slaves or prostitutes. Traffick-
ing from Paraguay to Bolivia is on the rise for the 'mega brothels' being built near Santa Cruz. In Southern
Bolivia, around 10 children every month are sold into prostitution or slavery, and across the globe some 1.2 milli-
on children are victims of human trafficking annually. It's a US$12 billion annual industry, and many advocacy
organizations say consumers will control its end. Jail sentences for sex with a minor are 20 to 25 years in Bolivia,
and those found guilty will also likely face criminal charges in their home country. (Sources: Unicef, 2008 US
State Department Human Rights Report, UNHCR, EFE)
Cocaine & Other Drugs
Drug tourism is on the rise in Bolivia. The cocaine is pure, it's cheap (B$100 to B$150 a gram), it's easily attain-
able, and it remains illegal. The laws are a bit contradictory and ill-defined. Personal possession, while illegal, is
not supposed to carry a jail sentence, but trafficking carries a minimum eight-year sentence, according to the An-
dean Information Network. The only problem: there's no definition of personal possession. Your best bet is to not
do it. If you get caught, your embassy will not help you. The only option for many travellers is to attempt to pay
their way out of the situation, which is also risky since bribes are illegal, too. It's also worth noting that the same
criminal organizations producing cocaine are also responsible for human trafficking; don't go down dark alleys
after midnight looking to score. Moreover, cocaine can be deadly, especially at Bolivia's high altitudes.
Marijuana is also common here (and also illegal), while other high-end pharmaceuticals, like ecstasy, are hard
to come by. Hallucinogenics, like the San Pedro cactus and ayahuasca, are becoming slightly more common and
sit in a grey area of the law.
San Pedro Prison
It's likely you won't be in La Paz long before you'll hear about 'tours' to San Pedro prison - from other travelers,
or sometimes operators and hostels. We strongly advise against participating in one of these unofficial - and, in
fact, illegal - 'tours', which are organized by inmates, guards and dodgy operators. There are high risks associated
with entering San Pedro prison. First, it's illegal, and the Bolivian authorities are cracking down on unofficial vis-
its. Secondly, inside the prison, there's no protection or guarantee of your safety and, well, you're surrounded by
criminals.
Bribes
Bribes are illegal in Bolivia, but common. With cops making just over US$115 a month, it's easy enough to see
why it would be so ubiquitous. People stopped for minor traffic violations or more serious infractions sometimes
ask if they can 'pay the fine now.' Watch out for false police - authentic police officers will always wear a uni-
form and will never force you to show them your passport, insist you get in a taxi with them, or search you in
public.
