Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Telephone
Convenient
puntos
(privately run phone offices) of various carriers - Entel, Cotel, Tigo,
Viva etc - are scattered throughout the city, and some mobile services now have wander-
ing salesmen who will allow you to make a call from their mobile phone. Street kiosks,
which are on nearly every corner, also sell phone cards, and offer brief local calls for
about B$1 per minute. You can buy cell phone sim cards (known as
chips
) for about B$10
from Entel or any carrier outlet. International calls can be made at low prices from the
In-
ternational call center
(Galería Chuquiago, cnr Sagárnaga & Murillo; 8:30am-8pm)
.
Entel
(Ayacucho 267, Casco Viejo; 8:30am-9pm Mon-Fri, to 8:30pm Sat, 9am-4pm
Sun)
The main Entel office is the best place to receive incoming calls and faxes.
Tourist Information
Information kiosks
(Main bus terminal)
Opening hours vary. The kiosks have maps and
may help you find a hotel.
Santa Cruz & Colombia, Prado; 8:30am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9:30am-1pm Sat & Sun)
Stop
by to grab some maps and get detailed information. English is spoken by some staff.
Getting There & Away
Air
El Alto International Airport
(LPB)
is 10km via toll road from the city center on the Al-
tiplano. At 4050m, it's the world's highest international airport; larger planes need 5km of
runway to lift off and must land at twice their sea-level velocity to compensate for the
lower atmospheric density. Stopping distance is much greater too, and planes are equipped
with special tires to withstand the extreme forces involved.
Airport services include oxygen tanks in the international arrivals area, newsstand,
ATMs, internet, souvenir stores, a bookstore, a coffee shop, fast food, a bistro and a duty-
free shop in the international terminal. The currency-exchange desk outside the interna-
tional arrivals area gives poor rates on traveler's checks - if possible, wait until you're in
town. The domestic departure tax is B$15, while the international departure tax is US$25
(payable in cash only in the airport lobby).
Times and schedules for flights change often. Check your airline's website or call.
