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Accommodations
Bolivian accommodations are among South America's cheapest, though price and value are
hardly uniform. Be aware that, with the exception of the international hotel chains, the star
ratings for hotels are not based on the recognized international rating system.
The Bolivian hotel-rating system divides accommodations into
posadas
(inns),
alojami-
entos
(basic accommodations),
residenciales
(simple accommodations),
casas de hués-
pedes
(family-run guesthouses),
hostales
(hostels) and
hoteles
(hotels). This subjective
zero- to five-star rating system reflects the price scale and, to some extent, the quality.
(Note that
hostales
are not necessarily hostels as you might normally think; some are in
fact upmarket hotels.) Rock-bottom places are usually found around bus and train stations,
though this area is often the most dangerous in town.
Prices in this topic reflect high-season rates (late May to early September). Room avail-
ability is only a problem at popular weekend getaways such as Coroico and during fiestas
(especially Carnaval in Oruro and festivals in Copa- cabana), when prices double.
In the Altiplano, heat and hot water often make the difference in price, while in lowland
areas, air-con and fans are common factors.
The sleeping sections in this topic are organized by author preference. Always ask to see
a couple of rooms before committing, keep your valuables in a safe when available and
check the sheets for bedbugs by searching for their feces beneath pillows. You can some-
times negotiate the room price in cheaper places.
Warning: several readers have alerted us to improper use of propane heaters in Bolivia.
These are sometimes offered in cheaper accommodations but are not meant to be used in
enclosed spaces, so refrain from using them if supplied.
Camping
Bolivia offers excellent camping, especially along trekking routes and in remote mountain
areas. Gear (of varying quality) is easily rented in La Paz and at popular trekking base
camps such as Sorata. There are few organized campsites, but you can pitch a tent almost
