Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Radio
For a 24/7 stream of Andean artists, browse Bolivia Web Radio (
www.boliviaweb.com/radio
)
. Radio Pa-
namericana (
www.panamericana-bolivia.com
)
is popular all around Bolivia.
Television
Switch on the TV to watch the government-run Canal 7 (
www.boliviatv.bo
,
in Spanish) or the private
ATB TV (
www.atb.com.bo
, in Spanish) network. Opposition to the government is shown on UNITEL
(
www.unitel.tv
,
in Spanish) out of Santa Cruz. Cable TV with international stations is available in most upmarket
hotels.
Weights and measures
Use the metric system, except when buying produce at street markets, where everything
is sold in
libras
(pounds; 1lb = 0.45kg).
Legal Matters
The biggest legal problems include trafficking and possession of cocaine and other drugs,
minor traffic violations and sex-related crimes.
If you are arrested, foreign embassies should be contacted immediately. Note, however,
that they don't have the power to resolve the legalities (or illegalities) if you break the
law.
Be aware that more recently incidences of fake police have been on the rise.
See also the La Paz chapter (
Click here
)
for more on safety issues for travelers.
Maps
Maps are available in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz through Los Amigos del Libro
and other bookstores. Government 1:50,000 topographical and specialty sheets are avail-
able from the Instituto Geográfico Militar (IGM), with offices in La Paz and in most other
major cities.
International sources for hard-to-find maps include the US-based
Maplink
(
www.maplink.com
)
and
Omnimap
(
www.omnimap.com
), and the UK-based
Stanfords
(
www.stanfords.co.uk
)
. In Germany, try
Deutscher Alpenverein
(
www.alpenverein.de
)
,
which publishes its own series of climbing maps.
See the Bolivia Outdoors chapter (
Click here
)
for more about maps and guidebooks.