Directory A–Z - Bolivia - page 695

istics and bureaucratic spending than on promotion of the country's attractions or impos-
ing safety regulations. Most real development and promotion has been courtesy of the
private sector, which is the chief source of brochures and promotional programs.
There are often offices covering the prefectura (department) and alcaldía (local muni-
cipality) of a particular city. The major cities, such as Santa Cruz and La Paz, have offices
for both, although the different tourism bodies range from helpful to useless, often flying
under the new InfoTur banner. Most municipal offices can provide street plans and answer
specific questions about local transportation and attractions. The most worthwhile are
those in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Oruro, while those in other major cities seem to be con-
siderably less useful. Note that the posted opening hours are not always followed. There
are no tourist offices abroad. Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SERNAP) is the best
source of information about Bolivia's national parks.
Travelers with Disabilities
The sad fact is that Bolivia's infrastructure is ill-equipped for travelers with disabilities.
You will, however, see locals overcoming myriad obstacles and challenges while making
their daily rounds. If you encounter difficulties yourself, you'll likely find locals willing to
go out of their way to lend a hand. For general information, visit the Global Access - Dis-
abled Travel Network ( www.globalaccessnews.com ).
Visas
Passports must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry. Entry or exit stamps are
supposed to be free, but in remote border areas you will often be charged anywhere from
B$15 to B$30 for an exit stamp. Personal documents - passports and visas - must be car-
ried at all times, especially in lowland regions. It's safest to carry photocopies rather than
originals.
Bolivian visa requirements can be arbitrarily changed and interpreted. Regulations, in-
cluding entry stays, are likely to change. Each Bolivian consulate and border crossing may
have its own entry procedures and idiosyncrasies.
In 2007, as an act of reciprocity, the Morales government introduced visas for US cit-
izens visiting Bolivia (a 90-day visa valid for five years costs US$135). At the time of
writing, it was possible to obtain the visa upon arrival in Bolivia; check with the Bolivian
embassy ( 202-483-4410; www.bolivia-usa.org ) before traveling.