Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GVI
(
www.gvi.co.uk
)
i-to-i
(
www.i-to-i.com
)
Projects Abroad
(
www.projects-abroad.co.uk
)
Real Gap
(
www.realgap.co.uk
)
UN Volunteers
(
www.unv.org
)
Wayna Hilaña Yanapaña (W.H.Y)
(
www.whybolivia.org
)
World Volunteer Web
(
www.worldvolunteerweb.org
)
Women Travelers
Women's rights in Bolivia are nearing modern standards, and cities are more liberal than
country regions. But despite the importance of women in Bolivian society and the eleva-
tion of females in public life (including a female ex-president and women mayors), the
machismo mindset still pervades Bolivia. In the home women rule, while external affairs
are largely managed by men. As a female traveling alone, the mere fact that you appear to
be unmarried and far from your home and family may cause you to appear suspiciously
disreputable.
Bear in mind that modesty is expected of women in much of Spanish-speaking Latin
America. Local women who wear Western dress in the warmer and lower areas tend to
show more flesh than elsewhere in the country. That said, as a foreigner, avoid testing the
system alone in a bar wearing a miniskirt. Conservative dress and confidence without ar-
rogance are a must for gringas, more to be respectful than anything else. Men are gener-
ally more forward and flirtatious in the lowlands, where the Latino culture is more preval-
ent, than in the Altiplano where indigenous cultures prevail. The best advice is to watch
the standards of well-dressed Bolivian women in any particular area and follow their ex-
ample.
As a safety measure for a woman traveler, try to avoid arriving at a place at night. If
you need to take a taxi at night, it's preferable to call for a radio taxi than to flag one down
in the street. Note that during the period leading up to Carnaval and during the festivities,
a woman traveling solo can be a popular target for water bombs, which can feel like quite
a harassment or at least an annoyance.
Women should avoid hiking alone, and should never walk alone at night.
