Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
out of sight, as officials have been known to angle for bribes. Tourist cards, as well as entry
and exit stamps, are
free of charge
.
If you want to
stay on
in Bolivia beyond the ninety-day limit, it's best to leave the country
overland and return the next day, when you'll be issued with a new tourist card. If you lose
your tourist card, go to a
migración
office to get a new one before you try to leave the coun-
try - this involves a lengthy bureaucratic procedure, so it's best not to lose your card in the
first place. If you overstay, you'll be charged a
small fine
for each extra day, payable at a
migración
before you try to leave the country. If you're leaving Bolivia by a particularly re-
mote border crossing, you may need to get an exit stamp
in advance
from the
migración
in
the nearest major town.
Under-18s
travelling to Bolivia without their parents need written
parental consent authorized by a Bolivian embassy.
Officially you must carry your
passport
with you at all times in Bolivia, but away from bor-
der areas it's enough in practice to carry a photocopy of the main page and your tourist card
and entry stamps to show police or other officials when necessary.
Insurance
It's essential to take out an insurance policy before travelling to cover against theft, loss, ill-
ness or injury. A
typical policy
usually provides cover for the loss of baggage, tickets and -
up to a certain limit - cash or cheques, as well as cancellation or curtailment of your jour-
ney. Most of them exclude so-called
dangerous sports
unless an extra premium is paid: in
Bolivia this can mean whitewater rafting, trekking and mountaineering, though probably not
kayaking or jeep safaris.
Many policies can be chopped and changed to exclude coverage you don't need - for ex-
ample,sicknessandaccident benefitscanoftenbeexcludedorincludedatwill.Ifyoudotake
medical coverage
, check whether benefits will be paid as treatment proceeds or only after
you return home, and whether there is a 24-hour medical emergency number. When secur-
ing
baggage cover
, make sure that the per-article limit - typically under £500 - will cover
your most valuable possession. If you need to make a claim, you should keep receipts for
medicines and medical treatment; in the event you have anything stolen, you must obtain an
official statement (
denuncia
) from the police.
