Bolivia Travel Guide

Visa and Vaccinations for Bolivia

No visa is required for visitors from the UK, Canada or Australia. A tourist visa is required for US citizens to enter Bolivia. Visas need to be obtained from your nearest consulate before the time of travel, they can no longer be obtained at the border. The cost of the Visa is US Dollar 135 and is valid for 10 years from date of issue.

Bolivia requires a Yellow Fever vaccination with a certification required to enter the country if you are traveling from a destination where Yellow Fever is present. Malaria medication is recommended for travel to remote jungle regions at low altitudes. Only drink bottled water in Bolivia, tap water may be contaminated. We also recommend avoiding street food in Bolivia for sanitary reasons.

Your country’s government may have its own vaccination regulations and recommendations. Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date, which include: influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles / mumps / rubella (MMR) and diphtheria / pertussis / tetanus (DPT).

Currency, Cash and Credit Cards in Bolivia

Bolivia’s national currency is called the Boliviano (BOB).

You can change your money for a favorable rate at currency exchange facilities called Casa de Cambio. At the exchange, make sure that all your bills are in good condition. Torn or worn notes are generally not accepted anywhere.

ATMs, known as cajero automatic, are quite easily available in larger cities. However, not all of these are always in the best working condition and not all machines accept foreign cards. Therefore, it is always a good idea to carry some cash with you. To withdraw cash, you will need a credit card. If you are traveling to remote areas, it will be difficult to find ATMs that accept foreign cards. In remote areas ATMs use the Plus (Visa), Cirrus (Maestro / MasterCard) or Link Systems that will accept your debit card.

Although most hotels and restaurants in Bolivia accept VISA and MasterCard, this is not true for local restaurants and shops. Carrying some small denomination notes is recommended.

Language of Bolivia

Spanish is the official language of Bolivia, however, there are over 30 native languages spoken in various regions of the country, with Quechua and Aymara being the most common. Over 50% of the population has a native language other than Spanish as their mother tongue. Whilst you will find plenty of people speaking English in the cities during your Bolivia tour, it would be unwise to expect the same in rural areas.