Return to Sucre

Is Bolivia & Sucre Safe?
The people in Bolivia are very friendly and are always willing to help.Do however be cautious and well aware of your personal space at all times. Never let someone you do not know watch your luggage and never accept rides from anyone other than official taxi drivers.

Remember: you are in another country with a different set of social rules and regulations. What might be acceptable at home is not necessarily acceptable abroad. Ask questions and find out more about your city. Learn to adapt to different cultures and customs, part of your study abroad experience is to learn more about the world around you, be open and friendly.

What is the local currency?
Boliviano (B$). Visitors can use US dollars, the only foreign currency accepted throughout Bolivia. Currencies of neighboring countries may be exchanged in border areas and at certain La Paz casas de cambio. All casas de cambio change cash dollars and some also change travelers' checks. You can often change money in travel agencies, jewelry or appliance stores and pharmacies. When exchanging money, ask for the cash in small denominations, as there are chronic problems with change. Major credit cards may be used in larger cities.

Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary?
Regulations change frequently, but currently citizens of most EC countries can stay up to 90 days without a visa; citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Israel, France and Benelux countries can stay 30 days without a visa. Most other nationalities require a visa in advance - usually issued for a 30-day stay.

Altitude sickness, Chagas disease, cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, polio, rabies, tetanus, typhoid, yellow-fever. Consult your doctor before traveling.

How do you get there from here?
A couple of airlines offer direct service to Bolivia, most people fly into another South American country, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile or Peru, and travel overland to Bolivia, which generally works out to be cheaper.

How do I get around Bolivia & Sucre?
Domestic air services: are provided by LAB, TAM (military airline) and AeroXpress, which are pretty unreliability. Bolivia's road network is not good, mainly because of the lack of paved roads. Most long-distance buses depart in the evening and travel through the night. If you want to see the countryside between towns, you're better off catching a truck, a popular mode of transport among campesinos. Trucks are half the price of buses, but can be rough going.

Bolivian railways: have been recently privatized and passenger services have been drastically cut back. There are two rail networks: one in the west and one in the east.

What is the weather like?
Winter runs from May to October and summer from November to April. The most important climatic factor to remember is that it's generally wet in the summer and dry in the winter.

Will my electrical gadgets work?
220V, 50 Hz (except in La Paz which has 110V & 220V, 50 Hz).

What is the best way to phone home?
It is smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, AT&T or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US/Canada at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call.