Located in the heart of South America, Bolivia is a land-locked country which incorporates the Andes Mountains and high plateaus to the south-west and Amazon basin to the north-east.

• Capital: Sucre
• Population: 4 million
• Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara & Guarani among 32 other official languages
• Food: Bolivian cuisine is influenced by Aymara, Quechua and European cuisines. The Bolivian national dish is arguably the salteña, a pastry parcel of diced meat and boiled egg. Popular dishes include: lomo saltado, steak topped with fried egg accompanied by fried plantain, chicha, a fermented corn-based beer, cuy (guinea pig) is a common dish in Bolivia.

• Voltage: 115-230V, 50Hz. Check the voltage in the State you are visiting. Wall outlets in Bolivia accept Type-A 2-prong plugs and outlets for Type-C 2-prong Europlugs are becoming more widespread.

• Visas: Tourist visa requirements vary depending on nationality. Inquire at your nearest Bolivian Embassy or Consulate.

• Money: The official Bolivian currency is the boliviano (Bs). There are notes of 10, 20, 50, & 100 bolivianos. Coinage comes in denominations of 1, 2 & 5 bolivianos, 10, 20, & 50 bolivianos. Major foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks and authorized bureaus. American Express, VISA, Diners and Master Card are widely accepted. Traveller’s cheques are no longer widely accepted and can be difficult to exchange outside major cities.

• Health & Vaccinations: Aside from routine vaccines, it is recommended travellers to Bolivia are vaccinated Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Inoculation against Yellow Fever is recommended for travel to elevations below 2,300m and east of the Andes Mountains: the provinces of Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, and designated areas of Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Tarija departments. Not recommended for travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas above 2,300m, including La Paz and Sucre. Travellers to elevations below 2300m are recommended to take precautions against Malaria (inoculation or medication). Refer to recommendations by the CDC.

• La Paz: Explore the warren of eccentrically-decorated stalls offering folk medicine and traditional cures in the “Witches’ Market”. Take a day-trip to see the otherworldly geography of the Valley of the Moon.
  

• Uyuni: Tour vast cactus-fringed salt-pans which stretch as far as they eye can see. Visit mineral-rich colourful lagoons home to flamingo colonies. Observe primeval geysers spurt steam and mud from the depths of the earth.
  

• Tiwanaku & Puma Punku: The remains of the spiritual and political centre of the Tiwanaku Empire are a fascinating complex of cyclopean ruins. Don’t miss the inexplicably advanced masonry of Puma Punku.

• Lake Titicaca: The highest navigable lake in the world spans the Peru-Bolivia border. Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna feature Inka ruins celebrating the mythical birthplace of the Inka civilization. Visit the coastal pilgrimage destination of Copacabana, namesake of the famous Brazilian beach.

Bolivia has two main seasons, the wet summer season and the dry winter season. The wettest months are during the temperate summertime from Dec-Feb. The driest months are May-July which feature cool days and cold nights. Due to the severity of summertime downpours, many of Bolivia’s underdeveloped roads are impassable during the wet season. The salt pans of Uyuni are inundated during the summertime.