Practical information Bolivia

French, Belgian and Swiss nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of less than 90 days. A stamp is applied free of charge upon arrival at El Alto International Airport (La Paz) or Viru Viru (Santa Cruz), or at land border posts. Your passport must remain valid for at least six months after your entry date. The authorities sometimes request proof of a return ticket and proof of accommodation, which we systematically provide with your travel itinerary. For longer stays or trips combining work and tourism, a specific visa application must be made to the Bolivia consulate in Paris before departure.

No vaccines are mandatory to enter the territory from Europe, but yellow fever becomes mandatory if you travel to the Amazon (Rurrenabaque, Madidi park) or the lowlands of Santa Cruz and Chiquitania. We systematically recommend this vaccination, which is valid for life. Also keep up to date: DTP, hepatitis A and B, typhoid. Rabies can be considered for long stays in rural areas. Malaria affects only tropical zones below 2,500 meters; preventive treatment should be discussed with your doctor based on your itinerary. Dengue circulates in the lowlands during the wet season. Consult an international vaccination center six weeks before departure.

Budget between €70 and €110 per day and per person excluding international flights, in mid-range comfort with accommodation, meals, internal transport and guided activities. A 12-day organized tour by our agency typically costs between €2,200 and €3,200 per person. Main expenses: charming hotel accommodation €40 to €80 per night, restaurant meals €8 to €20, La Paz-Rurrenabaque domestic flight approximately €120 one-way, 4x4 rental with driver €200 to €280 per day in the South Lipez. Cash in bolivianos remains essential outside major cities; ATMs operate in La Paz, Sucre and Santa Cruz.

The dry season, from May to October, remains the most stable period to explore the Altiplano, the salar and South Lipez. Blue skies guaranteed, cold nights (down to -20°C in June-July at altitude), sunny days around 15-18°C. May and September offer the best temperature-crowds compromise. From November to March, the rainy season partially floods the Salar de Uyuni and creates the mirror effect sought by photographers, but complicates South Lipez trails. The Amazon is best visited during the dry season (May-October), as the pampas become impassable during heavy rains. For the Jesuit missions of Chiquitania, the baroque festival in April, held every two years, is worth the detour.

Distances and terrain often make flying necessary for long journeys. Airlines BoA and Amaszonas connect La Paz daily to Sucre, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Tarija and Rurrenabaque, with flights ranging from €80 to €140. Night buses, known as cama or semi-cama, comfortably serve the La Paz-Uyuni, La Paz-Copacabana, and Sucre-Potosí routes. In South Lipez and around the salar, a 4x4 with an experienced driver is essential, as trails are unmarked and altitude exceeds 4,800 meters. In cities, use official taxis or apps like InDriver in La Paz and Santa Cruz. Our agency arranges all private transfers.

Bolivia remains a safe country for travelers on organized tours. Classic tourist areas (La Paz, Uyuni, Sucre, Copacabana, Rurrenabaque) present no particular risk beyond standard urban precautions: avoid outlying neighborhoods at night, keep an eye on your belongings in markets, use only official or pre-booked taxis. El Alto requires greater caution. Road blockages linked to social movements may occasionally disrupt itineraries; our team in La Paz monitors the situation daily and adjusts programs in real time. Health is the real concern: altitude, tap water to avoid, significant temperature variations.