Are you thinking about visiting Bolivia? The indigenous culture and stunning landscapes make Bolivia a must-stop in the continent. I have wanted to visit Bolivia to see the famed Salt Flats for years. However, for first-time visitors, especially Americans, there are some important considerations to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. Getting into the country was the hardest hurdle for me, so let’s dive into this guide to help you NOT be an idiot abroad and navigate your own journey to Bolivia.
While most visas in South America are free for American passport holders, Bolivia has one of the highest entry fees I’ve ever seen at $160 per visa. They also have extensive paperwork, vaccinations and other requirements. You should check the U.S. Embassy’s website for the most up-to-date visa requirements, but when I was traveling into Bolivia, I needed to provide a passport photo, completed visa application, full travel itinerary, including lodging and exit flights, proof of yellow fever vaccination and current bank statement. I have never supplied so much information in order to enter another country.
Bolivia Travel Story:
I crossed into Bolivia via land border with Chile, leaving San Pedro de Atacama on a 3-day Salt Flats tour. Our tour bus picked us up before 7 am to be at the Chilean border early. However, we still had several other tour buses in front of us. I had read all the visa requirements and printed all the materials. I also knew from other travels that my U.S. dollars needed to be unmarked and untorn, so I had crisp $20 bills for the entry fee. After crossing the Chilean border, we stopped at the Bolivian controls. Everyone else around me was from Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom or other South American countries. As the only American in the passport control line, when I reached the walk-up counter, they escorted me inside the small building and brought me to a small room in the back with no window and one border guard. When I got inside I handed him my large stack of paperwork. He then winked and said, “the entry fee is $180.” I countered that the fee was only $160. He insisted it was higher. I pulled out exactly $160 and said, “this is what I have.” He told me the bills must be perfect (and they were). However, after realizing I would not be paying the “extra” fee, he proceeded to sit at the desk and send kissy voice messages to his girlfriend. After about 20 minutes of this, he finally decided to process my visa. When I exited the building, everyone in the tour group was worried about where I’d been since they didn’t see me enter the building and didn’t realize I’d be gone so long. ☹
Don’t be an Idiot Abroad Travel Guide
What did we learn? How can we prepare for Bolivian passport control? Here are some tips from my own story.
Do Your Research
Familiarize yourself with visa entry requirements and make sure you are fully prepared. Have all the paperwork in order and the cash on hand for entry. Know your requirements and make sure you have dotted every ‘I’ and crossed every ‘t’. Prepare a full itinerary of your trip and make sure you have booked return flights (or at least an exit flight to your next destination). Often airlines won’t even let you on the plane unless you can show exit flights.
Prepare Clean Bills for Entry
Throughout my travels, many countries have encouraged or even required U.S. dollars for payments. Argentina, Egypt and others prefer USD to local currency. However, countries are pretty strict on what type of bill they will accept. While we can bring just 60% of a torn bill to the bank in the U.S., other countries will only accept unmarked, untorn bills. In Egypt, they also wouldn’t take any bills that were printed prior to 2000. It took multiple visits to an ATM in the States to withdraw and exchange bills for unmarked, untorn ones that I used during my travels. Be prepared, otherwise you risk the bills being rejected.
In general, cash is king in Bolivia, so be sure to have Boliviano (BOB) as well, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. Credit cards are rarely accepted.
Secure Your Belongings
I usually keep USD in $200 increments, hidden throughout different bags in my belongings. While we were at the Chilean border, I split off the additional $40 and placed only the $160 bills in the outer pocket of my wallet. This turned out to be the best decision, as the border officer could only see the $160 and this move helped save me from the “extra fee” he desired.
Remember to always be mindful of your surroundings and avoid displaying expensive items, such as jewelry and electronics. I love this anti-theft fanny pack. I wear it cross-body and love the hidden zipper to keep your valuables safe (like your passport). It also has a hook to secure your large compartment zipper and a lock on the strap to prevent it from being easily unbuckled. I prefer it to a money belt.
Trust Your Instincts
If a situation feels unsafe, trust your instincts and remove yourself from it. It's always better to be cautious. I wish I hadn’t been escorted to a small room away from everyone. I wish I had alerted others in my group to where I was going. Connect with other travelers around you to provide a sense of community and safety. Tell others around you when you are peeling off from the group, even if it’s just to use the restroom.
Fun Fact about Bolivia and the Visa Fee
Interestingly, I had a tour guide in La Paz that shed some light on the large visa fee for Americans. He told me that officially the visa fee is a reciprocal fee based on what the USA charges for tourism visas. However, the unofficial reason is more political. When Evo Morales was forced to resign after his third term election amid electoral fraud and political unrest, he fled to the U.S. in 2019. We gave him asylum (and he is now in Argentina). The visa fee is a direct ‘retaliation’ for this protection.
Random Travel Tip
Lastly, don’t eat the chicken in Bolivia. When I arrived, no one told me this and I assumed the food was similar to the rest of South America. But during our Salt Flats tour we enjoyed what seemed to be a nice roast chicken dinner. Several hours later the entire group was paying the price. Later at the bus station I was told from fellow travelers, “didn’t you know to avoid the chicken?” 😊 Refrigeration is scarce and many travelers have troubles with food poisoning. In La Paz at nicer restaurants, we had no issues, but this is one country I would err on the side of caution. After eating street food in China and Vietnam, hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Egypt and Morocco, I thought I had a stomach of steel. But I learned the hard way. Good luck!
Getting into Bolivia can be a bit of an adventure for Americans. By staying informed and taking necessary precautions, solo female travelers can have a safe and rewarding experience in Bolivia.
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