Travel Answers

I wonder if it's possible to go from Bolivia to Sao Paulo by bus? Or to Campo Grande.. I am in Sucre right now.

Can anyone tell me the companies and timetable between Sta Cruz and Puerto Suárez by bus ?

Hi guys does anyone know if there is daily transport from uyuni to la paz?. If so how long does the journey take? Thanks

Hi guys does any one know if there is daily transport from uyuni to La Paz?

Help! I am traveling to Bolivia in April for 9 days and have 2 days left to fill in on my itinerary. Which would be more interesting? 1 Driving in Cordillera Real and Cordillera Quimsa Cruz? or 2. Driving to Copacabana and spending the night on Sun Island? My interests are cultural and nature. I like interacting with locals to learn about the present day life in Bolivia. Archeology and ruins, unless spectacular (like Machu Pichu) do not interest me. Where should I spend my time in order to get the most out of what Bolivia has to offer?

I've been to Bahitis (Prado) several times to play live poker but for a long time about a year ago, it was shut down - I believe due to licensing issues. Has it reopened? What other similar casinos are there in Cochabamba - particularly where you can play live poker or where they have decent, modern machines (Indian Dreaming, Survivor etc)?

I plan to improve my Spanish (and do some volunteering) thrugh one of the Spanish Schools in Sucre. At present am looking at Fenix or Sucre Spanish School. Anyone got any thoughts or opinions if you have done this? Thanks

I am interested in visiting Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and also the lagoons and hot springs south of the Salar. Which is a better starting point for this trip - Uyuni in Bolivia (Bolivia) or San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)? Could you please also provide the reasons for your recommendation? Thank you, Bobby

Hi everyone, Does anyone has already been trekking in Bolivia in march / early april? How practicable is it? Here are our plans: - lac Titicaca & environs - Sajama - Uyuni - Laguna Colorada - Tupiza - Potosi - Punata Thanks!

Hi, we will be travelling to Bolivia from 17th dec - 10 jan and I want to impress my boyfriend with an nice adventure. We will be travelling from Tupiza 3 days travel to Uyuni, Potosí, Sucre, La Paz to Santa cruz and then probably home. We will be doing jungle tours in madidi and hiking all around. But does anybody know a very magical place toe eat or sleep or some adventure that will impress him. I am looking for something like sleeping under the stars, sleeping in a tree house, eating on a rooftop, chilling in a bubble bath with an amazing view, or just doing or seeing something that you won’t forget. I think we will be in Sucre around his birthday which is on 23rd of December but the adventure dos not have to be on that day. Kind regards Leoni

Hi guys, Hoping for some advice on how to tackle Bolivia. I've been travelling south through the continent for 6 months pretty much at leisure, but now trying to juggle some time constraints. I want to return to Peru for Christmas and New Year approximately on the 21st of December and it seems like Santa Cruz is the best (and only place) to fly up from other than La Paz. I'm heading to Copacabana and Isla del Sol tomorrow and then La Paz on Friday or Saturday. I'm hoping to do Death Road and a tour in Rurrenabaque from there. Destinations after that would ideally be... Cochabamba, Sucre, Potosi, Tupiza, and Uyuni (for the salt flats), although not in any definitive order. I'd then be looking to head to Santa Cruz. Can anyone with experience of a loop in Bolivia offer any guidance on the most efficient route in which take in these locations with La Paz as the starting point and Santa Cruz as the finish? Also, if you have any suggestions on recommended number of days to spend in any of these places, or any locations I've missed out, I'll be happy to take on board your advice and research the places. I am of course doing my own research with the assistance of past posts and LP etc, but I like to get advice as up to date as possible. Many thanks, Bob

Hello everybbody, Me and a couple of friends are keen to do a 4-6 day high mountain trek in the Andes. is there anybody who recently did such a trek near La Paz?. We just finished a fantastic 8 day Jungle tour, Jungle Rafting trip to Rurrenaboque & Pampas with Deep Rainforest based in La Paz. they do also high mountain treks but it seems their background is the Jungle. So if there's a recent experience with another Company will be much appreciated

Hi, I'm trying to book a one-way ticket from La Paz to Uyuni on Amaszonas. When I get to the fares page, I see that there is the "Y" class fares and the "B" class fares available to me. The "B" fares are 20% off and are supposedly available to foreign or Bolivian, so that pretty much covers everybody. Do you know if there any other restrictions for these fares? If I book the "B" fare and I found out somehow I didn't qualify, will they just charge me the difference? Also, I read that I have to confirm the flight at least 24 hours prior to departure. Will I be required to confirm by phone? If so, do you know if they have English speaking staff who can help me confirm my flight? I see that they have web check-in for flights leaving La Paz and I can check in up to 72 hours prior. Can I assume that if I do web-check in, I have also confirmed the flight? On the airline itself, are they usually on time? And are departure times posted now more like guidelines than actual departure time? One last unrelated question. I am going to cross to Chile by land and I heard that the customs check your bags quite seriously. Do you know where I can find out what I can bring from Bolivia to Chile? My friend and I might want to get some Bolivian coffee beans to take home, but if it's going to be a problem, we'll not bother buying them. Thanks.

Hello! Do you know any reasonable way of renting a 4x4 car? All companies try to limit mileage (i.e. to 100km/day) which is not enough for my plans. I'm thinking about 9-15.07 The best starting point is Santa Cruz but this is not a must. Thank you in advance! Grzegorz

I've heard conflicting reports about this, some say electronic items are fine, but others say the harddrive will crash at such extreme altitudes. From logic, I assume shops sell ipods in La Paz, so thry must be okay? Unless the ones sold in La Paz are specially made? Which I seriousy doubt. Basically can anyone tell me if I can safely switch my laptop on and play my ipod. Thanks

I want to visit northern and north eastern Bolivia. It seems though that most people don't go there or they only go to Rurrenabaque. I am now in La Paz and I have two alternatives. In any case I will end up in Santa Cruz. 1. From La Paz I go to Coroico, Caranavi, San Borja, Trinidad and Santa Cruz, visiting national parks etc. I seriouly want to avoid Rurrenabaque, too easy, too touristy, too much hassling with the animals). 2. I take a bus to Santa Cruz and then another one to Trinidad. From there I go up north and visit places there. Maybe I'll also have time for Amboro. Please, what route do you think is more worth it? I have 10 days on me. Many thanks!

I'm currently in Buenos Aires and planning out the best way to see the salt flats. I am considering doing SALTA - PURMAMARCA - HUMUAHACA - UYUNI ... But I'm unsure of the buses. What is the transportation like from SALTA - UYUNI. How long is it? Or would it be easier to go from SAN ATACAMA DESERT in Chile to UYUNI? Thanks for your help

Aynone knows a good tour operator (budget or midrange) for visiting the Pantanal at the Bolivian side, preferably from Quijarro or Puerto Suarez? Already did some research but did not find much. If you have also please write down details like website, phone, prices, reviews etc. Thans answering, Harry

Hi, We are planning to travel to Peru/Bolivia this May. Need itinerary help from Peru/Bolivia experts. Here is the draft itinerary - 1st version 5/25 - Travel Boston to Lima 5/26 - Arrive Lima and Fly to Cuzco. Stay at Cuzco. Afternoon tour Cuzco - visiting the Korikancha or Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral, continuing from there to the nearby ruins of Tambomachay (Inca fountains), Puca-Pucara. Any other suggestions? 5/27 - Pisac market/ Sacred valley - Stay at Sacred Valley - Any other suggestions? 5/28 - Vistadome to MP--> Check in at Agua C and take the MP tour 5/29 - Early morning visit to MP, Train back to Cuzco . Travel(bus/private transfer??) to Puno. Stay at Puno.( not really sure if we should take a flight to Julica. Also can we do take a cruise trip Lake Titikaka and stay in Isla del sol?, not sure if this is possible) 5/30 - Cruise in Lake Titicaca, Uros island, Isla del sol; cross over Lake titicaca to Bolivia and Bus/transfer to La Paz. Stay at La Paz. 5/31 - Flight to Uyuni( i have heard that the flight service is back). Start the Salar de uyuni(2N/3D trip) 6/1 - Salar de uyuni 6/2 - Salar de uyuni and back to Uyuni.( can we do the San pedro de atacama in Chile, Moon valley if we stay for one more day). Uyuni to La Paz(flight/bus/transfer). stay at la paz. 6/3 - fly La Paz to Lima - Fly back Lima to Boston(Is there a way to go back to LIMA from Calama if we do the San Pedro extension) Also, any travel agent recommendations for Peru / Bolivia? Thanks in advance for your help. - CN

Hi guys, Next week I will go from Peru to Bolivia, but I intend to go back to Peru, only for La Candalaria festival in Puno (beginning of febr.). This means I will be re entering both countries for the 2nd time. For Peru this does not seem to be a problem but for Bolivia I find opposite information/opinions. Can any one give recent info about this: Will it be a problem Re entering Bolivia for 2nd time during 90 days tourist visa? Thanks answering, Harry

I appreciate any information you can provide me to find a Spanish School in Cochabamba. I would like to take intensive classes for 10 weeks. I am already in Cochabamba and just got an apartment a block away from the Cine Center. The Google search I did for language schools brought up several but I would like to hear from people who have experience in this city with schools to help me make my decision. Thanks for any help you can give me in advance! Jeff 677-26088

Hi there I have 5 days to get from La Paz back to Peru. Really want to visit Salt Flats and looking for other recommendations. Have also considerd flying back but not sure which airport from as salt Flats are 400k away? Can anyone recommend a 5 day itinerary? Any advice gratefully recieved. Thanks Steve

Hi there, Doing a rather fast trip through Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Argentina in Dec/Jan. Most of trip sorted but yet to lock down transport options between Uniyi and Salta. Assume there will be bus options, but if anyone can shed some light on best options I'd be very grateful. Happy traveling

Read some things about some festivals in Bolivia. First one is Fiesta de las Alasitas on jan. 24th which seems to be a fair on which they sell miniature goods and the biggest seems to be in La Paz on this date? Is this something special to visit/watch? Will this also be next year in La Paz on this date or other places? Second is La Candalaria in Copacabana. Is this held each year from febr. 2nd till 5th? Is it very special/worthwhile visiting? If yes, which dates are the best if I have to choose? Will it be fully booked in Copacabana at this time, do I have to make reservations when visiting? Thanks answering, Harry

Hi, I'd like to know if the road between Villazon and Tupiza was finally paved? Asfaltaron el camino de Villazon a Tupiza por fin?

Hi. Can anyone help me with the best way to get from La Paz to Salar de Uyuni to Arica? We plan to take a 2-4 day tour in the salar and after that we want to go to Arica (and later Arequipa). Thanks in advance! BR Anna

Hi, I will be travelling in Bolivia in january/february 2012, starting somewhere in the middle of january (coming from Peru) and will be spending about six (maybe seven) weeks. My itinerary will be about like this: Copacabana (Titicaca) - La Paz – Rurrenabaque (flight) - La Paz – Oruro – Cochabamba – Sucre – Potosi - Tupiza/Salar – Tarija – Villamontes – Samaipata - Santa Cruz - (train?) Puerto Quijarro (Pantanal) and then on to Brazil. Intend to travel by bus/shared taxi except La Paz - Rurre (flight) and maybe the train for Santa Cruz - Pt. Quijarro. About this a few questions: * Is the itinirary good/logical, or is there a better order to visit the places/areas mentioned above? * Places/areas not te be missed which are not in the intinirary? Specific advice on places/areas mentioned which are a bit of the beaten track (already read a lot in books and the internet). * Carnival (february 19-21): I might be around Tarija - Santa Cruz at that time, good places to celebrate carnival? I also like to make photos, will this be possible (read about a lot of water/paint)? If I am not that far at that tiime I might head back to Oruro, will it be possible to get a room/tickets without reservation (far) ahead? * Any other recommendations about the itinerary or other advice (I have no fixed plans and speak reasonable spanish)? Thanks answering in advance, Harry

With just very little research, I have found all sorts of travel warnings regarding La Paz...fake police, kidnappings of tourists, bus and cab drivers in colusion with thieves. Are these warnings overblown or do they only affect portions of the city? Any recent information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I've heard the road between Villazon and Tupiza was asphalted and they were also working in road to uyuni but there's not update info in internet. Did anyone make the road lately?

Is it worth visiting Bolivia during the rainy season (from late December through early January to be exact)? I heard that overland tranportation becomes very challenging in some areas... I'm interested in visiting the Amazon basin, La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosi, Sucre, Tarija, Santa Cruz and of course, Salar de Uyuni. Gracias.