Geography
Despite the losses of territory which have occurred during the last 100 years or so, Bolivia remains the fifth largest country in South America, with a land area of more than 1,000,000 square kilometers . This enormous territory is divided into a number of distinct and very different geographical regions. The western part of the country is high and generally mountainous, with two prominent ranges of mountains, each of them running north to south. These two ranges are part of the Andean Chain and each of them includes peaks of over 6000 metres. The Cordillera Occidental lies along the extreme western edge of the country, whilst the Cordillera Real (and to the south of this an extension of the range known as the Cordillera Central) is situated between 100 and 200 kilometres to the east. Between these two ranges is the high, arid and desolate plain of the altiplano which is at a height of between 3500 and 4000 metres. At the northern end of the altiplano, on the border with Peru, is Lake Titicaca, 170 kilometres long and almost 100 kilometres across, which is the highest navigable lake in the world. To the east of the Cordillera Real and the Cordillera Central lies the vast lowland area of the Amazon Basin, which make up half of Bolivia’s total land area. The lowest parts of the Bolivian Amazon Basin are only a few hundred metres above sea-level. Moisture from the Amazon Basin wells up against the ramparts of the Andes to the west and is deposited as rain on the foothills which are, as a result, the most fertile and productive areas of Bolivia. In the north these foothills are known as the Yungas, whilst to the south they are known as the Highland Valleys. The most important crop which is grown in the Yungas region is undoubtedly coca leaves. In 1989 it was estimated that one third of the total Bolivian workforce was dependent on the production and processing of coca leaves. In the Highland Valleys, where the climate is Mediterranean, many of Bolivia’s food staples are produced.

Time Zone
The time in Bolivia is GMT -5 hours.

History & People
The Tiwanaku civilisation dominated the territory which is now Bolivia for a period of almost 2000 years, starting some 1000 years BC. These people quite clearly developed a well-organised and technologically advanced civilisation, which is thought to have rivalled that of the Incas, at least in terms of the sophistication of their achievements as stone masons. The ceremonial centre of the Tiwanaku people is still to be found not far from Lake Titicaca at the place called Tiwanaku. The ruins of a pyramid are the most impressive of the relics. In the 9th century AD the Tiwanaku civilisation declined and their descendants, the Aymara Indians, were the dominant group in Bolivia for several centuries. Although the Inca Empire grew to include much of Bolivian territory west of the Andes in the 15th and early 16th centuries, it is believed that the Incas were unable to completely subdue the Aymara. The Spanish conquistadores took control of the country in 1538 and called their new possession “Alto Peru.” A succession of Spanish rulers vied for control of the silver resources, notably at Potosi, were quickly exploited. By the end of the 16th century many of Bolivia’s towns and cities had been established and the country remained a part of Spain’s South American empire for almost 300 years. Independence finally came to Bolivia at the hands of Simon Bolivar in 1825, when the last of the Spanish rulers was overthrown. There followed a turbulent period in Bolvia’s history and a number of disastrous border disputes with neighbouring countries resulted in Bolivia losing almost 25 percent of its total land area. The most significant of these losses, in terms of its effect on national pride, was the annexation by Chile of the coastal department of Bolivia - which left Bolivia landlocked. In more recent times, Bolivia has been plagued by political instability arising, at least in part, out of the very disparate cultural elements which go to make up the country. Despite the fact that there have been more than 180 changes of government in the 172 years since Bolivia declared its independence, the last ten years have been much less volatile and Bolivia is now recognised to be one of the most politically stable countries in South America.

Currency
Bolivia’s unit of currency is the Boliviano. As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£1 = 14.0 Bolivianos
$1 = 8.0 Bolivianos
€1 = 9.5 Bolivianos

It is not necessary to purchase Bolivianos outside the country. Your travel money should be carried in the form of cash or travellers cheques in US dollars. Credit and debit cards can be used to obtain cash at ATMs in La Paz. Credit cards can also be used to purchase some goods in La Paz and are particularly useful for more expensive souvenirs.

Visas
At the present time, nationals of countries which are members of the European Union, and nationals of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and South Africa, need only a valid passport and a return or onward journey ticket for entry into Bolivia. A visa is not required. Please note that your passport must have at least a year of remaining validity at the time of your entry into Bolivia. A Tourist Card valid for 30 days stay is issued on arrival in La Paz and this should be kept safe until it is requested on departure. Nationals of countries not listed above should contact the High Commission of Bolivia in their own countries for information on how to obtain their visa.

Vaccinations
You should visit your own doctor and dentist for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Bolivia.
The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations for travel worldwide. You must seek and abide by the specific advice of your local doctor/medical professional).

(a) You must have a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever to enter Bolivia.
(b) Polio (normally you will just need a booster.)
(c) Tetanus.
(d) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(e) Hepatitis (A) and (B).
(f) Anti-malarial prophylaxis: Please refer to your doctor for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication for the areas that you will be visiting.
(g) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment,. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your doctor will be able to administer all the above vaccinations.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Trekking in Bolivia - Yossi Brain et al.
Bolivia – A climbing guide. Yossi Brain. Cordee.
Backpacking and Trekking in Peru and Bolivia. Hilary Bradt.
Bolivia - a Travel Survival Kit. Swaney.
Eight Feet in the Andes. Dervla Murphy.
South American Handbook.
Latin American Spanish Phrasebook. Lonely Planet.
The Trekkers Handbook. Tom Gilchrist.

Maps
An excellent map of the Cordillera Real is available from Stanfords (Edward Stanford Ltd. Long Acre, London) tel. (shop) 0207 836 1915 (mail order) 0207 836 1321

1). BOCR. Liam O’Brien. 1:135,000 Cordillera Real. (This can also be obtained in La Paz).

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com