Last Updated:
November 15, 2007 10:52
EST
Still Valid:
November 15, 2007 23:15
EST
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1. RECENT UPDATES
Section 1 has been updated (Current Issue removed).
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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There is no Official Warning for this country.
Bolivia
Demonstrations and marches, both in support of and against the current government, occur frequently across Bolivia, especially in La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tarija, Cochabamba, Oruro and Sucre. While most demonstrations are peaceful, some do turn violent. Road blockades are common during times of protest, affecting transportation and limiting access to services and amenities. Canadians should avoid demonstrations at all times and not attempt to pass through roadblocks, and they should also monitor local news reports. The road from Santa Cruz to the border with Argentina and the roads leading to La Paz’s International airport, located in El Alto, are particularly vulnerable to blockades.
Travellers should also be aware that violent crime rates are high throughout the country.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Street crime and robbery are extremely common in large cities, in commercial areas as well as residential districts. Travellers should be especially cautious on buses and at bus stations.
There is an increase in reported organized robbery. Typically, members of a group of thieves will distract victims by staging a fight, by blocking a sidewalk or by throwing an object or a liquid on them, while others are robbing them. You should remain alert to your surroundings at all times, dress down and avoid carrying large sums of money or credit cards.
Reports of express kidnappings also increased. Tourists are held for ransom, often in a car, and are robbed or forced to use their bank cards to withdraw cash. These incidents occur most frequently between Copacabana and Desaguadero. Tourists should avoid this route after 2:00 p.m. These kidnappings often involve criminals posing as police officers, who request to examine your belongings for drugs or false money. Some may even ask you to accompany them to a police station in a white taxi. These operations are often quite sophisticated, to the point where bogus police stations are set up to scam tourists. All police officers should wear green uniforms with a name badge that clearly identifies them. They can not oblige you to follow them unless they have a formal written request from a judge with your name on it. Ask to see identification and only agree to a luggage check in visible public locations. You should also demand your right to contact your Consulate.
Violent crime and armed robbery against foreigners are also on the rise in La Paz and Santa Cruz. Although uncommon, victims have been choked until they are unconscious. Petty theft, including pickpocketing, purse snatching, vehicle thefts, and highjackings are also common in both cities.
There continues to be an increase in crime at tourist destinations. Travel only in large groups to Los Yungas and the Inca trails with tours organized by reputable tour operators. Canadians should especially be careful while hiking at La muela del diablo, located in La Paz. In the Chapare area between Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba and the Yungas region, northeast of La Paz, violence and civil unrest, mainly associated with drug trafficking activities, could periodically cause delay and risk to travelers who are in the region. Travellers planning to trek in the Bolivian Andes should join an organized group from a reputable firm. Hire an experienced guide and porter who can communicate in English or French. Tourists travelling near Rurrenabaque are strongly encouraged to use the services of a registered travel agency.
Local police can be contacted at 110, ambulance services at 118 and the fire department at 119. The tourist police can be contacted at 222-1516. Canadians may also contact the Consulate of Canada in La Paz for assistance.
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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Bolivian authorities, and was valid on March 30, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Bolivia and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Bolivia. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country.
Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays of less than 30 days)
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Travellers staying for more than 30 days may obtain a tourist visa for approximately US$30. This type of visa can only be obtained twice.
A departure tax of 15 bolivianos is charged for internal travel. For international destinations, a travellers tax of US$25 is charged. The departure tax for international destinations must be paid in U.S. currency. Travellers who have Bolivian citizenship or residency must pay an additional fee upon departure.
Tourists entering Bolivia do not require a yellow fever certificate to enter the country. However, local authorities recommend that tourists get a yellow fever vaccination if they are travelling to tropical regions, such as Los Yungas, El Chapare, Beni and Pando, as well as the rural areas of Santa Cruz.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
Bolivia - LA PAZ, Consulate of Canada
Address: 2678, Calle Victor Sanjinez, Edificio Barcelona, 2nd Floor, Plaza España (Sopocachi), La Paz
Tel.: 591 (2) 241-5141, 241-4517, ou 241-5021
Fax: 591 (2) 241-4453
E-Mail: lapaz@international.gc.ca
The Embassy of Canada in Lima, Peru, also has consular responsibility for Bolivia.
Peru - LIMA, Embassy of Canada
Address: Calle Libertad 130, Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru
Postal Address: P.O. Box 18-1126, Miraflores Post Office, Lima 18, Peru,
Tel.: 51 (1) 444-4015
Fax: 51 (1) 242-4050
E-Mail: lima@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.lima.gc.ca
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Consulate of Canada in La Paz and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
Imprisoned individuals may have to wait up to two years for their trial. Jail conditions are primitive, and prisoners have to pay for their cells.
Possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is severely punished. Travellers should not under any circumstance carry a stranger's baggage. Travellers visiting non-tourist locations, especially coca-growing areas, must exercise great vigilance and not carry a camera or binoculars.
It is illegal to remove any item that the Bolivian government considers to be a national treasure (e.g., pre-Columbian artifacts, certain historical paintings, items of Spanish colonial architecture and history, some native textiles, and certain flora, fauna, and fossils). Any type of excavation for fossils or collecting fossils without prior written authorization is illegal.
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7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
Air services are not always reliable. Prior to departure, Canadians should check with airlines to determine if there are delays or changes in their flight schedules.
Road conditions in Bolivia are very poor. Although the major population centres of La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba are connected by improved highways, less than five percent of all roads in Bolivia are paved.
Public transportation is unsafe. Beware of hailing taxis in the street. It is advisable to use only well-known radio taxi companies (especially after nightfall), requesting the plate number of the assigned taxi and the driver's name. Use only tour buses from reputable companies for trips. Avoid extensive travel on foot. Avoid small restaurants away from downtown and tourist areas.
For trips outside major cities, especially in mountainous areas, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Risks include most drivers' lack of formal training, unlit vehicles speeding at night, and drunk drivers, including those driving commercial buses.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.
The currency is the boliviano. It is almost impossible to exchange Canadian dollars (cash or traveller's cheques) in Bolivia. Travellers should use credit cards, U.S. dollars, or bolivianos for purchases.
Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine (ABM) services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
Travel during the rainy season (November through March) is extremely difficult, as many roads become impassable. Heavy rains may contribute to dangerous landslides. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
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9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Prior to departing Canada for high-altitude locations over 3,000 metres/10,000 feet above sea level, such as La Paz (which is over 4,000 metres/13,000 feet), travellers should discuss the trip with their personal physician and request specific recommendations concerning medication and high-altitude issues. Alcohol should be avoided before and shortly after arrival. Drink plenty of water.
Even healthy and fit persons will feel symptoms of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) upon arrival at high altitudes. Most people will experience increased respiration and increased heart rate. Many will have headaches, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, minor gastric and intestinal upsets, and mood changes.
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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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12. ANNEX
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