FAQ

Reduced atmospheric pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes cause altitude sickness – known as “soroche” in Bolivia. It can affect anyone who normally lives at low altitude and ascends above 2500m, and thus is a reality across much of Bolivia, including most major cities. You’re most likely to be affected if you fly into La Paz from near sea level – the airport is at over 4000m, and almost everyone feels at least a touch of breathlessness.

Mild symptoms can include headache, insomnia, breathlessness, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, rapid heartbeat and vomiting. The best way to avoid this is to ascend slowly, if at all possible, and allow yourself time to acclimatize. Avoiding alcohol and physical exertion and drinking plenty of liquid also help. Bolivians swear by coca tea (mate de coca) as a remedy, and this is available throughout the country; the prescription drug acetazolamide (Diamox) can also help with acclimatization. Normal advice is to ascend no more than 300m a day once over 3000m, so far as possible.

The symptoms of serious altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, are usually experienced only over 4000m. In this condition, fluid can build up in the lungs or brain, causing high-altitude pulmonary or cerebral oedema; left untreated, severely affected sufferers can lapse into unconsciousness and die within hours. Symptoms include loss of balance, confusion, intense headache, difficulty breathing and coughing up frothy, bloodstained sputum. Prompt and rapid descent is the only treatment, and you should seek immediate medical help.

Source: Rough Guides

• We recommend that you rest for at least 3 hours upon arrival to your hotel

• Do not eat much, as digesting food might be a bit slow during your first day due to the altitude.

• Also, you can drink coca tea (except those who suffer from heart diseases, respiratory disorders, diabetes or high blood pressure).

• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol on the first days.

• We recommend that you consult your physician before your travel.

First please look through our website to see what kind of Tour you would like to participate in or what destinations you are interested in exploring.

The website has the tours listed and organized into the following sections so that they are easy to find according to what interests you:

Featured Tours: This section in the home page lists our top tours. These are our most popular and complete pre-arranged travel itineraries with optional excursions and the possibility to customize or request as a private service.

Bolivia Tours: This subsection of the Tours top menu lists our complete pre-arranged tours for Bolivia.

If you want an itinerary more catered to your needs, please select the Design Your Trip page from our top menu and fill out the form.

For a more personalized experience and most of all, to ensure a high-quality service, we only offer private guided tours in Bolivia. Group tours are not available and we do not recommend them.

In case you add Peru to your itinerary, both types of tours are open-dated and can be organized to adapt to your needs and expectations. The difference between them is that private tours are tailor-made according to your preferences, own pace and needs. Shared tours include fixed places to visit and are usually arranged for up to 16 people.

Please contact us at sales@intensebolivia.com and we will take care of everything. If you know of and are interested in excursion opportunities in Bolivia that are not listed in our website, please inform your travel advisor and we will work to arrange things for you.

Yes. Our Shared Service Tours are a great opportunity to travel with friendly and interesting companions, and you can add Optional Private Excursions should you desire to branch out once in a while. Your satisfaction, comfort, and safety are our top concerns. We want you to have the best experience possible and will work with you towards that goal.

We must have received full payment as well as all relevant information and documentation regarding your Tour at least 10 business days before you begin your program. A late booking fee will be applied otherwise.

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, wire transfers, or direct deposits are all valid forms of payment.

Winter runs between May and October in Bolivia, and it is actually a great time to visit because it is the dry season.  For the highlands, it is colder at night, but usually sunny with crystal-clear skies during the day.  Perfect for trekking and climbing.  It is also a great time to visit the hot and humid lowlands, which usually run slightly cooler temperatures, but rain is still a possibility.

The summer runs from November through March, and it is the rainy season. Despite this, it is still a beautiful time to travel because the Altiplano and mountainsides are briefly transformed into lush grasslands with colorful wild flowers.

International flights are not included in the price of Intense Bolivia Tours. Normally we do not make international flight arrangements for our clients, but we can do so if requested. Many of our clients have preferred arranging their international flights online.

All of our tours include transportation, the domestic airfares are upon request. Intense Bolivia offers only the most comfortable services available. Whether a tour may include flights, private vehicles, buses or train transportation, we provide only the best service.

Airport taxes are now included in the price of the domestic and international flights.

On the occasions you venture out on your own, you can move around town using several different modes of transportation.

If you want flexibility as to your destination or want door-to-door service, you can hire either taxis or mototaxis, which are three-wheeled motorcycles with a seat in the back for two people and usually some kind of covering to protect you from the elements. There are no fare-meters in use in Peru. You have to discuss your destination with the driver before you get in the vehicle and negotiate how much you are going to pay. Prices vary according to the type of vehicle you use, the distance, time of day, city you are in, and whether it is a registered taxi or a free-lancer. Ask a local for directions and for a general estimate of how much it should cost to get where you are going before you start negotiating prices with the cab driver. We strongly recommend that for personal safety reasons you spend a little more money and hire taxicabs that belong to a company or consortium (you have to call them by phone), or those that have their permits in order (in Lima these are yellow cabs and have a fixed sign that lights up on top of the car). Uber and Easy Taxi are available in Peru as well, so you can use those apps.

We recommend that you bring as much money as you feel comfortable carrying. Intense Bolivia Tours are usually fully inclusive, and extra money is only needed for an occasional meal – where the Intense Bolivia Tour has left this out of the itinerary to give you more flexibility – and for purchasing souvenirs. Tips are not included in the overall price of the Tour. If you wish to give tips it is recommended that you bring along extra cash.

The Bolivian currency is the Boliviano (Bs), referred to as both the peso and (more commonly) the boliviano.  Notes come in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 bolivianos; coins in denominations of 1 and 2 bolivianos (these look very similar), and of 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos.  The exchange rate at the time of this publication was $1/Bs6.86, however, be sure to check the most recent exchange rate prior to your trip.

The best way to carry money in Bolivia is to have your funds in several different formats – a credit/debit card (or cards) and some cash dollars – so that if one lets you down, you can turn to another. The easiest way to access funds is using plastic. Banks in all major cities and larger towns are connected to the nationwide Enlace network of ATMs, from which you can withdraw cash in US dollars or bolivianos using a credit or debit card – Enlace machines accept both Visa and Mastercard.

Other than in the most expensive shops and restaurants (and in some hotels and tour agencies), credit and debit cards can rarely be used to pay for services directly – where they are, Visa is the most widely accepted, followed by Mastercard; American Express cards are rarely used.

Source: Rough Guides

Outside cities and larger towns, debit/credit cards are pretty much useless, so it’s important to carry plenty of cash with you when you head to rural areas. US dollars can be changed into bolivianos at banks and by street money-changers almost everywhere in the country, and are a good way of carrying emergency back-up funds.

Source: Rough Guides

Tipping is not included in the Tours. Restaurants in Bolivia never add a service charge. It’s expected that you will add a 10% to 15% gratuity to the total bill. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips. It’s common to tip hotel porters about Bs4 to Bs8 per bag.

Source: Frommers

Sales tax in Bolivia is 13%.

Most visitors to Bolivia do not need a visa, although the situation does change periodically, so always check with your local embassy or consulate a few weeks before travelling. US citizens require a visa (Bs945/$135); this is available on entry, where it must be paid for in cash, or from a Bolivian embassy or consulate.

On arrival, all travelers are issued with a tourist card (tarjeta de turismo) valid for up to ninety days’ stay for citizens of most EU countries, and up to thirty days for citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand; your passport will also be stamped. Make sure you ask for the full ninety days if you need it and are eligible, as border officials sometimes give only thirty days, particularly at remote border crossings. A thirty-day tourist card can be extended to ninety days at the migraciones (immigration offices) in La Paz, Santa Cruz and other major cities; this is free for most nationalities, but costs extra (around Bs175) for Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders; the process usually takes 24 hours.

Source: Rough Guides

We do not provide travel insurance. We strongly recommend you obtain traveler’s insurance coverage for your trip.

We suggest you start by asking your insurance provider at home if you are already covered by their company. Also check with your credit card provider. Some credit cards come with traveler’s insurance programs as part of their service.

Explore your options. Make sure that at least you have good emergency medical coverage, especially if you will be participating in extreme sports activities. Other kinds of coverage to look out for are Trip cancellation, interruptions and delays insurance

• Trip cancellation insurance is mostly purchased to recuperate your money if you have to cancel your trip or leave before it is completed. Trip cancellation reasons may include sickness, natural disasters and State Department warnings about the safety of the place to which you are travelling.

• Lost luggage insurance
  Domestic U.S. flights cover checked luggage up to US$ 2,500 per passenger. International flights (including U.S. legs of international flights) cover around US$ 9 per pound, up to around US$ 635 per checked bag. If you will be checking valuables not covered under the standard liability, check with your homeowner’s insurance company for coverage or get additional luggage insurance. Many companies offer comprehensive travel insurance packages.

Travel insurance costs vary greatly: which company you contact, cost and length of the trip, your age and health, kind of trip you are going on, amount of coverage you want, deductibles, etc. http://InsureMyTrip.com helps you get estimates from various providers.

Ask your insurance agent what other kinds of coverage they offer, what the rules are for making use of the coverage, and the amount limits of your coverage plan.

We recommend that you consult with a doctor that specializes in travel medicine. They will be able to judge, given your personal health and vaccination history, what vaccines you may need.

It is also a good idea to start this process early, as some vaccines need to be administered over a period of time. If you can, start at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip starts. If you are traveling sooner than that, still consult with your physician to find out what they recommend.

The meals we provide with our Tours are safe. On those occasions when you decide to venture beyond the Tour’s itinerary and try something new and unique on your own, we suggest you exercise common sense precautions. Drink bottled or boiled water. Try to avoid eating from street vendors who clearly do not practice sanitary precautions. Whenever you travel to a new part of the world, microorganisms living in that part of the world will invariably be different from the ones back home, and so you will need to let your body adjust to the new conditions. If you are concerned about this ask your doctor about vaccinations against hepatitis, typhoid or cholera, even though these may be extreme measures since a little caution will protect you just as well.

Aside from microorganisms, there are other things that will be different from back home: spices, ingredients, salts and mineral content in the water, etc. Some people’s bodies reject the new kinds of foods until they have had a chance to adjust. Never fear, this is not dangerous to you, but it could ruin your enjoyment of your trip. Decide whether your system is able to handle new foods beforehand so that you can exercise caution in your choice of foods.

We assemble and organize our tours as smoothly and efficiently as possible. However, we provide our customers with a 24-hour emergency hotline number prior to the trip. Should any problems arise, please contact us 24 hours a day.

Safety is key to the success of your journey. Stay alert and do not take unnecessary risks in order to prevent unwanted situations. Always carry some form of official ID, like your passport, or at least a photocopy of your passport, when walking around in a city or town.

Common sense and the same precautions that apply back home apply when traveling.

In the cities:

Be alert and take normal precautions to protect yourself from purse-snatchers and pickpockets.
Keep a photocopy of your documents on you. Keep the original documents and valuables in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
Be discreet with your valuables. Do not flash around large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry. Keep an eye, or even better, keep a hand on your luggage or camera.
Do NOT exchange money in the street. Use the banks or exchange offices.
It would be better to hire taxicabs that belong to a company or consortium.

It is best to bring the luggage you feel most comfortable carrying, but you can travel with a suitcase if you prefer. Choose one with sturdy wheels if possible. If you will be doing adventure hikes, bring a backpack or duffel bag. Pack a small daypack in which to carry your valuables. A money belt is highly recommended so that you can keep your money, credit cards and passport on you at all times.

What you bring in your luggage will depend on where you are going and the kind of vacation you are planning. Altitude has a marked effect on climate. Normally, the higher you go, the colder it gets. Seasons also determine what kind of gear you need. Remember that there is a seasonal inversion between the northern and the southern hemispheres. That is, when it is summer in the north it is winter in the south.

Carry your valuables, water bottle and documents in a small foldable pouch, duffle bag, daypack or backpack. Bring a light coat to be prepared for temperature changes.

Very little provision is made in Bolivia for the disabled. Public transportation, hotels and public places, such as museums, are seldom equipped with ramps, widened doorways or toilets for the disabled. Pavements, where they exist at all, are often narrow and covered with dangerous potholes and other obstructions.

Source: Rough Guides

Like almost everywhere else in the world, Bolivia has seen a huge growth in internet use in recent years and, because few Bolivians have their own computers, this has meant an explosion of internet cafés, especially in places where there are large student populations. Internet cafés tend to charge about Bs3–5 an hour, and sometimes more in remote areas where competition is thin on the ground. The speed of machines and servers usually isn’t very fast, especially outside the main cities.

Increasing numbers of hotels, cafés, restaurants and bars in the more touristy areas offer free Wi-Fi access.

Source: Rough Guides

The electricity supply in most of Bolivia is 220V/50Hz; in La Paz, however, there are both 110V and 220V supplies, often in the same house, so check carefully before plugging in equipment. Plugs are two-pronged with round pins, but US-style flat-pinned plugs can also usually be used.

Source: Rough Guides

All of our hotels meet international standards according to their category. We ensure that the hotels we work with provide the highest levels of service and comfort at the best values. Select the hotel you feel best suits your needs and expectations for the trip. If you know of a hotel in the vicinity that you prefer, but it is not listed in our website, please Contact Us and we will make arrangements for you to stay there

For the most part, the hotels we work with offer breakfast every day. We indicate whether lunch or dinner is provided in the detailed itineraries. We carefully screen restaurants included in our tours in order to give our customers the best dining experience possible. Nevertheless, we feel that your trip should have some flexibility and that dining out is a way for you to experience Bolivia’s wonders firsthand. We are more than happy to provide you with a list of all of our favorite restaurants in the different locations you will be travelling in if you so desire.