5 Things you Should know Before you visit Bolivia

1. Layer on layer

The western part of Bolivia consists of the Altiplano – a higher, mountainous/plateau area where it’s – yeah, you guessed it – cold. The main season in Bolivia is from May to September, which is during the winter (summer is a rainy season in Bolivia and there’s consequently a greater risk of floods and landslides). In Salar de Uyuni (a salt desert) and other high places (e.g. Potosí, La Paz), it is literally freezing at night – temperatures drop below zero, and heating in accommodation is more the exception than the rule. Therefore, it’s good to have enough warm clothes with you (a hat, gloves, a scarf, thermal underwear...), and a sleeping bag may also come in handy.

A tip for accommodation in Sucre: Kultur Berlin Hostel (ambience, food and beer are great there!)

2. Getting dizzy from the heights

While the famous Slovenian singer only sings about it, you will (probably) experience it first-hand in Bolivia, since you’ll most likely visit quite a few places that lie well above 3000 or 4000m. The body is not accustomed to this, so we often experience dizziness, shortness of breath and heart palpitation, not just when walking uphill but sometimes simply by turning in bed at night. For thousands of years, locals have been chewing coca leaves to relieve symptoms of altitude sickness. By the way, this isn’t the same as cocaine (although it’s made from coca leaves) – coca leaves are completely legal, and you can buy a whole bag for less than €1. If you don’t like the taste, the alternative is coca leaf tea (but it’s less effective), and in case of a powerful headache, you can take paracetamol. However, beware – if the symptoms of altitude sickness don’t diminish and only intensify, then it’s vitally important that you descend to a lower altitude and seek medical attention, as this condition can be life threatening.

Chewing Tip: Put 5–7 leaves in your mouth, just bite a few times and push them aside – this is how the juice starts extracting. You spit out the remnants when the taste is gone. And don't be scared if your mouth and tongue become a little numb. This is completely normal.

3. Bzzz

Despite high elevation on one side, more than half of Bolivia has low elevation where the tropical rainforest begins. If you want to go there too, be prepared for a hot and humid climate with a bunch of extremely annoying creatures buzzing around your head (especially at dusk and dawn), looking for a perfect place to suck some blood. Of course, I’m talking about mosquitos, and they aren’t only annoying but can carry much more dangerous diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever. Malaria is much less prevalent in Bolivia than in the neighbouring Peru, so consult your doctor about the need to take antimalarials before travel. However, vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory. It’s true that you probably won’t be checked for vaccination at the border, but better safe than sorry, right? You don’t want to risk being sent back home at the airport, or worse – getting a yellow fever. Also, don't forget about the repellent (30% DEET) and long-sleeved, bright-colour clothes.

4. Fresh smoothie for lunch, toilet for dinner

In Bolivia, the hygiene standard is not quite the same as in Europe. It’s not uncommon to see dead, featherless chickens, loaded on a truck in front of the market, while an old lady is cheerfully waving around with one of them in her hands (a sale strategy). Washing hands after going to toilet (even in restaurants) is an incomprehensible practice for many. The locals are accustomed to this, and even drinking tap water usually doesn’t cause problems to them, but your gut flora isn’t adapted to this.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to local markets and restaurants – these are the best after all! The smoothies are made from fresh fruit, the vegetables are "just picked from the garden", and the daily menus at non-tourist restaurants are really tasty and cheap (€2–3 for a three-course menu). In addition, you’re also helping the locals this way, which is also important.

However, if you don’t want to spend most of your holiday somewhere between the bedroom and the bathroom, then it’s a good idea to be a little careful. Buy water from the shop (or bring your disinfectant/LifeStraw pills with you), have the fruit washed (not with tap water) or peeled, and check out the kitchen before ordering food at the restaurant (if it looks really bad, go to a different one).

5. Don't be like others

Unfortunately, the awareness of caring for our lovely BlueMarble hasn’t reached all its corners. It's sad when you see people opening the car window and throwing out a chocolate wrapping (or a bottle with very questionable yellow content…); dumps with no protection, so the wind blows trash for miles; and bushes along the way that are “decorated” with plastic bags. It's a good idea to prepare yourself for such scenes beforehand, and at the same time remind yourself that you don't do the same! What happens is that tourists and travellers feel that the country is already dirty and the extra bottle won’t make a difference. Wrong! Don't litter and if you have some spare time, you can do some quick cleaning – filling a bag or two will only take a few minutes. You know, a bag per person seems little, but if there are many people…

Happy vagabonding!

If you’re interested in learning more about Bolivia, you can check out our blog at www.bluemarblevagabonds.com and visit us on Instagram and Facebook.