Everything you need to know about Bolivia

Southern hemisphere, seasons reversed: the austral summer (December-March) is the rainy season, winter (June-September) the dry season. Climate depends closely on altitude and region.

• Andes: it rarely rains in the dry season; in the rainy season rainfall stays moderate, even in La Paz. Drier in the south (Uyuni, Sud Lipez) than in the north (La Paz, Lake Titicaca). Daytime highs: 15-20°C nearly year-round; nighttime lows below 0°C in winter, down to -15°C on the higher altiplano.
• Amazon: tropical climate year-round, up to 35°C by day, nights around 20°C.
• Sub-Andean valleys: intermediate climate.

Bolivia isn't the continent's culinary reference point but has its own specialities.

• Salteña — oven-baked pastry filled with beef or chicken.
• Pique a lo macho — beef, sausage, onion, tomato, fries, rice, hard-boiled egg.
• Plato paceño — fried cheese, corn, potato, broad beans.
• Silpancho — breaded beef fillet, rice, potato.

Trout and pejerrey are especially popular around Lake Titicaca. Local beers by city: Paceña (La Paz), Huari (Oruro), Sureña (Sucre). The Tarija region produces well-regarded wines as well as singani, a grape spirit equivalent to Peruvian pisco.

Bolivia's currency is the boliviano (Bs); US dollars are sometimes accepted but are best exchanged at a bureau de change.

• Exchange: bureaux de change are numerous in La Paz, Sucre, Potosi and Santa Cruz, but rare in Uyuni, and often closed on Sundays. In tourist towns euros can also be exchanged (best rate in La Paz). Other currencies are only accepted at poor rates — better to arrive with US dollars.
• Traveller's cheques: must be exchanged at a bank on presentation of your passport.
• Credit cards: accepted at good establishments, sometimes with around 5% fees.
• ATMs: withdrawals of up to around 500 US$ per day.

With Paprika Tours, your expenses on the ground are mainly limited to meals (except group trips, where these are included) and a few souvenirs.

• Meals: very cheap — 2 to 5€ at a popular restaurant, around 8-10€ a dish at a good restaurant.
• Handicrafts: varied (Tarabuco weavings in Sucre, salt handicrafts in Uyuni); best bought at the end of your trip, with haggling at markets common (up to 20% off).
• Taxis: without meters, negotiated before the ride — around 1€ for a city ride; an airport-centre transfer in La Paz costs around 7€.

Mobile phone signal covers towns but remains incomplete in rural areas (country code: +591). Internet and Wi-Fi are available at most partner establishments. Distances are large and not all roads are paved yet, particularly in the south (Uyuni region).

• Flying: the best option for long journeys (La Paz-Uyuni, La Paz-Sucre, La Paz-Santa Cruz) — main towns are served from La Paz and Santa Cruz.
• Bus: connects all towns but with less comfort than in Peru.
• Train: practically nonexistent (only the Oruro-Uyuni line, not daily).

What should you pack? It depends on your itinerary: warm clothing for the Andes (La Paz, Uyuni, Potosi, Copacabana) and lighter but covering clothing (against mosquitoes) for the Amazon, Santa Cruz or Tarija.

• Treks: hiking boots, windbreaker, head torch, small backpack.
• Sun protection: essential at altitude — SPF 40 minimum sunscreen.
• Luggage: domestic flights limited to 20 kg per person.
• Immigration card: given on entry, requested when leaving the country and at every hotel — remember to photocopy it.
• Electricity: 220 volts.

Many Bolivian towns are above 3,000 m in altitude — La Paz: 3,600 m, Uyuni: 3,650 m, Potosi: 4,000 m, Sucre: 2,850 m, Copacabana: 3,800 m. A prior medical check-up is recommended for anyone with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.

• Altitude sickness (soroche): fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness; rest, hydration and light meals if symptoms are mild. Our partner hotels at altitude have oxygen reserves.
• Vaccinations: the yellow fever vaccine is recommended for Amazon areas, where there is also a malaria risk (covering clothing and repellent advised).
• Sun: strong at altitude — sunglasses, a hat and SPF 40 minimum sunscreen.