Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon Bolivar, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug production Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, and waging an anti-corruption campaign
Bolivia's climate varies with altitude from humid and tropical to cold and semiarid In most parts of the country winters are dry and summers are somewhat wet Despite its tropical latitude, the altitude of cities like La Paz keeps things cool, and warm clothing is advised year-round
Bolivia has 37 official languages - more than any other country in the world, of which Spanish often called Castellano, Quechua, and Aymara are the main ones The others are In rural areas, many people do not speak Spanish Nevertheless, you should be able to get by with some basic Castellano Bolivia is one of the best places in which to learn or practice your Spanish because of their very clean, deliberate accent There are many options for studying Spanish in Bolivia, and they are usually very good often, the program includes a very good homestay component
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Foreign currency It can be difficult to change money other than euros and US dollars, even currency from neighboring countries! You might find more flexible exchange offices at airports, but be prepared for service fees and poor exchange rates |
The national currency is the boliviano As of January 2010, the exchange rate is generally Bs697/$USD Bills come in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10; coins are in 5, 2, and 1 bolivianos, and 50, 20, and you will find sometimes 10 centavos 1/100 of a boliviano Bills larger than Bs20 can be hard to break, but a quick phone call or internet session at a Punto Entel see Contact, below will usually get you change
Currency can be exchanged for US dollars and most South American currencies at casa de cambio agencies or street vendors Expect to negotiate for a favorable exchange rate, as most vendors will try to make money off a tourist
US dollars are widely accepted in hotels, tourist shops, and for large purchases
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Coca leaves Coca has been part of Andean culture for centuries, and chewing is still very common and perfectly legal in Bolivia You should be able to buy a big bag of dried leaves at the local market Coca is a stimulant, and it also suppresses hunger Chewing a wad of leaves for a few minutes should bring slight numbness to your lips and throat Remember the slogan printed on souvenir T-shirts: Coca no es Cocaina "The coca leaf is not cocaine" But cocaine most definitely is an illegal drug Remember this, only chew the leaf; if you eat the coca leaf you will get a very sick stomach |
The cuisine of Bolivia might be called the original "meat and potatoes" -- the latter locally called papas from the Quechua were first cultivated by the Inca before spreading throughout the world The most common meat is beef, though chicken and llama are also easily found Pork is relatively common Deep frying chicharron is a common method of cooking all sorts of meat, and fried chicken is a very popular quick dish; at times the smell permeates the streets of Bolivian cities Guinea pigs cuy and rabbits conejo are eaten in rural areas, though you can sometimes find them in urban restaurants as well A common condiment served with Bolivian meals is llajhua, a spicy sauce similar to Mexican salsa
Some notable Bolivian dishes:
Street food and snacks:
Breakfast desayuno typically consists of any of several of meat-filled buns:
Many people also start off the day with some concoction involving fruit:
Juice bars appear at most markets Shakes either with water or milk are 2-3Bs Locals can be seen to drink Vitaminico an egg, beer and sugar concoction or "Vitima" which includes coca leaves
Bolivia's traditional alcoholic drink is chicha, a whitish, sour brew made from fermented corn and drunk from a hemispherical bowl fashioned from a hollowed gourd round-bottomed so you can't put it down It's customary to spill a bit of chicha on the ground before and after drinking it as an offering to Pachamama, the Inca earth godess
Offering a favorable exchange for Western tourists, lodging can be found at very reasonable prices throughout the country, from hostels to luxury hotels During a 3 week trip in 2003 I stayed in hostals and the going rate per night was never more than the equivalent of US $ 350
| Meal in inexpensive restaurant | 16.65 BOB |
| 3-course meal in restaurant (for 2) | 99.5 BOB |
| McDonalds meal | 42.18 BOB |
| Local beer (0.5 draft) | 10.76 BOB |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 18.13 BOB |
| Cappuccino | 12.31 BOB |
| Pepsi/Coke (0.33 bottle) | 5.74 BOB |
| Water (0.33 bottle) | 5.05 BOB |
| Milk (1l) | 6.33 BOB |
| Fresh bread (500g) | 6.22 BOB |
| White Rice (1kg) | 7.97 BOB |
| Eggs (12) | 10.65 BOB |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 33.3 BOB |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 24.2 BOB |
| Apples (1kg) | 11.79 BOB |
| Oranges (1kg) | 4.82 BOB |
| Tomato (1kg) | 5.88 BOB |
| Potato (1kg) | 7.52 BOB |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 4.83 BOB |
| Water (1.5l) | 7.07 BOB |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 33.09 BOB |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 bottle) | 9.89 BOB |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 18.12 BOB |
| Cigarettes | 11.73 BOB |
| One way local bus ticket | 2.21 BOB |
| Monthly pass for bus | 224.83 BOB |
| Taxi start | 7.2 BOB |
| Taxi 1km | 7.92 BOB |
| Taxi 1hour waiting | 33.74 BOB |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 4.17 BOB |
| Utilities for a "normal" apartment | 337.11 BOB |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 69.39 BOB |
