FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Due to unpredictable weather conditions in the Andes, we recommend packing the following paramount items that will help you be more prepared for sun, wind, cold and even snow.
Items to better prepare for your South American trip:
Clothes
• Light-warm-rain clothes
• Swimsuits
• Towel
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Hat (better to have a round hat)
• Strong footwear or at least waterproof shoes (recommended)
• Sandals or plastic flip-flops give your feet a chance to breathe
• Extra socks
Miscellaneous
• Extra batteries
• Extra Money (**)
• Passport Photocopy
• Original passport
• Insurance card
• Sleeping bag (if necessary)
• Medical kit and/or medicine (if applicable)
A reasonable amout we recommend is about USD 200 in cash as this will help cover fares, snacks, misc. Be mindful to double check for damaged bills as there are risks associated with them: 1) It wont’be accepted 2) If they are accepted for any reason, it will be exchanged at a very low rate. In addition, 100 and 50 bank notes are better appreciated than 20, 10, 5 or 1
Although carrying a credit or debit card is easier and less bulk, cash is still preferable. Larger restaurant chains or even touristic places will mainly accept Visa or Master card. Smaller establishments will only accept cash in local currency. As for ATMs, they are located in main cities and touristic locations. The majority of theses ATMs only dispense local currency, however, other may dispense American Dollars. For any questions, we recommend asking your local guide for information on finding these reliable, trustworthy ATMs.
Bolivia’s official currency is Bolivianos (Bs/.). Also known as «pesos»or «bolivianos». Within this currency, you can find 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1, 2 and 5 bolivianos coins and 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 bolivianos bank notes. Throughout the major touristic locations, you will find currency-exchange counters often called Casas de cambio. We advise not to exchage money in the streets. U.S. dollars and Euros are welcome.
The electrical voltage in Bolivia is 200 volts.
• Banks open from 0800 to 1430
• Goverment offices open from 0830 to 1600
Generally, all staff will break for lunch at noon.
• Bolivia’s witch market open from 1000 to 1930
We don’t book any tours for younger solo travelers under the age of 18. Younger travelers must be accompanied by an adult while traveling with us.
Travelers over the age of 60 should consider talking with a doctor before traveling to high-altitude countries. Our program is designed to have at least one or two days from your body to go through the acclimatization process. For best results, we always, recommend to prepare yourself by walking more before visiting us.
If you are traveling solo and preferer a female guide, we can arrange one for you. Believe it or not, the majority of our staff are men, including guides, porters, drivers, cooks. The vast portion of the local people involved in the travel and transportation business are men. Our society has placed women in stay at home roles caring for their children and fulfilling home duties.