Travel Guide: Uk To Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the middle of South America, with breathtaking landscapes and a moderate climate. To get there from the UK, you can fly from London to Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru International Airport, which is the cheapest airport to fly into. A one-way flight can cost as little as £26, while a return flight is around £110. Alternatively, you can fly into La Paz El Alto International Airport or Cochabamba J Wilsterman Airport. Flights from London to Bolivia take an average of 24 hours and 46 minutes. Air Europa, Avianca and Iberia are popular airlines for this route.

Flights from London to Bolivia

There are no direct flights from London to Bolivia, but there are several airlines that offer one-stop or two-stop flights. The price of flights varies depending on the date and the number of stops. For example, the cheapest one-way flight in the next 72 hours is £344, whereas flights in the calendar year of 2022 ranged from £666 return.

The most popular routes from London to Bolivia are:

• London Stansted to Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru Intl
• London Luton to Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru Intl
• London Gatwick to Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru Intl
• London Heathrow to Cochabamba
• London Gatwick to Cochabamba
• London Heathrow to La Paz
• London Gatwick to La Paz
• London Stansted to La Paz
• London Gatwick to Sucre

The cheapest months to fly to Bolivia are February and April, whereas the most expensive is December. It is also cheaper to fly on a Tuesday or a Monday, and more expensive to fly on a Saturday.

Passport requirements

To enter Bolivia, your passport should have an expiry date of at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the country. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

If you are travelling on a full 'British Citizen' passport, you can visit Bolivia for up to 90 days without a visa. Border officials issue 30-day stamps, but you can stay for 90 days without any new stamp. As a tourist, you get 90 days of visa-free travel in a one-year period. If you want to stay longer, you should check with the Bolivian Embassy in the UK or the Department of Immigration.

If you are travelling with children, it is important to note that if only one parent or legal guardian is travelling with a child, you cannot visit Bolivia for longer than 90 days. If you stay for more than 90 days, the child will need a judicial permit to leave Bolivia with only one parent.

It is recommended that you make electronic copies of your passport and travel tickets, accessible online and on paper.

Overland entry

If you are entering Bolivia by land, you must get your passport stamped on both sides of the border. Make sure you get an entry stamp when you arrive in Bolivia, otherwise, you will have to pay a fine when you leave.

When travelling overland from a country that is listed as a transmission risk, you must have a certificate to prove you have had a yellow fever vaccination.

Bus travel in Bolivia can be a wild and thrilling experience. Buses are the cheapest and most reliable means of travel, although breakdowns, especially in remote places, are not unusual. Roads are often poor and unpaved, so driving can be tricky.

Night buses are safe and comfortable. It is recommended to buy tickets for the "bus cama" type of buses when travelling to Sucre and returning from Potosi to La Paz. These buses are more comfortable for long trips, but you can get cheaper options.

Taxis and minibuses (micros) are also very popular and relatively inexpensive, even for long-distance travel.

Visas and vaccinations

When travelling to Bolivia from the UK, there are a number of important considerations regarding visas and vaccinations.

Visas

According to VisaHQ, a visa is required for UK citizens travelling to Bolivia. It is always a good idea to check the latest official government advice before travelling.

Vaccinations

It is recommended that travellers are up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK, including MMR and DTP.

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of Bolivia, and proof of vaccination is required for travellers aged one year or over arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

There is a low risk of malaria below 2,500m, and awareness of the risk and bite avoidance are recommended. There is no risk of malaria above 2,500m, but again, bite avoidance is recommended.

There is a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) or higher, such as Potosi city at 4,090m, La Paz at 3,630m, and El Alto at 4,150m.

Other recommended vaccinations include:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis

It is always best to consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice regarding vaccinations and to ensure your travel health risk assessment is up to date.

Transport in Bolivia

Bolivia has 62,479 km of road distance, of which 3,749 km is paved and 58,730 km is unpaved. The main national roads are:

• RN1: Desaguadero (border with Peru) – La Paz – Oruro – Potosí – Tarija – Bermejo (border with Argentina)
• RN2: Copacabana (border with Peru) – La Paz
• RN3: La Paz – San Borja – Trinidad
• RN4: Tambo Quemado (border with Chile) – Cochabamba – Montero – Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Puerto Suárez (border with Brazil)
• RN5: La Palizada – Sucre – Potosí (border with Chile)
• RN6: Oruro – Sucre – Chaco (border with Paraguay)
• RN7: Cochabamba – Samaipata – Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• RN8: Yucumo – Riberalta – Guayaramerín (border with Brazil)
• RN9: Guayaramerín (border with Brazil) – Trinidad – Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Yacuíba (border with Argentina)
• RN10: Montero – San Matías (border with Brazil)
• RN 14: Potosí – Villazón (border with Argentina)

The Interoceanic Highway connects the Amazonian tripoint border region of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean.

Bolivia has two separate rail networks:

• Ferroviaria Oriental: Eastern network running two lines from Santa Cruz to the Brazilian border at Quijarro and to Yacuiba on the Argentine border
• Empresa Ferroviaria Andina: Western network running passenger trains from Oruro, south across the Altiplano via Uyuni and Tupiza to Villazón on the Argentine border

The main reason to fly within Bolivia is to cover large distances in a short time. Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) is Bolivia’s nationally-owned airline, making more than 70 flights per day to a growing number of Bolivian and international destinations. Internal flights cost anywhere between Bs 350 ($50 US) and Bs 700 ($100 US) for a one-way ticket.

Public transport throughout the country is generally safe but can be tricky and unreliable. Buses are the most common way to travel in Bolivia. Longer journeys are typically serviced by large double-decker buses called "Flotas", which are newer and more comfortable than city buses.

There are two main types of buses used for shorter routes within Bolivia's cities:

• Micros: Minibuses that generally travel along a predetermined route
• Trufis: Shared vans/taxis with a set route that only depart when full

Taxis are the safest mode of transport in Bolivia. There are two types of official taxis available in major cities: radio taxis and regular taxis.

Frequently asked questions