Hidden Land
Secrets of Bolivia
July 1 - 14, 2011

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements—The US State Department website lists the following requirements: If you are a U.S. citizen seeking to enter Bolivia as a tourist, you must have an entry visa. You can apply for a Bolivian tourist visa by mail or in person at Bolivian consulates in the U.S., as well as at Bolivian ports of entry, such as at Bolivia’s international airports and at land border crossings. Bolivian tourist visas are valid for five years from the date of issuance and allow the bearer to enter the country three times in a year for a cumulative stay of not more than ninety days. The tourist visa costs $135 U.S. dollars. You can pay the $135 fee in cash, by deposit to the Bolivian Consulate’s bank account, or by money order. If you choose to apply for your visa upon your arrival to Bolivia, you must pay this fee in cash to immigration authorities. In addition to the $135 fee, you must present a visa application form with a 4x4 color photograph, a passport with a validity of not less than 6 months, evidence of a hotel reservation or a letter of invitation in Spanish, proof of economic solvency (credit card, cash, or a current bank statement), and an International Vaccination Certificate for yellow fever. We will provide the invitation letter in Spanish from our local associates in Bolivia with our final documents mailing several weeks prior to departure, so that you can obtain your visa upon arrival in Bolivia. A copy of the visa application form is available here: http://www.bolivia-usa.org/. Clicking on 1. Llenar el formulario de Declaración Jurada de solicitud de Visa downloads the visa application form, which is in Spanish and English.

Immunizations—Please consult the following page from the Centers for Disease Control for a list of recommended vaccinations: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/bolivia.aspx. A Yellow Fever Certificate or official medical waiver is required. Please consult with your private physician and / or visit an authorized travel clinic.

Exit Requirements—All tourists must pay a departure tax US$25 when checking in at the Santa Cruz international airport.

WHAT TO BRING

Bolivia has a mild climate, but temperatures can differ dramatically between day and night. The northeast slopes of the Andes Mountains are semi-tropical. The mountain areas can become very cold at night. Visitors sometimes find La Paz uncomfortable because of the thin air at its high altitude. Be sure to check with your doctor and follow all recommendations. Electricity in the cities in Bolivia is 110 volts, just as in the United States, but in more remote areas it can be 220 volts, with 60 cycles, requiring a connector with 2 round prongs. For clothes, think about packing things you can layer! Be sure to bring two pieces of luggage—one a small overnight bag for our short excursions lasting just one or two nights. Warmer clothing is necessary at night in the Altiplano, especially La Paz and Potosi. Pack any medications you need in a carry-on bag. Leave valuable jewelry at home! Laundry services will be available at our hotels, so please pack only half the amount of clothes you think you will need.

Suggested Packing List:

____ Passport valid for 6 months after arrival.

____ Day-pack or fanny pack / Money belt or neck pouch.

____ Comfortable (broken-in) waterproof walking shoes or boots.

____ Light waterproof raincoat or poncho / umbrella.

____ T-shirts (4- 5) for warmer days and for layering.

____ Long-sleeved shirts (4 - 5) for sun protection / cool evenings.

____ Shorts for hot days (1 - 2 pair).

____ Lightweight long pants (2 - 3 pair).

____ Sweater and / or sweatshirt for layering.

____ Wool gloves, cap and scarf for possible cold nights at high altitude.

____ Comfortable sleepwear (optional).

____ Sunscreen / lip balm.

____ Sunglasses / sun hat with tie-on.

____ Insect repellent.

____ Flashlight and batteries.

____ Travel alarm clock.

____ Personal toiletries / wet wipes / hand sanitizer.

____ Ziploc bags (small for documents, large for wet things).

____ Binoculars, camera, lots of digital memory, extra batteries.

____ A good book for the plane.

MONEY MATTERS

The currency of Bolivia is the Boliviano (BOB, symbol Bs). Notes are in denominations of Bs200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Bs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 centavos. The Boliviano is tied to the US Dollar, and on August 28, 2010 they were valued at BOB6.84 to US$1. Click here to find the current exchange rate. Money can be changed in hotels and casas de cambio. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most mid- to top-range hotels and restaurants, but otherwise have limited acceptance. There are ATMs in most larger towns and cities, but you will need to carry cash for our trips into the countryside.

Tipping in Bolivia: Tipping is generally not a part of Bolivian culture and won't be expected except perhaps at the highest rated restaurants. However, guides and drivers do expect tips, and we will be giving collective tips at appropriate times throughout the tour.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 8 participants. Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.
We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in Bolivia. You can apply online by following the link at the bottom of this page.

THE TOTO SPIRIT

Toto Tours provides Adventure Travel Experiences as differentiated from tours in the traditional sense. Adventure Travel allows (even encourages) you to be an active participant. Adventurers can be identified by certain traits. They are:

fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
eager to try new things & test limits;
punctual;
not whiners!

Toto Tours is known for attracting great groups of people who are outgoing, interesting, and fun. You wouldn’t want to do this tour with anybody else! Be the first among your circle of friends to penetrate the mysteries of Bolivia! If you have any questions, please call toll-free: 800-565-1241.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with Travel Guard to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please follow the link below or call us for more information.