INFORMATION BOLIVIA

BRIEF  HISTORY:  Bolivia was named after independence fighter  Simón Bolívar, when he broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent  history has consisted of a series of 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 drugproduction Bolivia’s spectacular topography is unrivalled, especially for those who are seeking adventure.

Though accommodations may be modest when traveling away from major cities and Lake Titicaca, discovering the hidden treasures of this exciting country can bring the visitor unmatched rewards. The `Tibet´ of South America, Bolivia is traversed by three massive Andean ranges. Although the country is landlocked, Lake Titicaca is the world's second largest inland sea.Bolivia's wealth of natural wonders, colourful Indian traditions, and enigmatic ancient ruins make it one of the world's most unusual countries. Bolivia has the highest concentration of indigenous groups in Latin America. Together, Quechua and Aymara make up more than half the population of Bolivia. One-third of the population speaks Quechua, with half of those being bi-lingual in Spanish

 

GOVERMENT: multiparty  republic

PUPULATION  :  8.4  millon

OFICIAL NAME:   BOLIVIA

CAPITAL : La Paz (administrative)  and   Sucre (judicial)

MONEY :  The monetary unit in Bolivia is the Boliviano  (Bs) often referred to as the Peso, which is divided into 100 centavos

AREA : 1 098, 581 km 2

LANGUAGE:  official  is the  language but Quechua and Aymara are  spoken  too.
RELIGION : catholic  94%

VOLTAGE: 110 volts  in La Paz  and  220  voltios in the other cities.
 

THE CAPITAL  OF  LA PAZ, It  was founded by the Spanish on 20 October 1548 under the name of La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (The City of Our Lady of Peace). With a population of nearly 1.3 million inhabitants, La Paz is now a modern city with few colonial buildings left except around Plaza Murillo, which at 3636m above sea level, marks the very heart of the city where the government buildings and the cathedral can be found. The sprawling town of El Alto (4082m) is the city's poor relation and sits on the rim of the altiplano exposed to the icy winds. This rapidly expanding district comprises almost entirely immigrants from the countryside.

Paz must qualify as one of the world's most dramatically located cities. It lies sheltered from cold winds within a steep canyon just below the rim of the altiplano. The city's skyline is dominated with huge office blocks and the snow-covered peaks of Mount Illamani (6439m).
 
NATIONAL  HOLIDAYS

January 1st : New Year’s Day
February 18th: Carnival
March or April : Semana Santa (Easter –variable. Holiday on Holy Thursday and Good Friday)
May 1st : Labour Day/May Day
June 10th: Corpus Christi
August 6th : Independence Day
September  2nd: Labour Day
November 1st : All Saint's Day
December 25th : Christmas Day
 
TRANSPORT

*Driving in Bolivia: Travelling in a private vehicle, bus, van/truck, motorcycle, and taxi are easy forms of transportation in and around the cities and towns of Bolivia. The prices usually reflect the level of service, but this is not always the case.  It  is more expensive  to  travel in private vehicles  and  is  cheaper  to  travel  in a van or truck. Pullman buses offer a middle ground for transportation and are not only the most abundant, but also provide comfort and safety while traveling.

*Highways and Road System: To travel between regions is relatively easy within Bolivia( but  recommended  during  rainy  season  due  to  they  are no  paved: Cochabamba- Sucre). The highways and roads connect most large cities with the smaller towns and villages. Because the majority of roads in Bolivia are not paved, access to certain places will depend on the season in which you travel. During the rainy season, many remote villages remain isolated for days or weeks if the rain doesn't stop.

*Taxis: Taxis in Bolivia are relatively cheap. Some are equipped with meters, but in many cities and towns there is a standard rate per person on short rides. Before you get into a taxi, it is advisable to ask a merchant or in a hotel, what the rate should be for the destination you wish to reach.

*Air Travel: All the capitals of the different regions, large cities, and some towns in Bolivia, all have airports that provide service for domestic flights. Flights on private airplanes can be found in most larger cities. More information in Airports and Customs.

*Trains: The train system in Bolivia is limited to trips between the plateau and the valleys. It is possible to travel by train towards Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.

River Transportation: Water transportation is frequently used in the Amazon region of Bolivia since many destinations can only be accessed by this method, due to the impervious geography. There are large ships or small boats according to the size of the river and whether the destination is a large city or small village.

 
CLIMATE

With  elevations ranging from sea level to over  6,880 metres, the Bolivian landscape offers a mind blowing array of complex ecosystems and stunning scenery. It is basically divided into three regions: Altiplano (a plateau at an  average of 4,000 metres above sea level, 800  km long and about 130 km wide), the yungas  (a series of forested and well-watered valleys) and the llanos (the Amazon-Chaco lowlands).Because of the wide range of elevations and topography, there are many different climatic patterns. The overall temperatures are probably cooler than most people expect. Even in the humid forest regions of the north, frosts are not unheard of. Bolivia’s  unprotected expanses contribute to variable weather conditions and the two climatic‘poles’ are Puerto Suarez for its stifling, humid heat, and Uyuni for its near-Arctic cold and icy winds.

There's no time that is perfect for the entire country, but December to March is when  most of the rain falls. La Paz is always cool to cold at night, so be prepared with sweaters and windbreakers. La Paz can get quite warm  during the day but sometimes mists swirl through the streets and the city can be literally wrapped in the clouds. Throughout the country, night temperatures drop dramatically, and on the high Altiplano, when a cloud passes over the sun, the temperature plunges noticeably Cochabamba and Sucre are considered mid altitude, where winter is the time of clear, beautiful skies and optimum temperatures. The lowlands (such as Santa Cruz) experience hot sunny days and an occasional shower to cool off and settle the dust
 
La Paz
Min
Max
Winter
1
17
Summer
6
18
Santa Cruz
Min
Max
Winter
15
23
Summer
21
30
Uyuni
Min
Max
Winter
-13
12
Summer
5
20
Rurrenabaque
Min
Max
Winter
14
25
Summer
20
35
 
 
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