Insurance

Travel insurance is a must for all visitors to Bolivia. Always take out insurance that covers both medical expenses and baggage loss, and read the small print carefully before you set off. Check that all the activities you may end up doing are covered. Mountaineering, for example, is excluded from many policies; also make sure that coverage is not excluded at high altitude, the cutoff may be below the height of most Altiplano cities! Also check if medical coverage includes air ambulance and emergency flights back home. Mind the payment protocol: in Bolivia you will have to have to pay out of pocket and later request reimbursement from the insurance company. Before paying for any medical services, insist on getting a fully itemized invoice. In case of baggage loss, have the receipts for expensive personal effects like cameras and laptops on file, take photos of these items, note the serial numbers and be sure to leave unnecessary valuables at home. Keep the insurance company's telephone number with you and get a police report for any lost or stolen items .