Safety

Violent crime is fortunately less common in Bolivia than some other parts of South America. Tricks and scams abound, however. Road safety should be an important concern for all visitors.

Leave unnecessary documents and valuables at home. Those you bring should be carried in a money-belt or pouch, including your passport, airline tickets, credit and debit cards. Hide your main cash supply in several different places. If one stash is lost or stolen, you will still have the others to fall back on. Never carry valuables in an ordinary pocket, purse or day-pack. Keep cameras in bags or day-packs and generally out of sight. Do not wear expensive wrist watches or jewellery. If you are wearing a shoulder-bag or day-pack in a crowd, carry it in front of you.

The cheapest hotels are usually found near markets and bus stations but these are also the least safe areas of most Bolivian towns. Look for something a little better if you can afford it, and if you must stay in a suspect area, try to return to your hotel before dark. If you trust your hotel, then you can leave any valuables you don't need in their safe-deposit box, but always keep an inventory of what you have deposited. If you don't trust the hotel, change to one you feel safe in. An alternative to leaving valuables with the hotel administration is to lock everything in your pack and secure that in your room; a light bicycle chain or cable and a small padlock will provide at least a psychological deterrent for would-be thieves. Even in an apparently safe hotel, never leave valuable objects strewn about your room.

Many Bolivian scams involve fake police and taxi cabs, see La Paz safety (page), there are variations in most major cities.

Pickpockets, bag snatchers and bag slashers are always a hazard for tourists, especially in crowded areas such as markets or the downtown cores of major cities. Keep alert and avoid swarms of people. You should likewise avoid deserted areas, such as parks or plazas after hours.

The old scam of smearing tourists with mustard, ketchup, shaving cream and almost anything else, in order to distract and rob them, is alive and well in Bolivia. An apparently well-meaning bystander usually helps clean you up, while their accomplice expertly cleans you out.

Be especially careful arriving at or leaving from bus stations. They are obvious places to catch people carrying a lot of important belongings.

Unaccompanied foreign women may be objects of much curiosity. Don't be unduly scared - or flattered. Avoid arriving anywhere after dark. Remember that for a single woman a taxi at night can be as dangerous as wandering around alone. If you accept a social invitation, make sure that someone knows the address and the time you left. Ask if you can bring a friend (even if you do not), although saying you have a boyfriend will not necessarily discourage an aspiring suitor - in some cases it may actually encourage him. As elsewhere, watch your alcohol intake at parties with locals, especially if you are on your own. A good general rule is to always to act with confidence, as though you know where you are going, even if you do not. Do not tell strangers where you are staying.

Happily, there are not many of these in Bolivia. The Cemetery district of La Paz, where local transport arrives and departs, has long been problematic for travellers. The Chapare region of Cochabamba department is a cocaine-producing area, and it is best not to stray far from Villa Tunari and the main roads here. Drug running is likewise an issue in the northern jungle city of Cobija, enquire locally about public safety and which areas should be avoided. The hills immediately around the city of Cochabamba are not safe, and routine precautions are prudent in town as well.

Social unrest has long been an intrinsic part of life in Bolivia. Visitors should know how to react, and not overreact, in the event of disturbances. The most significant impact of strikes and roadblocks is the restriction of overland travel. Stay put at such times and make the most of visiting nearby attractions, rather than trying to stick to your original itinerary or return to La Paz or Santa Cruz at all costs. You can often find transport to the site of roadblocks, walk across, and pick up another vehicle on the far side; but check with locals first to see just how tense the situation is. When in doubt, wait it out.