Key facts
Bolivia is a country located in South America. There are 5 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru) that Bolivia shares its borders with. As for languages, the country’s residents speak Spanish, Aymara and Quechua. Unfortunately, if you speak English, it might be problematic to communicate fluently unless you know Spanish.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Bolivia was ranked 41st out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Bolivia is Bolivian boliviano (BOB). The boliviano ($b) is subdivided into 100 centavo.
Bolivian
Banknotes
$b10$b20$b50$b100$b200
Bolivian
Coins
102050$b1$b2$b5
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Bolivia is 55.91 Mbps and mobile is 19.53 Mbs.The global average is 192.62 Mbps and 126.54 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density The number of ATMs per person in Bolivia is close to the world average.43.26 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Bolivia, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Bolivia. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Bolivia will celebrate 12 national public holidays. The next one All Saints’ Day will take place on November 2.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayAño Nuevo | |
| February 2, 2024Moving holiday | Feast of the Virgin of CandelariaFiesta de la Virgen de Candelaria | |
| February 12, 2024Moving holiday | CarnivalFeriado por Carnaval | |
| February 13, 2024Moving holiday | CarnivalFeriado por Carnaval | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayViernes Santo | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayDia del trabajo | |
| May 30, 2024Moving holiday | Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi | |
| June 21, 2024Moving holiday | Andean New YearAño Nuevo Andino | |
| August 2, 2024Moving holiday | Agrarian Reform DayDía de la Revolución Agraria | |
| August 6, 2024Moving holiday | Independence DayDia de la Patria | |
| November 2, 2024Moving holiday | All Saints’ DayTodos Santos | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayNavidad |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Bolivia?
There are Mariott hotels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Bolivia.
There are no IHG hotels in Bolivia.
There are no Best Western hotels in Bolivia.
There are Radisson hotels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Bolivia.
What fast food chains are present in Bolivia?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Bolivia.
The KFC chain operates in Bolivia.
The Burger King chain operates in Bolivia.
The Subway chain operates in Bolivia.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Bolivia.
The Starbucks chain operates in Bolivia.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Sucre?
Weather data for Sucre (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are no passenger trains available.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Bolivia
Sources
- Bolivia Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Bolivia (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Decriminalized up to 50g
Medical usage: Illegal
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)