Health Advice
Health Advice for Bolivia
Recommended vaccinations for travel to Bolivia are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Measles Booster-Vaccines. Depending on the season and region being visited vaccinations for Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever and Malaria are also recommended. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas.
Dengue Fever is prevalent in Eastern provinces such as Beni, Chuquisace, Cochabamba, La Paz, Pando, Santa Cruz and Tarija. Other infectious diseases including typhoid, malaria, hepatitis, tuberculosis, yellow fever and rabies are prevalent in various regions throughout the country.
La Paz, Potosi, Oruro and the Lake Titicaca region are high in altitude, so it is necessary to take adequate precautions against altitude sickness. Local pharmacies sell altitude sickness tablets however in severe cases of high altitude sickness travellers can seek treatment at the High Altitude Pathology Institute at Clinica. When visiting these areas of high altitude it is strongly advised to take a sun hat, sunglasses, and skin protection to protect against the sun's strong rays.
Tap water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled and all meat, fish and vegetables should be well cooked and fruit peeled. Milk is pasteurized and therefore is safe for consumption.
Medical insurance is strongly recommended for all travel to Bolivia. La Paz has several reliable private clinics. Most major cities throughout the country have private hospitals with reasonable medical facilities available however they are expensive. Outside the cities medical facilities are limited.
Always use common sense and remain alert when travelling throughout Bolivia. Crime is on the increase against tourists particularly in La Paz, Cochabamba, Copacabana and Oruro. Scams involving fake police, false tourist police and 'helpful' tourists are common as well as circulation of counterfeit banknotes.
Be careful in the wet season from November to March as landslides, flooding and road washouts can occur.
The threat from terrorism is low in Bolivia however you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which may target foreigners especially in popular tourist destinations.
The political situation in the country is intense and it is advised for travellers to exercise caution. Monitor the media for information regarding civil unrest, including roadblocks, violent protests and strikes. Try to avoid demonstrations as they can become violent. Particular caution should be exerted in the coca growing areas of Chapare and the Yungas region northeast of La Paz due to situations involving anti-narcotics activities.
Only use well-known radio taxi companies as assaults and robberies are often reported in unmarked taxis. Always exercise caution when using any public transport as petty theft is common. You should never leave bags unattended.
Due to poorly maintained vehicles and hazardous roads driving in rural areas of the country can be dangerous. Lighting and signage is generally inadequate so take particular care when driving at night. Drug traffickers are a serious danger in the Bolivian/Brazilian border region.
