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Getting Around by Air
Airlines operating internal flights are AeroSur (website: www.aerosur.com) and LAB (website: www.labairlines.co.uk). Because of the country’s topography and tropical regions, air travel is the best method of transport, although delays, cancellations and general unreliability is highly possible. La Paz (El Alto), which is the highest airport in the world, and Santa Cruz (Viru-Viru) are the chief internal airports.
Departure Tax
Bs15.
Getting Around by Water
Double-decker passenger boats operate between the various small islands on Lake Titicaca and traverse the many rivers of the Amazon basin (the main thoroughfares being Ichilo, Mamoré, Beni, Madre de Dios and Guaporé rivers); most of them leave from Copacabana.
Getting Around by Rail
Bolivia has two separate and unconnected networks - Eastern and Western (website: www.fca.com.bo). The Eastern network's hub is Santa Cruz from where trains travel to the Argentine and Brazilian borders. There is a daily train to Puerto Suarez, but services and speeds vary. The main Western line between Oruro and Tupiza runs frequently. The trains have three to four classes and some have restaurant cars. Tickets are bought at stations on day of journey.
Getting Around by Road
Many roads are paved, some are made of gravel and others of dirt. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus: Long bus trips off the main routes can be erratic. Most long-distance bus trips are overnight.
Taxi: All have fixed rates and sharing taxis is a common practice. Tipping is not necessary.
Car hire: International and local companies exist in La Paz.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 90kph (55mph).
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. This can be issued by Federación Inter-Americana de Touring y Automóvil on production of a national licence, but it is wiser to obtain the International Permit before departure.
Bus: Long bus trips off the main routes can be erratic. Most long-distance bus trips are overnight.
Taxi: All have fixed rates and sharing taxis is a common practice. Tipping is not necessary.
Car hire: International and local companies exist in La Paz.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 90kph (55mph).
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. This can be issued by Federación Inter-Americana de Touring y Automóvil on production of a national licence, but it is wiser to obtain the International Permit before departure.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Bus services in La Paz are operated by a confederation of owner–operators. There are also some fixed route taxi ‘Trufi’ and ‘Trufibus’ systems which show coloured flags for particular routes. Fares are regulated. In some cases, catching a 'truck' can prove a better means of transport, being half the price of a bus and usually more reliable - although transportation is less comfortable.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from La Paz (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Bolivia.
Note: Visitors should heed the dangers of altitude sickness, especially in the Altiplano.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Cochabamba | 0.25 | 6.00 | - |
| Santa Cruz | 0.50 | 24.00 | - |
| Tarija | 1.00 | 18.00 | - |
| Sucre | 0.35 | 11.00 | 13.00 |
Note: Visitors should heed the dangers of altitude sickness, especially in the Altiplano.
