Details
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read our general
FAQs, where you can find essential information that applies to all of our programs.
Resources to Learn & Teach about Bolivia
Visit our
recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have
lesson plans and
Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.
Terms and Conditions
It is very important to review our
Terms and Conditions before signing up for a GEEO program.
GEEO Program Confirmation Process
We require a minimum of 6 participants for most GEEO programs. We officially confirm that a program will run once at least 8 people have signed up, which provides a margin for individual cancellations. Nearly all GEEO programs ultimately meet this enrollment quota, and in the rare event that a program does not meet the minimum requirement and GEEO cancels the program, we will work with you to find a suitable alternative or provide a refund of your deposit if you prefer. We encourage you to sign up for any program that interests you, and we will notify the entire group once 6 people are booked and again once 8 people are booked. We always emphasize the importance of exercising caution when making non-refundable travel arrangements, especially given the unpredictable nature of travel. For example, we typically recommend booking flights with flexible change/cancellation policies.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in writing by emailing your request for cancellation to
travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105.
- If you cancel 60 days or more prior to the start of your program, all your program fee payments will be refunded excluding your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use and never expires.
- If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.
- If you cancel within 30 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive no refund, but your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.
Trip Notes
- WINTER TRIPS: Please note that some sites, museums, and restaurants may be closed over Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. It is recommended that you check the operating hours of any sites or establishments that you plan to visit to avoid disappointment. It is also common for prices for meals and other services to increase during peak tourist seasons or holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s. Additionally, we may need to alter the itinerary on and around these holidays to maximize your time during your trip. Hopefully, you will be able to experience some local customs and traditions and see how people in other parts of the world experience the holidays. Traveling over Christmas and New Year’s can allow you to see a destination in a different light. You may be able to attend local festivals, try traditional foods, see special decorations, and participate in cultural activities that can add an extra layer of festivity and cheer to your trip. Overall, traveling over the holidays can be a fun and rewarding way to learn about and experience another culture.
- YELLOW FEVER: It may be required to show a Yellow Fever certificate upon entering Bolivia. Please check in with your local health expert for advice on Yellow Fever and other inoculations required for this area.
- ALTITUDE: Please note your Adventure travels to high altitude. This is medically defined as anything over 2,440 m (8,000 ft). Most people can travel to 8,000 ft with minimal effects, but everyone reacts to altitude differently, and altitude sickness can set in with some people irrespective of fitness and age. For details on how to best prepare and what to do in the unlikely event you are affected on your adventure, please consult your physician. Make sure your doctor carefully checks to make sure any medication you need is safe to use at over 11,000 feet above sea level.
- SALT FLATS: The accommodation on the salt flats are really cold at night. Make sure you pack long john bottoms and tops. They rent warm sleeping bags fairly cheaply that we recommend. Your tour leader can arrange this for you the day before. Also pack plenty of snacks as the menu is quite limited in this remote part of Bolivia.
- ACCOMMODATION NOTE: Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary
Group Leader Description
All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEOs). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own.
While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.
Fitness Level
Trip includes moderate hiking and other activities that require an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy.
Single Travelers
Half of GEEO’s participants travel by themselves, so please don’t worry if you do not have a travel companion for your trip. Our program fee is for one traveler in double-occupancy accommodation, and GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not have a travel companion. Most of our programs have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that you can pay to have a room to yourself. You will only incur an additional charge if you specifically request a single room. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please find your program on our
extra services page. If you want to room alone, please email
travel@geeo.org to request a single room.
Please note: if you book the “My Own Room” option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all nights except for nights 7 and 8 (Salar de Uyuni - multi-share) and night 9 (on the overnight bus).
Joining Instructions
Day 1 is an arrival day, and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Please note: Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., during which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details. If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning.
The easiest way to get from Alto International Airport to the center of La Paz, where the hotel is located, is via taxi, and the drive is spectacular. You can order a taxi (approximately $8 USD) from an official uniformed taxi driver. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes and is very scenic. The money exchange desk at the airport is open 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Emergency Contacts
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures Office Lima, Peru
During office hours (Weekdays, 9-6pm Local Time): +51 1 241 1650
After hours Emergency number: +51 99 758 2712 (WhatsApp Available)
If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below to connect with their Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
Please
read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.
Suggested Checklist
- 3-season sleeping bag and liner – also available for rent for about $5 per day
- Winter hat and gloves
- Warm jacket
- Windproof/waterproof rain jacket
- Personal clothing for cold to warm weather – we recommend packing 7-8 days of outfits, so you only have to do laundry once
- Fleece or down top – it gets down into the 30’s at night in the Andes!
- Light hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes
- Daypack
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Watch or alarm clock
- Small flashlight
- Toiletries
- Camera
- First-aid kit, including lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
Optional Checklist
- Bathing suit and small, quick-dry towel
- Binoculars
- Travel pillow
- Water bottle
- Money belt
- Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Flip-flops/sandals
- Earplugs
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
- Ziplock bags
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
Document Checklist
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Travel insurance (with photocopies)
- Airline tickets (with photocopies)
- EUR/USD cash
- Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
- G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge, or you can ask your tour leader where the nearest laundromat is located.
Passports and Visas
All GEEO programs require the participant to have a valid passport. Please see our general
FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double check the information we provide below by searching
here.
U.S. citizens need a visa to travel to Bolivia. The visa is available upon arrival for $160 USD.
IMPORTANT: U.S. dollar bills must be in perfect condition. Old, torn, or marked notes will not be accepted by immigration officials.
It is possible to apply for a visa
online in advance, but you will likely spend more time and effort applying online than you would receiving one at the airport upon arrival. To apply for a visa, U.S. citizens must submit:
- 6-month validity remaining on passport
- Passport photo
- Evidence of a hotel reservation (your G Adventures confirmation voucher)
- A copy of your trip itinerary
- Proof of economic solvency (e.g., a current bank statement)
- Sworn Statement form
Money Exchange
The local currency in Bolivia is the Bolivian boliviano (BOB). As currency exchange rates fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com.
We recommend that you obtain cash from ATMs while traveling; they will dispense the local currency. We do, however, recommend that you bring at least $200 USD in cash for emergency use or in case you have trouble with the ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but you may be charged an international transaction fee; ask your financial institution about their international fees. Please note that if you are carrying U.S. dollars, the bills should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and dated recently.
Tipping
It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected, though not compulsory, component of this program and an expression of satisfaction with the people who assist you on your trip. Tipping is also one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the local community. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
There will be opportunities during the trip to tip your local guides or drivers. You may do this individually, or your tour leader may offer to collect the money and give a tip on behalf of the group. Recommendations for tipping local guides and drivers range from $5-10 USD per person per day, depending on the quality and length of the service. Ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and expectations. Also, at the end of your program, if you felt your G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, a tip would be appreciated. The amount is entirely your personal preference, but as a guideline, $20-25 USD per person per week would be appropriate.
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health (http://www.passporthealthusa.com/), which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!
Flights
We find the best prices for flights are often available around 90 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year.
You should wait until this trip is confirmed before you book non-refundable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program begins and ends in La Paz. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in La Paz. You may want to arrive in La Paz one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from La Paz any time on the final day of the program.
Plugs and Converters
There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers (also called electrical converters). The adapter is for your device's plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two- to three-pronged power cord to fit the local outlets. The transformer/converter changes the local voltage to the voltage used in the U.S.
Bolivia uses 2- and 3-pronged power plugs similar to those in the United States, as well as a European-style two-prong plug. Bolivia’s voltage is mostly 220-230V, with a few homes with 110V on the European-style outlets. (Standard U.S. electrical outlets are 120V.) Most new devices, including phones and laptops, are made to work with the different voltage rates, but some devices, like hair dryers, may only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device's plug or manual to see what voltage range it requires. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity; for example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work with voltages between 100V to 240V. If your device can’t handle the higher voltage, you’ll need to purchase a transformer/converter. You can find world transformers/converters online or at many retail stores in the travel section.
Expectations
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.
- The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury as we are trying to keep these trips as inexpensive as possible. Sometimes the accommodation is not air conditioned.
- We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
- You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
- Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometime include day hikes with your daypacks.
- We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
- Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip, as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.
Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Weather
Consisting of temperate valleys, semi-arid highlands, humid jungles, and balmy lakeside villages, Bolivia’s weather differs greatly depending on the altitude and topography of the region. Because most of the country is situated at a high elevation, temperatures vary from hot and humid during the day to freezing cold at night. This program takes place in the Andes section of Bolivia, where December weather is not bad at all. A fair bit of rain will fall, but nothing like what will descend during the next few months: expect around 3.5 inches. But if it is sometimes damp, it is also relatively warm, with a temperature range of 37°F–57°F.
Starting in late December, Uyuni enters what is know as the "magic season," when the rains and diversions of rivers cause the flooding of the salt flat, creating a layer of water that creates a mirror effect that captivates many travelers. this season is usually one of the busiest for Uyuni.
You should prepare for weather that will be in the 60s and 70s during the day. Night temperatures will typically be in 40s and 30s. You will probably be wearing jeans and a light fleece during the day and adding on a winter coat at night.