Jan '10: the rate is 9.7 bolivianos to a euro.

3. Documentation

Visa

Aug '07: at the Paraguay - Bolivia border we received a 1 month' visa, free of charge.

Nov '08: at the Chili - Bolivia Sud Lipez province we received a 1 month' visa for 21 bolivianos pp.

Dec ''09: at the border Brazil - Bolivia [Guayaramerím] we received a 3 months' visa free of charge.

Jan '10: at the border Chile - Bolivia [Ollagüe] we received a 3 months' visa for 21 bolivianos pp.

Carnet de Passage/Temporary Import Document

Carnet is not needed, at the border you are issued with a Temporary Import Document.

Note it is possible to receive a temporary import authorization for six months! They don't give this automatically and it may need a bit of persuasion from your part.

4. Border crossing

- The border crossing from Paraguay is easy. The offices for customs and immigration are situated in different locations [with many kilometres in between], which you'll see as you go along [Aug '07].

- Border crossing from Chile [San Pedro de Atacama] is a two-step procedure: passport is stamped at the border [fee: 21 bolivianos]. The Customs is 80 kilometers further north - see our gps waypoint overview for the exact location [Nov '08].

- From Guajará Mirim [Rondônia] to Guayaramerín [Bolivia]

There is no regular car ferry plying between two towns [only for pedestrians]. When on the Brazilian side, you have to go to Bolivia [or ask somebody to go] to arrange a boat there to pick you up. No, this can't be done by telephone…

Price car ferry [boat]: 250 bolivianos ferry + 30 bolivianos fumigations  [appr. 28 euro, Dec '09]. In Bolivia we were asked to show our yellow vaccination booklet for the very first time [due to the mandatory yellow fever vaccination].

5. Car, diesel, petrol stations, roadmap

Diesel and petrol stations

Diesel costs around 3.7 bolivianos [around 38 eurocent, Jan '10]. The first petrol station with foreigner prices [9 bolivianos per liter] we found at the border crossing to Chile [to Colchane / Dec '09] 

We took in diesel in Tarija, Tupiza and Uyuni, in between there is nothing.

NB: we filled up twice at the YPF petrol station in Tupiza and on both occasions noticed an inordinate fuel consumption afterwards.

NB: Between San Pedro de Atacama [Chile] and Uyuni [about 450 kilometres] there is no petrol nor diesel available. If lucky you may be able to purchase it in San Christobal, about halfway, but don't count on it.

Car

The big question is whether or not the Bolivians feel like taking on a certain job. Apparently the big job to replace large rusted parts of the fender was too much work for the mechanics in Uyuni. Fortunately we found a nice guy to do the job in Tupiza. It took him two days and he charged us 40 euros for a good job [Aug '07]

After our tour on the Salar we had the car thoroughly cleaned in Uyuni for 3.5- 5 euros [Aug '07 and Jan '10].

Traffic

The unpaved roads vary from reasonable to horrific [lots of washboard roads]. But they are working on many stretches, including paving Potosí – Uyuni, so next year some parts may be much improved. [Jan '10]

Road maps

Reise Knowhow map of Bolivia isn't accurate enough in its mileage and distances. We often drove many more kilometres than were indicated on the map.

6 Paid accommodation and bush camping

For the gps waypoints, check out the gps overview.

7. Food and beverage

Water

Along route 1 we drank from the tap without getting into problems. For route 2 we brought water from San Pedro de Atacama because there is nothing along the way.

food

Tourist eateries mainly consist of pizzerias where you pay about 3.5 euros for a pizza. We found many local places where they serve you a good meal for about 10 bolivianos [1 euro]. Bolivia's main meal is lunch and then all restaurants are open. For 10 bolivianos you can buy an almuerzo, which includes a large bowl of tasty soup, often with chunks of meat and potato or filled with pasta. The main meal sometimes is fixed, sometimes you can choose between 2 options. It's always a piece of meat with rice or quinoa and a salad.

For route 2 we brought all our supplies from San Pedro de Atacama, there are no shops along this route.