Travelling Here
The Trip
Tsimane's operational area is about 125 miles (200km) from the Capital City La Paz and 270 miles (470 km) from Santa Cruz de la Sierra Tsimane’s base point.
There are several different travel options to arrive to Santa Cruz’s Viru Viru International Airport with daily flights from Miami (American Airlines), San Pablo (Tam, Gol and Boliviana), Buenos Aires (Aerolineas Argentinas and Boliviana), Panama (Copa), Lima (Taca) and Europe (Air Europe). Most airlines offer direct connections to all major airports throughout the world.
Currency
The official currency is the Bolivian Peso, and the exchange rate will fluctuate around 7 pesos to 1 US Dollar. Check with our Santa Cruz transfer agent upon arrival or on-line, for up-to-date currency conversion rates. The U.S. dollar is widely accepted throughout Bolivia. Most businesses will exchange pesos in change when dollars are paid. Banks and Hotels will generally change your money for you. Remember to break your change into smaller bills for taxis, tips, etc. It is very difficult (next to impossible) to exchange traveler's checks in Bolivia. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in many businesses in the larger towns and cities, butnot accepted at our Lodges. Also, remember to notify your financial institution(s) and Credit Card Companies that you are traveling.
Travel Documents
All visitors to Bolivia should carry a Yellow Fever Vaccine certification. A valid passport is mandatory for entry into Bolivia. You passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of proposed entry into Bolivia is required to enter and depart Bolivia. For most European countries no visa is required but it is required for the United States and some other countries.
American Citizens: U.S. citizens seeking to enter Bolivia as tourists must have an entry visa. Bolivian tourist visas can be applied for by mail or in person at Bolivian consulates in the U.S., as well as at Bolivian ports of entry, such as at Bolivia's international airports and at land border crossings. Bolivian tourist visas are valid for one or five years from the date of issuance. The cost of the tourist visa is USD160. These fees can be paid in cash, by deposit to the Bolivian Consulate's bank account or by money order.
HIGHLY Recommended
Tourists applying for their visa upon arrival to Bolivia must pay this fee in cash (new bills, no tears, no marks – fresh, clean bills) to immigration authorities. In addition to the visa fee, the applicant must present a visa application form with a 4 x 4 centimeters (2” x 2”) color photograph, a passport with a validity of not less than 6 months, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and an invitation letter provided by Untamed Angling.
Please visit the Embassy of Bolivia web site at http://www.bolivia-usa.org for details on how to apply or contact the nearest Bolivian Embassy or Consulate. Bolivian consulates in the United States are located in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Oklahoma City, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. We strongly recommend Trip cancellation insurance.