If you have any questions which do not appear on this page, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will reply as soon as possible.
When is the best time of year to visit?
How much in advance should I book?
We are a specialist company and will only work with our own expert staff leading our climbing expeditions. We will not contract other agencies to run our expeditions. Whereas tours and treks can usually be arranged with a matter of weeks (or even days) notice, you should endeavour to book any climbs as much in advance as you can. As soon as our guides are fully booked, you will have to be flexible on the dates we will be able to accommodate you.
How does payment work?
Will I need a Visa?
Citizens of the EU and the USA are able to visit Bolivia for any period up to 90 days with a tourist visa. This is given to visitors on their arrival in the country.
Citizens from other countries should check with the Bolivian Consulate in their country of residence.
What about injections and malaria tablets?
For all information on recommended inoculations and anti-malarial regimes, you can check FitforTravel for the most up to date information (this is a UK based site, based on WHO advice). Depending on whether you choose to go to the Amazon basin (below 1,500m), you may or may not need to take anti-malarials. If only visiting the highlands, malaria is not a risk.
Should I be concerned about the altitude?
La Paz is situated at 3,650 metres above sea level, and the peaks our expeditions cover vary between 5,000m and 6,500m. As such it is important to allow time for acclimatisation. High altitude affects people due to the drop in atmospheric pressure and lower level of oxygen found at these heights. It is difficult to predict exactly how much time one needs to acclimatise, as it varies from person to person and does not depend on level of fitness or health.
As a point of reference though, we would recommend a MINIMUM of five full days acclimatisation before taking on any of the lower peaks, and AT LEAST a week before setting out to climb any mountain near or above 6,000m (with, ideally, having climbed a lower peak or done a high altitude trek beforehand).
How fit will I need to be to do these climbs / treks?
Each tour, trek and climb has been rated to give you an idea of how physically demanding each trip is. Please note though, this is just a point of reference and the general rule is the better shape you are in, the more you are likely to enjoy them.
Are mountains in Bolivia accessible to beginners?
This is one of the great advantages of many of the peaks close to La Paz, there are glacial routes for all levels of experience. Provided you are well acclimatised, it is possible to reach a 5000-6000m glacial summit as a complete beginner.
Our guides are also very experienced instructors and you will receive the necessary training and instruction on the mountainside for the majority of our trips, even if you have had no previous experience of trekking or climbing.
Look out for the ice axe symbol next to our climbing options where some prior experience is required.
What about flights, insurance and other parts of my trip?
While you are in contact with us prior to confirming your trip, we will be able to offer advice or support as required regarding flights and other pre-departure information.
We are happy to arrange your entire trip for you on the ground in Bolivia – hotels, tours, jungle trips, mountain biking etc. However, we do not run these trips ourselves and would be contracting other specialist agencies to run the trip for us. The agencies we use are quality, reputable agencies with whom we have worked for many years and we would not use them if we were not confident of their calibre.
If you do use Bolivian Mountains to arrange additional aspects of your visit to the country, we will of course ensure that each part of your trip flows smoothly from one to the other, and will be on hand to adapt to any unexpected surprises along the way (not uncommon in Bolivia!)
What equipment will I need?
Bolivian Mountains provides all top quality technical equipment as standard for any technical expeditions. Any personal gear (ie. clothing), you are expected to provide yourself although we can rent out most gear if you do not have it or choose not to bring it with you.
Each itinerary has an equipment list included.
Do the guides speak English?
On the tours, your guide will be an English speaker, who will give you thorough and interesting explanations of all the areas you will be visiting with him. The trekking and climbing guides are not always fluent English speakers. They all speak more than enough to ensure that you are safe on the mountain and to deal with any emergency situations which may occur but are by no means fluent. We select them for their mountain expertise, not for their linguistic ability. If you would like to have a bilingual guide on any of our treks or climbs, please state so on your booking.
Is it safe to travel to Bolivia?
Bolivia is not a typical destination for many travellers, however this is not due to issues with safety. Similarly, the country may not have the same level of tourism infrastructure as some of its neighbours, but this for many will be exactly why you choose to come here!
It’s not uncommon for local protests and roadblocks to be happening in the cities or the countryside, these are invariably for local issues however and visitors or foreigners are not the target. It may mean a certain about of flexibility will be needed in terms of travel times and routes taken, travelling through Bolivia will always be an adventure.
Of course, there are the same cautions you should take when visiting any new part of the world, our team will be on hand throughout your visit to help guide and advise you in this sense.