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Apr

by: The Global Traveller

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Bolivia

Source: Christophe Meneboeuf

Visitors arrive by bus or car (from Peru or Argentina), or by air. Note roads from Brazil, Chile and Paraguay are apparently not very good. Airlines flying to Bolivia (La Paz and Santa Cruz) include:

  • Star Alliance – TAM
  • Oneworld – American Airlines (from Miami), LAN (from Lima, Iqique and Santiago)
  • Sky Team – none
  • Other – Gol, TACA

TIP Fares are normally higher to/from La Paz than Santa Cruz (due to weight limitations at the high altitude flights are half empty).

TIP With relatively high fares, Bolivia is a good option for including on a Star Alliance or Oneworld award, round the world ticket or South America pass.

UPDATED August 2010 – Updated for TAM and Aegean joining Star Alliance, Shanghai leaving Star Alliance, Vietnam Airlines and TAROM joining Sky Team.  Advice has been changed.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

5 Comments Tags: , , , , , ,

  1. Eileen said,

    It’s worth noting that for about $100 and 3 days of 4X4 travel including crossing the Salar (salt lake), you can cross from Chile into Bolivia. It can be done in private vehicle (or vehicles, better idea), but is a really tough route. Most take a tour from San Pedro de Atacama which ends in the little city of Uyuni. Stay in salt hotels en route, etc. There was barbecued llama the last night of the trip I took. Buyer beware, some tour companies are better than others.

  2. eduardo said,

    Copa also flies to Santa Cruz from Panama.

    A national airline Aerosur flies from Miami, Lima, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Asuncion, and others

    Aerolineas Argentinas to Santa Cruz from Buenos Aires

    The American Airlines flight from Miami varies on different days.

    On some flights it arrives first to La Paz (picking up passengers on the way to Miami) and then to Santa Cruz to drop off the rest and pick up the rest on the way back to Miami.

    At other times it flies directly to Santa Cruz and back.

    I’ve traveled this route a lot and there really isn’t much difference between flying to La Paz or Santa cruz in terms of price. If you have trouble with the high altitude it may be best to fly to/from Santa Cruz (VVI), but normally I fly into La Paz and out of Santa Cruz to cut down on time.

    Prices go up during the high season June 15-August 15 (on AA) and around Christmastime, but around the year you can find 600-700 depending on how early to book.

    TAM Mercosur also flies to Cochabamba (the country’s fourth largest city).

  3. dh said,

    TAM is now STAR.

  4. The Global Traveller said,

    Indeed they are. I haven’t yet updated the “how to get to” posts for recent changes to alliances. It is on my to do list.

  5. Anglo Large Clawed Otter said,

    If staying outside of an alliance, Aerosur is the de facto Bolivian flag carrier, these days. They operate MIA-VVI on a 767-200, and MAD-VVI on a former VS 747-400 (with premium economy and herringbone flat-seats in J). Within Bolivia, I believe they still operate a Super DC-3 on sightseeing flights to Salar de Uyuni.

    When I traveled to Copacabana, Bolivia (on the shores of Lake Titicaca), I first flew CO to LIM, then transferred to LA to Cuzco (highly recommend as a destination unto itself). Aerosur operates reasonably priced flights from Cuzco to La Paz (on either a 737-200 or 727-200). Once in La Paz, it is a short cab ride to the local bus station in El Alto, where buses depart regularly for Copacabana. Expect to pay about $3.50 USD for a one-way bus ticket to Copacabana.

    Once in Copacabana, I paid about $120/night to stay in a massive suite at Hotel Rosario del Lago, which had an impressive, panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. Accommodations can be had for much cheaper in Copacabana (there are many hostels and smaller hotels).

    The only downside to the trip was the severe altitude sickness. It can take several days to acclimatize, and the altitude sickness can be extremely unpleasant.

    Hope others find some of this helpful.

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