Travel Beta for Valle De Las Rocas, Bolivia 

Formalities: A passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival is all that is needed to enter the country.  Visas are not needed for stays of less than 90 days, and vaccinations aren’t necessary for the Altiplano.

Overview: With almost 1,100,100 km2 of surface area (twice the size of France) and with only 10 million inhabitants, Bolivia offers enormous deserted areas.  The Altiplano is home to the majority of the population in the north, from Oruro to Lake Titicaca, with La Paz and the surrounding area being the most densely populated.  This “high plateau” formed by the Andes traverses the entire western half of the country longitudinally, with an average altitude of 3500m to 4000m and with summits from 5500m to 6500m, while the eastern regions of the country descend progressively towards the Amazon basin, close to sea level. 

In La Paz, take it easy upon arrival because of the high altitude.  A nice option is to head to Copacabana on the edge of Lake Titicaca (the Emperador is a nice place to stay) to acclimatize.  There are several good options if staying in La Paz, a stunning city that is rather enjoyable: 

• Budget lodging at the Universo (refer to the Lonely Planet), near the bus station.

• Telephone calls using Sagarnaga are not expensive. The internet is widespread.

• Super cheap food is available in the many comedor popular’s, and there are small stands in the markets. 

Download a pdf topo map: Bolivia-map-2-detail.pdf, Bolivia-map-1.pdf