When to visit bolivia a guide by Grupo Rosario

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REGIONS

LA PAZ

SOUTHERN ALTIPLANO

NORTH OF LA PAZ: THE YUNGAS AND THE CORDILLERAS

BENI

COCHABAMBA AND THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

SOUTH CENTRAL

SANTA CRUZ

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ABOUT TURISBUS

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There is no bad time to visit Bolivia, a landlocked South American country located in the middle of the continent. Found within the small nation’s borders is a diverse geography and climate making any time of year a good one to plan your trip. The climate in Bolivia is as varied as the country’s geography: in some areas it’s best to visit during the summer and others, the opposite is true, the ideal time to visit being the winter. Deciding when to come to Bolivia shouldn’t be a decision that only takes the weather into consideration however. Though it may be wetter, those culturally inclined will find that many of the best indigenous and religious festivals take place in the summer. No matter the season, Bolivia’s climate changes drastically depending on where and how high you are. To further complicate matters, in cities located high in altitude such as La Paz, there is always a chill in the air regardless of the somewhat tropical latitude. Alternatively in the jungle covered Amazon basin the weather is consistently humid and balmy every month of the year. The months of November through March are considered to be the Bolivian summer. As a general rule, the weather in Bolivia during this period leans towards the warmer and wetter. During the winter months of April through October, the skies are a bright cloudless blue, though the air temperature is accordingly, much colder. Because of the vast differences in climate simultaneously found across the whole of Bolivia, the best time to visit really has more to do with what you want to see and do than with traditional seasons.

REGIONS La Paz For cultural explorers or outdoor adventurers who plan to spend most of their time in and around the Andean Mountain peaks and the city of La Paz, scheduling a trip between November to April is not recommended. During the summer months, heavy rains often render the city and surrounding streets inaccessible which can seriously hamper your travels. This is also true of the numerous nearby hikes and trails, many of which are forced to close down frequently during this time of year. If possible, visiting the region between the months of May through October is ideal. Though the air may be cool, the skies are almost guaranteed to be a constant bright blue without any signs of rain. Additionally, because of the high altitude, the sunshine warms the area during the day, making it a pleasant time of year to be out and about and especially if you plan to be physically active during your stay.

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For those who can’t make it to La Paz and the vicinity during the high season, the remaining months of the year are still a fabulous time for a visit. Between January and June the region erupts in celebration, and many of Bolivia’s storied festivals are held in the area throughout the season. One of the most vibrant affairs is Alasitas, the traditional Aymara festival of abundance. Over a period of three weeks beginning at the end of January, the city is overcome by happiness and constant revelry. A little later in the summer Carnaval festivities take to the streets the week before Lent. To round out the warm weathered season Gran Poder, an event honoring Jesus Christ, takes shape on city streets in the forms of joyous music, elaborately costumed dancers and merry parade goers. Those who want to witness the peak of vibrant La Paz culture may actually prefer the to visit during the summer as opposed to the more popular winter months. Luckily for them, this is also the time of year that rates drop throughout the city making La Paz an even more affordable destination than it already is.

Southern Altiplano The Salar de Uyuni is one of Bolivia’s most popular attractions and because so, the Southern Altiplano one of the most visited regions. Depending on which season you travel to the area, the incredibly beautiful landscape of the Salar de Uyuni and the surrounding area will change. The department of Potosi, where the Salar de Uyuni is located, follows a similar seasonal path to that of La Paz. The arid winter climate between April and November allows for the unblemished blue skies, which serve as the best backdrop for the vast salt flats. Additionally, the winter season is the best time of year for the Salar’s famous warped perspective photoops that many travel to the region to participate in. Between August and October the dry desert-like climate is particularly appealing. The relative humidity during this time is next to none and daytime temperatures hover around a comfortable 13°C. However, while the days in the Salar during this season are characterized by bright sunshine, the nights border on the frigidly cold. The summer months are substantially warmer, but also much wetter, with rainfall in the region reaching close to 70 millimeters in the month of January alone. If you do plan on visiting the Salar de Uyuni during this time of year don’t worry though. The rain that floods the powder white salt flats turns the plane into a veritable mirror, reflecting an often ferocious sky. The pure beauty of the landscape during this time of year is breathtaking beyond comparison. The summer season also sees festivals in Uyuni and the surrounding region. The intricate Carnaval costumes and colorful celebrations, especially in nearby Oruro, is an experience warranting a visit to the region in its own right. The festival in Oruro is such a treasured

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Bolivian event that UNESCO designated the affair on the list the brand’s esteemed World Heritage Sites.

North of La Paz: the Yungas and Cordilleras Weather in the Yungas tends to fall towards the gentler. Warm and wet year round, most visitors enjoy coming here in both seasons, especially when compared to the chilly Altiplano. As the rule of thumb stands for most of the country, summer here is hot and the chance of rainfall is great. In the winter between April and November, and especially between May and October, the rains are mild and the sun shines strong. When the weather dips in La Paz, it is not uncommon for locals and foreigners to flock here for a hit of summertime balm. In contrast to the relative mild temperatures of the Yungas, the nearby mountains of the Cordilleras are extreme. The cloud-covered terrain vacillates between high heat during the day and temperatures that drop down into negative numbers along with the sunlight. For those interested in climbing the glacial peaks, the best time to do so is between May and July.

Beni Bolivia’s Amazon Basin experiences more consistent temperatures throughout the year than anywhere else in the country. If visiting the Amazon during the summer months, be prepared for possible road closures and delays due to heavy rain. This is the rainforest after all and the rainy season is serious. If possible visit the region during the dry season between May through October to make travel in the area less complicated. During the winter the region is particularly swathed in sunshine and rain showers, though inevitable, are fewer than in the summer. In June and July the area is additionally particularly festive. During the Fiesta de la Santisima Trinidad and the San Ignacio de Moxos fiesta in mid-June and July respectively, the entire region breaks out into colorful celebration and if you are in Bolivia during this time both events should not be missed. Though planning your visit to Beni and the Bolivian Amazon during the winter will help assure more ideal weather, the climate in the region always falls towards the extreme. No matter whether you head to the Amazon in the winter or summer be prepared to deal with the humidity and heat.

Cochabamba and the Central Highlands The tropical climate of the Central Highlands makes the area a pleasant one to visit any time of the year. Leaning towards the drier twelve months out of twelve, the ideal time to visit the

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Central Highlands is during the summer between October to March. Through the summer season, the weather is fine and visitors can avoid the sometime winter chill. March is a particularly appealing time of year to visit the region. The indigenous Pujllay celebrations are a lively, authentically Bolivian experience to take in. If you can’t plan on being in Bolivia and the Central Highlands during that time, try to coordinate your visit with midAugust’s Fiesta de la Virgen de Urkupina festival, a religious tradition that fills the Central Highlands with infectious jubilant revelry.

South Central In the nearby Chaco and South Central corner of Bolivia, the temperatures are similarly mild year round. However, in the heart of winter between June and August, the nighttime temperatures can dip quite low. Additionally, the arid climate can get scathingly dry given the areas relatively short distance from the equator and lack of any substantial body of water. However, the festivals such as the Fiesta de San Roque held in Tarija in September make the winter an especially colorful time to visit. Planning a trip to the region during the summer months of October to March means you will miss out on the sometimes rough highland chills. On the other hand, while the air in October through March is warmer, the rainfall is greater, reaching a peak of over 100 millimeters in December. Festivals in late March and August make the two months a popular and worthwhile time to visit the southern region. Sucre’s rendition of Dia de los Reyes Magos in January is particularly worthy of mention. Celebrating the day the three wise men visited baby Jesus, the affair is a colorful day of activity that plays out on the city’s streets. And luckily, due to the mild Mediterranean-like climate of Bolivia’s deep south, wine tasting in Tarija is an activity one can enjoy any time of the year.

Santa Cruz Santa Cruz and Gran Chiquitania, often referred to as the Bolivian Oriente, are best visited between May and August to avoid what many consider to be treacherous heat. More than just the beating sun, those who venture to the eastern most area of Bolivia in the summer are likely to get doused in torrential rain. The tropical region gets close to 200 millimeters of the wet stuff in the month of January alone. Though by far the first month of the year is the worst for rain, the whole season is known to be a doused one. Occasionally, cold wind patterns can blow in from the pampas during the winter, but in general the temperatures in Santa Cruz and the vicinity are warm and pleasurable year round.

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USEFUL WORDS GREETINGS ENGLISH

SPANISH

Good morning

Buenos dĂas

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

Good night

Buenas noches

Hi/hey

Hola

See you

Nos vemos

Thanks

Gracias

Thanks for the help

Gracias por su ayuda

What is your name?

CĂłmo se llama?

My name is

Me llamo

Sorry

Lo siento

Yes

QUESTION WORDS ENGLISH

SPANISH

What â&#x20AC;Ś?

QuĂŠ â&#x20AC;Ś?

Where â&#x20AC;Ś?

DĂłnde â&#x20AC;Ś?

When â&#x20AC;Ś?

CuĂĄndo â&#x20AC;Ś?

Who â&#x20AC;Ś?

QuiĂŠn â&#x20AC;Ś?

How â&#x20AC;Ś?

CĂłmo â&#x20AC;Ś?

Why â&#x20AC;Ś?

Por quĂŠ â&#x20AC;Ś?

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FINDING YOUR WAY ENGLISH

SPANISH

To the right

A la derecha

To the left

A la izquierda

Straight on

Recto

Back

Atrás

Where is …?

Dónde está …?

Can you show the way to …?

Me puede camino a …

Where am I …?

Dónde estoy?

How do I reach …?

Cómo llego a …?

mostrar

TOURIST IN THE CITY ENGLISH

SPANISH

Do you have a city map?

Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?

Can you recommend a

Me puede recomendar …

VISITS TO THE TOILET ENGLISH

SPANISH

Toilet

Baño

Where is the toilet?

Dónde está el baño?

Do you have more toilet Tiene más papel higiénico? paper? Can I change the toilet?

Puedo cambiar de baño?

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TRANSPORTION ENGLISH

SPANISH

Train

Tren

Till what time does the train run?

A que hora sale el ultimo tren?

Time table

Horario

Station

Estación

Bus

Autobus

Stop

Parada

Airway

Aerolínea

Airport

Aeropuerto

Passport

Pasaporte

Ferry

Trasbordador

Port

Puerto

Taxi

Drive me to this address

Lléveme a esta dirección

How much is it by taxi?

Cuánto cuesta el taxi a …?

IN THE HOTEL ENGLISH

SPANISH

I/we have a reservation

Tengo/tenemos una reserva

The name is

El nombre es …

Single room

Habitación simple

Double room

Habitación doble

What is the room number?

Cuál es el habitación?

Where is the restaurant? Where can I park?

número

Dónde está el ascensor? Dónde puedo parquear?

ON SHOPPING ENGLISH

SPANISH

Shopping centre

Centro commercial

Pedestrian street

Calle peatonal

How much is this?

Cuánto cuesta esto?

Do you accept credit card?

Acepta tarjeta de crédito?

What time do you close?

A qué hora cierran?

Open

Abierto

Closed

Cerrado

ABOUT TURISBUS

We are one of the most important operators of Incoming Tourism in Bolivia, with decades of experience in culture and nature trips around Bolivia and southern Peru, providing services operated by us and from selected tour operators that allow us to provide responsible, efficient and dependable services. We develop strategic partnerships to support communities and local enterprises of lake transportation and food in Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, boosting job creation and tourism development in Bolivia. We have an excellent team of professionals that guarantee the quality of services, and turn every customer into a friend. We have a large fleet of modern vehicles of different capacities, in addition to trekking equipment that with the work of the guides team and sales staff, become our greatest assets available to the customer. We are recommended in the tourist guides South American Handbook, Bolivia Handbook, Guide Routard, Lonely Planet and many more. However, the best recommendations are from our own customers every day.

CONTACT US La Paz, Bolivia C. ,OODPSX Tel (591-2) 245 1341 Tel (591-2) 245 1658 La Paz - Bolivia experiences.turisbus@gruporosario.travel

Visit us at online:

GrupoRosario.com

Santiago, Chile Ebro 2869 Dept. 801, Las Condes Tel (56-2) 2717 4645 Cel (599) 8201 9838 Santiago - Chile gerencia.chile@gruporosario.travel