Level 2 for crime and civil unrest. The scam to know is the fake plainclothes policeman asking to inspect your passport or money - real Bolivian police never do this, and you are entitled to insist on walking to a station.
- The scam that matters most is the fake plainclothes policeman: a badge, a request to inspect your passport or check your money for counterfeits, a waiting taxi, and you are robbed.
- Real Bolivian police do not stop tourists in the street to inspect money. Refuse, stay in public and offer to walk to the nearest police station - a genuine officer accepts, a fake one leaves.
- Watch for the spill scam, drink spiking in disreputable bars, and paseo millonario express kidnapping in unlicensed taxis driven between ATMs. Use Yango or Uber instead.
- Avoid Zona Cementerio, the unlit staircases between El Alto and La Paz, and La Ceja at night, plus the outer ring roads and Los Pozos market in Santa Cruz after dark.
- Coca is legal and culturally protected here - never call the leaves a narcotic, and never take them out of the country. Drug sentences run 8 to 25 years.
Violent crime against tourists is uncommon; opportunist theft and roadblocks are routine. Both the US and UK place Bolivia at the "exercise increased caution" level, largely for crime and civil unrest.
The scam that matters most here
The fake plainclothes policeman. Someone in ordinary clothes shows a badge, says they are undercover police, and asks to inspect your passport or check your currency for counterfeits. A "colleague" or a waiting taxi appears. This ends with you robbed.
- Real Bolivian police do not stop tourists in the street to inspect money, and do not put you in an unmarked car.
- Refuse, stay in public, and offer to walk to the nearest police station (Estacion Policial Integral, EPI). A genuine officer will accept; a fake one will leave.
The others
- The spill scam: sauce or liquid on your clothes, a helpful stranger, your bag gone.
- Pildoreitas - drink spiking with sedatives or scopolamine in disreputable bars and clubs.
- Paseo millonario - express kidnapping in unlicensed taxis, driven between ATMs. Use Yango or Uber.
Places and conditions
- La Paz: Zona Cementerio, the unlit pedestrian staircases between El Alto and La Paz, and La Ceja transport hub in El Alto at night.
- Santa Cruz: the outer ring roads (7th and 8th anillos) at night, and the Los Pozos market area after dark.
- Bloqueos: union roadblocks close highways regularly and with little notice. They are usually not dangerous, but do not try to drive through or around one.
- Mountain roads: aggressive driving, unlit highways, sheer drops, and flash floods and landslides in the wet season from December to March.
Law and social climate
- Drug sentences under Ley 913 run 8 to 25 years.
- Coca is legal and culturally protected here. Chewing leaves (acullico) and coca tea are normal and offered everywhere. Never call coca leaves a narcotic in conversation - it is a genuinely sensitive point. Taking leaves out of the country is illegal.
- Solo and female travellers: machismo street harassment occurs; avoid unlit streets at night and do not hike isolated trails without a registered guide.
- LGBTQ+: same-sex activity is legal and anti-discrimination law exists, but attitudes outside Sopocachi in La Paz and Equipetrol in Santa Cruz are traditional.
Comments
No comments yet. Share the first one.
Share a tip
Sign in to continue.