Americans entering Bolivia

Hey!
I’ve talked to a few friends traveling there right now and no one mentioned anything of that sort. I checked the US State Department page on Bolivia and nothing is noted about that. Could be people were denied for other reasons like note having proof of receiving the Yellow Fever vaccine, or a proof of hotel reservation. But who knows please keep us updated on this issue. I’m headed down that way soon. Bolivia is at the top of my list so I would be gutted if I didn’t get in.
Cheers & Good Luck Sandy

We have quite a few Americans doing tours with us and not once we heard from them they had problems obtaining their VISA to enter Bolivia. Most of our US clientes enter Bolivia via the Santa Cruz airport from Miami. Sometimes they dont even ask for a yellow fever certificate, bank solvency (copy of your credit card) or a hotel reservation / letter of invitation but make sure to bring everything along.

Only once a VISA apply was rejected when our client applied for the VISA to the Bolivian embassy in the US a few months before his flight to Bolivia. It was rejected because he applied for his VISA too much time in advance ..... :-) So we recommended to apply for the VISA when he arrived at Santa Cruz airport and he had no problems to enter Bolivia.

If anyone did have problems making it into Bolivia I would be interested to read about it.

Gijs
Ruta Verde Tours

I have not heard about this. I last entered Bolivia from Peru (at Viru Viru) in January without any problems whatsoever. I'm certain that if people were being turned away at the border it would be big news and I have heard nothing at all.

Hi,
I'm an American who's been in Bolivia for 3 weeks now, and I've heard nothing of this. I had no problems myself when I crossed from Peru near Copacbana. They basicly too my $135 and skipped through the rest of the requirement as my bus was ready to leave. Nonetheless, best to be prepared.

Sounds like one of those Chinese Whispers stories.
Someone overheard in a café that someone was refused entry, and before you know where you are, the tale has it that Bolivia is at war with the US.
Probably the very opposite about the Bolivian attitude to the USA at the moment.
President Evo is well chuffed that Mr. O got the job. (Indigenous links, ethnic, family ancestry, etc.etc.), and the Bolivian Press had reports yesterday that talks are underway designed to help everyone kiss and make up, and get things back to how they were before George Dubyah and his Administration got involved.

One thing that might have fueled the story is the situation regarding Brazilian students who have traveled or are traveling to Bolivia to study. (It is a LOT cheaper here for them.)
It is an annual event now, that a month or so after the start of the academic year, Immigration has a blitz on visas, permits, etc for the students.
Those without the necessary documents (and there are many of them) are sent packing. No excuses, no questions asked.
It may be that the people reporting the ´problems´ are confusing this culling of ´undesirables´ with a purge against Americans.

Youve prob realised from the above that this isnt a problem. I speak to US citizens daily that come and book things with us and no one has mentioned having any problems.
Yep as mason101 says another traveller rumour that simply isnt true (like the salts fats being closed because they are flooded, an ex president has escaped from san pedro prison, Bolivia is in civil war and La Paz is riddled with dengue - all ones ive heard in the last week or so)

i assumed, as with most places in the world, i could apply for a simple 30-day tourist visa upon entering bolivia - 135USD cash in hand. i am an american living and working in germany and will be flying to santiago from frankfurt. i wil make my way up to boliva via a salar de uyuni tour then stay in bolivia for another 3 weeks before returning home.

i just talked to someone at the bolivian consulate here in frankfurt and was told it would take at least 1 month to get the visa - that is cutting it way too close since i leave in mid-may. at this point i just might have to risk it.