GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Bolivia.
Capital
Sucre.
Seat of government: La Paz.
Geography
As a country located in South America according to mathgeneral, Bolivia is a landlocked country. It is bordered by Peru to the west, Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, and Chile to the southwest. The largely barren high plateau Altiplano, bordered by the Andes, is about 4000 m above sea level. d. M. and makes up about a third of the country’s area. About 70% of the population live here, of which almost a third are city dwellers. The second geographical region is a fertile valley that lies between 1800 m and 2700 m above sea level. d. M. lies. The humid, tropical, forested lowlands (Llano) in the east take up two thirds of the total area.
Government
Presidential republic since 1967. Constitution of 2009. Bicameral parliament (Congreso Nacional) consisting of Senate (Camara de Senadores) with 36 members and House of Representatives (Camara de Diputados) with 130 members. Legislative period: 5 years. Direct election of the head of state every 5 years, since the new constitution came into force max. 2 terms. Independent since 1825 (former Spanish colony).
Head of state
Evo Morales, since January 2006.
Head of government
Evo Morales, since January 2006.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz; La Paz: 110/220 V, 50 Hz; Potosí: 110 V. Most hotels have two-pole sockets for both currents. Deviations can occur.
Time zone
Bolivia Time: CET -5
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Spanish; in addition, the Indian languages Aimará, Quechua and Tupi-Guarani. Some officials and business people speak English.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Annotation
There are additional public holidays in the individual provinces and cities.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Bolivia duty-free (people over 17 years of age):
400 cigarettes and 50 cigars or 500 g of tobacco;
3 l spirits;
New goods that do not exceed the equivalent of US $ 1,000.
Import / export to the EU
Mate de Coca (coca tea) may be acquired, owned, consumed and exported from Bolivia in Bolivia, but the import of coca tea into Germany is a violation of the German Narcotics Act.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Prior appointments are unnecessary. Business hours: Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2.30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Economy
German-Bolivian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Calle 15 de Calacoto 7791, Torre Ketal Of. 311, Casilla 2722, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 279 51 51.
Internet: www.ahkbol.com
Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland
c / o DPS Communications, Gessnerallee 28, CH-8001 Zurich
Tel: (79) 699 54 47
Internet: www.latcam.ch
Cámara Nacional de Industrias (National Chamber of Industry)
Edif. Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz 1392, Casilla 7, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 237 44 77.
Internet: www.bolivia-industry.com
Cámara Nacional de Comercio de La Paz (National Chamber of Commerce of La Paz)
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz 1392, Edificio Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Pisos 1 y 2, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 237 86 06.
Internet: www.boliviacomercio.org.bo
Business contacts
German-Bolivian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Calle 15 de Calacoto 7791, Torre Ketal Of. 311, Casilla 2722, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 279 51 51.
Internet: www.ahkbol.com
Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland
c / o DPS Communications, Gessnerallee 28, CH-8001 Zurich
Tel: (79) 699 54 47
Internet: www.latcam.ch
Cámara Nacional de Industrias (National Chamber of Industry)
Edif. Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz 1392, Casilla 7, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 237 44 77.
Internet: www.bolivia-industry.com
Cámara Nacional de Comercio de La Paz (National Chamber of Commerce of La Paz)
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz 1392, Edificio Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Pisos 1 y 2, BO-La Paz
Tel: (02) 237 86 06.
Internet: www.boliviacomercio.org.bo
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing.
Cellphone
GSM 1900, main network operators include VIVA (Internet: www.nuevatel.com) and Entel Móvil SA (Internet: www.entelmovil.com.bo).
Internet
The main provider is Megalink (Internet: www.megalink.com). There are internet cafes in the larger cities.
Post Office
Mail to Europe is currently very unreliable and slow. Airmail shipments to Europe have been suspended since the LAB airline crisis. Poste restante shipments are possible.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Popular souvenirs are wood carvings, jewelry, llama and alpaca blankets, Indian handicrafts, and gold and silver jewelry.
Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 9.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.-7.30 p.m., Sat 10.00 a.m.-3.00 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
There are numerous nightclubs in La Paz, which usually open around midnight, and countless whiskerias, as the local bars are called. Folk music and dance performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays from around 8 p.m. There are discos in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There are several luxury and top hotels. Service and taxes (approx. 25-27% in total) are added to the bill. Unless otherwise stated, prices are only for overnight stays. There are inexpensive good hotels everywhere. Information from the Bolivian Chamber of Hotel Management, Calle Panamá, esquina Plaza Uyuni, edificio Shoppig Miraflores, 3 °, oficina 303, BO-La Paz. (Tel: (02) 222 26 18, (02) 222 62 90)
Camping
Campsites are rare. However, there is usually a place to camp for a fee. Mallasa, Valencia and Palca in the river valley below La Florida and Chinguihue (10 km from the city) are particularly recommended.
CULTURE
Religion
Catholicism (95%) is the state religion; Protestants (around 50,000), Baha’i.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: The usual forms of courtesy apply. Traditions should be respected. The Bolivian rural population calls themselves campesinos, not Indians.
Clothing: Western clothing and eating habits are also slowly being adopted by the campesinos. For social events, more elegant clothing is appropriate, otherwise casual casual clothing is accepted.
Non-smoking areas are marked. Tipping: 5-10% is usual in hotels and restaurants, although 25% is charged for service. Porters also expect tips.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Temperate climate with big differences between day and night. Most of the precipitation falls between November and March. The northeast slopes of the Andes are subtropical. La Paz is often perceived as uncomfortable because the air is very thin due to the altitude. In the mountains it gets really cool at night.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +591 Area (sqkm) 1098581 Population 10800882 Population density (per sqkm) 10 Population in 2014 Member of the EU No main emergency number 911
