Wish You Were Here

BOLIVA>> Over the New Year holiday, Olga DeTorres of San Jose and Keith Moe of Cupertino, visited Bolivia's capital, La Paz, and its original capital, the historic city of Sucre, where the pair visited a market that sold coca leaves.

Both La Paz and Sucre are high-elevation cities — La Paz sits at 11,942 feet above sea level, Sucre is 9,154 feet, so “be prepared for possible issues with the altitude,” Keith says. “(Our) tour of the city of La Paz included riding on several of their skyway lines — they have 10. We also took a tour to Lake Titicaca and visited an indigenous village outside Sucre.”

TRAVEL TIPS>> “Make copies of your round-trip flight itinerary, hotel reservations, and passport. Have them ready to give to the immigration officer when you arrive at the La Paz Airport. Visas will not be issued without these documents.

A Bolivian visitor visa costs $160 US and can be paid in U.S. or local currency upon arrival.

“Avoid much of the hassle at the airport by applying for a Bolivian SIGEMIG. It is a mandatory online registration form for all international travelers arriving in Bolivia. Complete the online registration before arriving at the La Paz airport and submit it at the immigration counter along with your passport. Very few places speak English. Having a person in your party that speaks Spanish is helpful.”

Join the fun! Send a photo of yourself on your latest adventures — local, domestic or international — to jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com. Tell us where you are, who everyone is and where they're from, and share a travel tip or two to help fellow readers go there, too.

COURTESY KEITH MOE San Jose resident Olga DeTorres and Cupertino's Keith Moe vacationed recently in Bolivia, touring La Paz and Sucre, where they visited a market, above. Since the altitude is high, they suggest being prepared for that feeling.