We are hoping to go into Bolivia in July also. We will be leaving the Santiago area around the 5th or 6th of June and heading North, so this is of a lot of interest to us.

Thanks for sharing. How do you think they would view tourists in a foreign registered truck/camper? I don't think i could switch it off and push it anywhere :-)

Anyone else got any more info?

Merv.

As of today, the Villazon border crossing is now unblocked (it was blocked for a total of 6 days). I have no idea whether this is because they've agreed to be friends and all the blockades are gone or not and have no intention of finding out ;-)

On temps. There's a 20C temp swing each day, and night is I think around freezing, no snow anywhere, but maybe different in July.

I sat down and did my sums over the weekend and figured by the time I ride the bike to BA and ship it to London and sell it, I end up with US$600 in my pocket. It's highly unlikely given this the fine will be worth it, the aduana man hinted it will be of order 20-30% of the value of the bike, which I'm sure they will not value at US$600. But given all this I go into negotiate with aduana not caring too much either way, which is always a good position to be in. I'm lucky this happened 6 days before the end of my 4 month trip.....

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I'm sorry for the bike problem, anyway at least you could attempt to find out which would be the fine , since in my opinion they could be "convinced" by some dollars

It could be a matter of one hour discussing and excusing and explaining, etc but finally I cannot imagine that they will really seize your bike ... it should be also a problem for them, where to store it, what to do with it etc, so it could be simply a way to convince you to give them some money

You just made your sums, so try to find out the maximum you could give them and then on Monday, after some discussion (not immediately, otherwise they will think you could raise further money you will say "Men, I can pay XYZ dollars for the fine, this is my maximum, otherwise enjoy my bike, I'll leave without it!"

thanks for weather information and good luck with your adventure

kind regards,

Nelik

We are currently travelling in Bolivia (in La Paz at the moment) and can confirm the country is in blockade season. We have got through recent truck driver blockades in Sucre and Potosi (they didn't mind pedestrians and bikes gooing around the trucks, but no cars/trucks/buses), then a villagers blockade near Cochabamba (only pedestrians allowed through but they agreed to let us pass on our bike for some reason).

My understanding is that the current blockaders are public sector employees (ie teachers etc) not miners, although the miners may have joined in as well for all I know. Most of the main roads are blockaded during weekdays, but not usually on weekends as this would interfere with their social life too much. So we rode from Cochabamba to La Paz on last Sunday without any blockades. Plenty of protests in La Paz last couple of days with the usual noisy fireworks and occasional stick of dynamite, main road into La Paz has been closed and police everywhere. But all the locals, shops and markets are still going about business as if this is normal - I guess it is.

We also sometimes had problems getting gasoline until we got a 5L container. The problem is they don't always have the foreigner receipt book for gasoline and even if they do, they don't like filling it out. Most of the stations on the main roads now have government cameras to check they are complying with the government rules. Now we just park a short distance away from the service station and walk in to fill the container. Provided they have gasoline, it always been quick and easy and although I don't mind paying the foreigner price (9 B/L), I am almost always charged the local price (3.7 B/L). Trouble is when we need 10 or 15 L they don't always like filling the container a second time. An extra 1 B/L can help or sometimes the next service station is easier, but this all takes time out of your day.

Despite the problems we love Bolivia, if it was easy where would be the adventure? If it was the same as home, why would you leave home?

s445203 - We also like Argentine, but don't think all your problems are now over, just wait until the first few times you have to line up for 30 min or more to get money from the ATM or all the ATMs are empty or line up for 1 hour or more to get gasoline or there is no gasoline and then you line up for 30 min or more in the supermarket checkout and then they have no change. Bolivia may then not look so bad.... Sorry to hear about your bike, that is a bummer.

John & Alanna Skillington

Well, I got to Arg with a pocketfull of dollars, so no ATMs for me, and 30% off everything when you do FX at 8+ pesos to the dollar That steak is not only almightily delicious, but almightily cheap too

Watch for speed traps on the La Paz to Puno section if you go that way - it cost me 100 Bolivianos, unofficially of course. The limit is 80km/h between towns.

For all who are curious, my bike is free after getting the fine down from US$2000 to US$200. However, the victory is somewhat pyrrhic - and I wish I had just left it with them to write all their endless reams of paperwork. It cost me 4 days delay, two of which were spent inside the La Quiaca customs office waiting around (it was a sight to behold, but not fun), and I've just realised I may have a paperwork problem with the stamps and shipping back to London, which means I might have to detour via Uruguay and get a new entry stamp costing me another half a days work. All this for a bike that's worth $600 after I pay the shipping.....

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Why are you complaining so bitterly about Bolivia again? Sounds to me like you had a fine time there, but ran into serious (and expensive) difficulties in Argentina. Also sounds to me like there's more to come.

I liked both, and had no noteworthy difficulties in either. If I judged countries on the basis of highway blockades and extortion attempts I'd have long ago written off Panama and Mexico along with much of South America, all of Africa, and (in the old days) Cook County, Illinois.

Here's hoping it all works out for the best.

Mark

Ah no - must be emotions not transmitted properly over the Interweb thing. Not complaining at all - just wanted to make sure the Ozzies knew about the speed traps.

I'm more annoyed with myself for not spotting the Aduana's game (the fine was the time, not the money), but either way, an adventure was most definitely had and lots of stories to tell so I'm a happy camper despite my Bolivia experience. And can completely see how others can love it - different countries for different peeps.

Love and peace to you all.

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