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Do you Need Travel Insurance in Bolivia?


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DEUTSCH It's sad, but true. Travel insurance is just about the last thing any of us think we'll ever need. But during recent years, Bolivia has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, and some of them have just become too serious to ignore. Am I trying to scare you? No, in fact our website strives to highlight the beautiful and positive aspects of Bolivia.

But there are things you need to be aware of for your own safety when you travel this country:

The bad - deplorable - and downright unforgivable

1. Bolivian roads are awful and not well-maintained and Bolivian drivers are often worse than the roads themselves. Many don't have licenses, drive drunk, or drive too fast. Nearly 200 people have died in bus accidents JUST IN 2010 on many different roads of Bolivia, and tourists have at times been involved. This story broke my heart and it's the story that compelled me to begin researching travel insurance for you a year ago.

2. Bolivia thrives on offering adventure tourism. Tours like the Death Road bicycle tour have resulted in several tourist deaths. Tourists often underestimate just how remote and distant some tourist attractions in Bolivia are, and don't realize just how poorly equipped Bolivian hospitals and health centers are. Tour operators often do not offer safety features or emergency contingency plans. Please read this article I recently wrote about demanding your tour operator provide safety guarantees.

3. Crime is on the rise. Bolivia has always had a problem with pickpockets and the theft of cameras, backpacks and other items. But during the past 3 years drug trafficking and drug-related crimes have skyrocketed. In addition, crimes directed at foreigners, such as express kidnappings are becoming more frequent in some areas, such as La Paz.

4. Civil unrest is on the rise. The country has been very politically unstable during the past five years and has seen a serious spike in the number of protests, road blocks, and strikes. For travelers, this means your trip itinerary may change slightly, or your entire trip could be ruined. In July/August 2010 over 100 tourists were stranded for 18 days in the Potosí/Uyuni area behind road blocks and protests.

5. Other things can occur that may affect your trip, force you to change your plans, or even cause you to lose your money. You could get sick, the airlines could lose your luggage, your trip could get canceled due to weather, protests, etc.

In researching travel insurance options, World Nomads stood out for its flexibility. You can read about it below. However! I only recommend products on this site that I truly believe might add value to your trip. Please don't purchase this specific travel insurance if you don't think it's EXACTLY what you need. You'll find more international insurance options on my other website GoSouthExpat.com

Frequently Asked Questions about World Nomads

  1. Do I need Travel Insurance?
    Believe us, when you travel, things can - and do - go wrong when you least expect it. Adequate travel insurance helps to protect you (and your bank balance). If you're still not sure, read this.
  2. Who can buy it?
    World Nomads Travel Insurance is available to residents of over 150 countries.
  3. What if I change my mind?
    Had a change of travel plans? Unlike other policies, World Nomads is flexible and allows you to extend your policy while you are still travelling.
  4. What activities are covered?
    World Nomads cover most adventure sports from bungee jumping in New Zealand to white-water rafting in Colorado.
  5. How do I buy it?
    You can only buy World Nomads policies online using a credit card. To start, please choose your country of residence.
  6. How do I make a claim?
    With World Nomads Travel Insurance you can claim online even if you are still travelling. And if you don't entirely trust insurance companies, have a look at how World Nomads have helped some of their travellers.


Travel Insurance from Worldnomads.com

Travel Insurance: simple and flexible.

What you need to know

Country of residence
Policy start date
Length of cover

Type of cover

Our Underwriters

World Nomads works with some of the best insurers in the world.

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Our Partners

World Nomads is the number one choice for the many of the world's leading travel companies.

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Is it safe where you're going?

The latest professional travel advice on hundreds of destinations.

Join World Nomads Travel Safety Hub

Stay out of trouble with our free language guides for your iPod.

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Share your adventure

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  • Write travel tales and tag your content
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Create your free travel blog

Leave a positive footprint

When you buy a World Nomads policy you have the chance to donate a small amount to a sustainable travel project, the progress of which you can follow the raising of funds to completion.


100% of funds raised through Footprints go directly to the projects. See our latest projects




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