Bolivia : The Streets

Bolivian streets, even in poor areas are generally safe but precuation is always important. 

1. Never wear ostentatious valuables. Nothing says rob me like a big fancy camera dangling around your neck or a sweet ipod on your belt. Ipods are dangerous because they attract theives and because they prevent you from fully hearing your surroundings. 

2. Drug Users.  Sadly many people in Bolivia sniff glue and other toxins to get high, which causes severe social problems and ultimately brain damage. Sometimes perjuratively called ¨cleferos¨ (from the word clefa for glue) or polillas (mothes) these individuals may not be in a clear state of mind and should be treated with caution as many such individuals have molested, raped, mugged, and attacked locals and foreigners alike.  Many are homeless children and victims of circustances but one should be very cautious interacting with them and especially avoid them when in large groups.

3. Do not walk around with your passport, credit cards, driver´s lisence or lots of money unless absolutely necessary. It´s almost always safer to leave such things well hidden in a locked hotel room. Some people like to carry a decoy wallet with little cash and some useless card to quickly surrender if
mugged.

4.  Pedestrians get hit and killed by speeding vehicles every month. Never assume that just because a light is red or there´s a stop sign that traffic plans to stop or even slow down. Use extreme caution when crossing streets or bicycling as traffic laws are not respected and drivers often don´t leave themselves enough time to stop if a person were to step out in front of them.

5. Avoid riots and protests because despite how much you may sympathize or be interested in what´s going on, large (often armed) groups of enraged people don´t always react in rational and friendly ways to foreigners. In Bolivia people die every year from rocks, tear gas, bullets, sticks, and innocent bystanders often find themselves in the hospital because they were curious.

6. While many guidebooks list black market areas as interesting, we do not recommend visiting black markets.

7. Areas that are safe during the day may not be safe at night. 

8. Sadly, women are targeted by muggers and theives more often than men. Single women travelers should be especially careful.

9. Don´t do drugs despite how easy to acquire they may be. The Bolivian justice system loves nothing more than making examples of unscrupulous foreigners.  Bolivian jail is a very dangerous and horrible place that your embassy cannot get you out of.