Bolivia Travel Warning
Issued by US Department of State
Jun 07, 2005
This Travel Warning is being issued to warn American citizens of continued political unrest in Bolivia. The Department of State has authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. Embassy personnel and all eligible family members of U.S. Embassy personnel and urges all U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Bolivia. This Travel Warning supercedes the Public Announcement issued June 1, 2005.
Since May 16, various groups within Bolivia have conducted protests, demonstrations and blockades to protest the Bolivian government's hydrocarbons (gas) policy and demand a variety of political reforms as well as the resignation of the President and the dismissal of Congress. The focus of the protests is the capital city of La Paz and the surrounding Altiplano. The La Paz airport remains open, but some flights have been cancelled and others diverted. Travel from the airport to La Paz is subject to sporadic blockades. Roads running north and south from La Paz, to Lake Titicaca and Oruro, are blockaded and closed to travel.
The Department of State has authorized the departure from Boliva of non-emergency employees and eligible American family members of embassy personnel. American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Bolivia. U.S. citizens currently in Bolivia should remain vigilant, monitor local media, review their security posture on a regular basis, and consider departing. Travelers in vehicles should not attempt to pass through or around roadblocks, even if they appear unattended. U.S. citizens who encounter a demonstration should try to depart the area as quickly as possible.
U.S. citizens in Bolivia are urged to register and update their contact information at U.S. Embassy La Paz or through the Department of State's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov. In case of an emergency, please contact the Embassy at
011 (591-2) 216-8297 during business hours or 216-8000 after-hours; email consularlapaz@state.gov.
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located at 2780 Avenida Arce in La Paz. The Consular Agency in Santa Cruz is located at 146 Avenida Roque Aguilera (Tercer Anillo); telephone (591-3) 351-3477, 3479, or 3480. The Consular Agency in Cochabamba is located at Avenida Oquendo 654, Torres Sofer, Room 601; telephone (591-4) 411-6313. Current information on travel and security in Bolivia may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens should consult the Consular Information Sheet for Bolivia and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, available on the Department's Internet site at http://travel.state.gov.
