| Bolivia is one of those countries that frustrates you into | | | | center (but only has been for about 12 years) and |
| loving it. Given enough time, its quirkiness is what | | | | Santa Cruz (population 1.6 million) just recently became |
| makes you keep coming back for more. As the | | | | the largest city in the country. Its growth is fueled by |
| second poorest country in Latin America, an | | | | mass immigration from the West and massive oil and |
| adventurous spirit is a must, even if you enjoy a very | | | | gas fields that are Bolivia's main source of income for |
| high standard of living. Certain necessities like road | | | | the moment. This one state alone contributes nearly |
| infrastructure, public transport and traffic safety are | | | | 40% of the GNP. The problem lies in that its economy |
| not the best and the supply of gasoline and natural gas | | | | is supporting most of the rest of the nation and with |
| (used by almost everyone for cooking) can be | | | | what remains it can't maintain or build new |
| unreliable at times. Lately politics have been rather | | | | infrastructure fast enough to keep up with its own |
| volatile. | | | | growth. |
| Bolivia is like two countries in one, both physically and | | | | Younger foreigners and their children tend to thrive |
| culturally. The differences are so noticeable it's just not | | | | here. There are large American, British, German, Dutch, |
| possible to describe the country as a whole. | | | | and Japanese expat communities here as well as |
| West-Central Andean Bolivia (with its primarily Spanish, | | | | thousands of Mennonite families. Santa Cruz has more |
| Quechua and Aymara population) was the country's | | | | private schools and universities per capita than any |
| center of wealth for over 400 years but has taken a | | | | other city (most built during the past 12 years). There |
| slight downturn. Still, it is culturally and historically rich. | | | | are several all-English schools here. Many expats mix |
| Many foreigners enjoy the comfortable moderate | | | | quite well with the local culture. Because it is warm 9-10 |
| climate of Cochabamba (population 600,000), which is | | | | months of the year, most of the population spends a |
| most often compared to Cuenca, Ecuador in terms of | | | | lot of time outdoors and the city is filled with sidewalk |
| altitude, climate, architecture, and culture. Expats here | | | | cafés, open-air restaurants and great night |
| tend to mix quite well with the locals and 'adopt' an | | | | clubs. There are numerous open markets and |
| upper to middle class Bolivian lifestyle. Many stay and | | | | supermarkets, shopping malls, country clubs and import |
| marry Bolivians, making 'Cocha' their second home. | | | | stores. Most families find it fairly easy to live and work |
| You'll find that in La Paz too, but La Paz is more | | | | here (although rental costs are just slightly lower than |
| 'international' with large and very active (and much | | | | in the U.S.) and the locals from Beni to Santa Cruz to |
| more temporary or mobile) expat communities that, | | | | Tarija tend to be very hospitable. The international |
| with the exception of aid workers and missionaries, | | | | communities are mostly linked to business and |
| often don't make great attempts to mix with the locals. | | | | agencies for cooperation. |
| You must take the extreme altitude of La Paz, the | | | | Culturally Eastern Bolivia is different from the Andean |
| world's highest capital city, into account. At nearly | | | | West in that the Aymara and Quechua population is |
| 14,000 feet a.s.l. (twice as high as Denver), it's not for | | | | immigrant and not native to the region. There are over |
| those who have weak hearts or respiratory problems. | | | | 20 different indigenous groups here, each with its own |
| Most countries send their diplomatic personnel to La | | | | language and most are Amazonic. The Guaraní |
| Paz (the seat of government) and there are many | | | | are the largest of these (see the movie The Mission - |
| missionaries, international NGOs and volunteer | | | | Jeremy Irons, Robert DeNiro). There are great little |
| organizations because of the high degree of poverty | | | | towns like Samaipata (2 hours from the city of Santa |
| among the indigenous class. | | | | Cruz), and smaller cities like Tarija (Bolivia's wine |
| In these two major cities expats live very well, often | | | | country and flower capital) that attract lots of |
| with a higher living standard than they would in their | | | | long-stay foreigners and large groups of expat |
| countries of origin. There are several very large | | | | retirees. There is a lot of tropical wilderness to explore |
| residential neighborhoods that cater to foreigners and | | | | here and most tourism is eco or adventure tourism. |
| the Bolivian upper class with modern schools, churches, | | | | You can easily take weekend trips or day trips to the |
| shopping malls, supermarkets, country clubs, | | | | dozens of surrounding communities, each with its own |
| restaurants and very lively night life. There are many | | | | culture and attractions. |
| affordable and good quality private Bolivian schools | | | | Aspects you have to take into special consideration |
| (for those who want their children to learn Spanish) as | | | | and research thoroughly before you move here |
| well as American, British and German international | | | | include the altitude in the West, fairly high rental costs if |
| schools (expensive at $150 to $500 per month and an | | | | you want the standard you are accustomed to, and |
| initial one-time membership fee of several thousand | | | | expensive international schools. You also have to |
| dollars, but they conform to US and European school | | | | consider your health as medical care is severely |
| years and standards). | | | | lacking throughout the entire country. Even with great |
| In both cities, and most smaller cities, such as Sucre | | | | long-term international medical insurance some meds |
| (Bolivia's capital), you can't escape the colonial | | | | and technology are just not available. If you plan to live |
| architecture and dozens of ornate cathedrals, | | | | and work here, you cannot arrive on a tourist visa and |
| cobblestone streets, and colorful open markets. There | | | | later request residency. It's fairly easy to set up a |
| is very little zoning and you'll easily find large mansions | | | | business here, but very difficult to find a job if you |
| mixed in with smaller homes, or surrounded by | | | | move here without a contract. There is no one place in |
| family-run stores and restaurants, street vendors, and | | | | Bolivia where you won't soon see severe poverty. |
| noisy night clubs. | | | | Currently the political situation has taken a downturn |
| Eastern Bolivia (the lowlands) is for those who enjoy | | | | and there is no tolerance for foreigners who get |
| hot (often humid) weather, lots of open space, and a | | | | politically involved, Americans in particular. The food is |
| laid back lifestyle. This region went from being | | | | great and you could learn a new recipe each week |
| completely ignored and having almost no infrastructure | | | | for the rest of your life. If you can't tolerate disorderly |
| for over 400 years to being the nation's economic | | | | traffic you'll be doing a lot of walking. |