Getting There By Road
Some would suggest that driving in Bolivia is only for the truly brave. Others would say that it is plain stupid. In a country where paved roads as a share of total roads account for only 7%, driving is generally a skill best reserved for Bolivia’s army of mirco (minibus) drivers, who are well versed in negotiating the lethal combination of steep mountain roads and poor road surfaces. Worse still, 80% of roads are affected by flooding during the rainy season (December to March). If you do drive, keep to the right and make sure you have good insurance. Seat belts are required to be worn by law in the front seat of vehicles only (in reality, however, this law is not heavily enforced). The maximum limit of alcohol for drivers is 330ml of alcoholic drink before getting into their vehicle (this is enforced under Bolivian driving law). Heading to La Paz, the Titicaca road leading south from Lake Titicaca is paved and enters the city through the suburbs of El Alto, as does the Tiahuanaco route heading east from the Inca ruins at Tiahuanaco. For commercial traffic, however, it is the Ruta Nacional no.1 heading north from Oruro that makes for the main thoroughfare. All are well served by a slew of bus companies with domestic and international connections coordinated from the expansive Terminal de Buses in Plaza Antofagasta. For more details about road conditions, contact the Automovil Club Boliviano (tel: (02) 237 2139; website: www.acbbolivia.com).
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