1. Handbook for an international
tourism office manager in Bolivia

3. Handbook for an international tourism office manager
Projectgroup: A1
Projectmembers: Jasmijn van den Thillart
Ferdi van Bakel
Charlotte ten Have
Linda de Graaff
Caroline Bakker
Design: Caroline Bakker
Nothing from this expenditure can duplicated by means of photocopy, microfilm or on whatever other wise,
without preceding written authorisation of the editor.

4. Table of contents
Introduction 5
Climate 6
Economy 8
Events & festivals 9
Ecotourism 11
Geography 12
Gastronomy 13
History 14
Infrastructure 18
Population 19
Politics 21
Culture by Nitza 22
Culture by Hofstede 26
Adaptation plan 28
Cultural competence 31

5. Introduction
During this project the project group of Pachamama tours was requested to create an international tour in
Bolivia focused on Dutch travellers and higher educated Bolivians. To be able to create such a tour first
knowledge about the general information about the country should be gained. That is why in this handbook
an overview of for example the economy, the climate, the history and the culture will be provided. But be-
sides this general information more knowledge can be gained from reading this project.
Other subjects that will be described in this handbook will be:
♦Adaption plan
♦Differences between the corporate culture of the host country and the Netherlands
♦Mainstream corporate culture of the host country

6. Bolivian culture by Nitza Hidalgo
Adaptation plan
When working and living in another culture you won’t be
able to adapt from one to another day, or month. To
adapt to an unknown culture you need time, and pa-
tience. With only desk research you won’t be able to
adapt in Bolivia. Therefore we advise you an in country
training.
In country training
An in-country training is a good way to learn about the
Bolivian culture. This training consists of a language train-
ing (Spanish); cross-cultural training; health and safety
training; and the role of a manager. By living with a Boliv-
ian family and sharing meals, language, and other activi-
ties with them, you will begin to adapt to the realities of
life in Bolivia while you prepare to become an effective
manager.
By the end of training, you must demonstrate that you
have completed the learning competencies within all of
the training components (language, cross cultural, health
and safety, role of a manager). Most trainees are able to
achieve these competences, provided they give 100 per-
cent of themselves during the training activities and make
use of their time with their host family and within their
host community to practice language and experience Bo-
livian culture.
Completion of the learning competences is measured
through a transparent staff evaluation process with each
trainee. This process includes open feedback between
each trainee and staff on learning progress. During the
training each trainee's demonstrated motivation, produc-
tive competence, emotional maturity, social sensitivity,
ability to adjust to Bolivian culture, and general cultural
awareness will be evaluated.
Language Training
As a manager in pre you will find that language skills are
the key to personal and professional satisfaction. These
skills are critical to your job performance, they help you
integrate into your community, and they can ease your
personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore,

7. Cultural competence
to complete training. Experienced Bolivian language in-
structors teach formal language classes five days a week
in small groups of up to four or five people.
Your language training will incorporate a multifaceted
approach. In addition to classroom time, there will be field
trips, a community development activity, and other as-
signments outside the classroom. One of the most impor-
tant language-learning tools at your disposal is your host
family. Time spent interacting with them will help you
improve your ability to communicate within the context of
Bolivian culture.
Unless you are already at an advanced level prior to arriv-
ing in Bolivia, your language training will focus on Spanish.
While other languages are spoken in Bolivia, almost all
communities have some residents who can communicate
in Spanish. The goal of language training is to get you to a
point of basic social communication skills so that you can
practice and develop language skills further once you are
at your site.
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your training, you will live with a Bolivian host
family in a small rural community . This experience is de-
signed to ease your transition to life at your site. Many
people form strong and lasting friendships with their host
families.
Cross-cultural and community development training will
help you improve your communication skills and under-
stand your role as a manager. You will be exposed to top-
ics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution,
gender and development, non formal and adult education
strategies, and political structures. You will have a chance
to practice these skills with other trainees in your host
community through a unique community development
activity.
Health and Safety Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical
training and information. You will be expected to practice
preventive healthcare and to take responsibility for your
own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees

8. trainees are required to attend all medical sessions. The
topics include preventive health measures and minor and
major medical issues that you might encounter while in
Bolivia. Nutrition, mental health, safety and security, set-
ting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/
AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are
also covered.
During safety training sessions, you will learn how to
adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work,
and during your travels. You will also learn appropriate,
effective strategies for coping with unwanted attention
and about your individual responsibility for promoting
safety throughout your stay.
Adaptation plan

9. Cultural competence
Cultural competence
If you have to manage abroad, it is important to interact
effectively with different people with different cultures.
Therefore, it’s important to know and learn about cultural
competence.
Developing cultural competence will result in a ability to
understand, communicate with, and effectively interact
with people in Bolivia. Bolivia has 36 distinct cultural
groups and nearly 40 different languages. Cultural groups
in Bolivia are defined only in part as being European, in-
digenous or mixed descent. The main purpose of the
training program was to adapt and test materials. The
curriculum addressed the issues of trust and communica-
tion in the context of ethnic differences, currently a hot
issue in Bolivia. Many planning programs have been at-
tempting to address the manager interaction as a key
component of quality of care.
Cultural competence training
This kind of training programs for cultural competence are
effectively for the International manager. The results can
be discussed with the other participants. In the training
program they educated the participants in how ethnicity,
the social hierarchy, culture can create mistrust, impede
communication and lead to low use of reproductive
health services.
Cultural competence can be divided into three areas:
Internal cultural competence: allows the manager
to recognize and manage prejudices so as to act
independently of them
Communicative cultural competence: has its goal
that the one you are communicate with has to
be respected and vice versa. An manager with
communicative cultural competence will help
his or her client to speak openly about conflicts
Knowledge-bases cultural competence: requires
specific information about the beliefs and prac-
tices of the cultural group with which the man-
ager is working.

10. Cultural competence
managers to examine their prejudices honestly by asking
questions about their experiences with member of cul-
tural groups different from their own.
The conclusion out of this training is that the manager can
manage his or her thoughts so that his or her words and
actions can will be appropriate. The manager know how
to communicate across cultures.
If the managers who are interact in Bolivia are trained
good enough they know exactly how to work with their
leadership factors and how to interact on adaptability
factors in Bolivia.
Adaptability factors
Cultural diversity/Multiple roots:
“Cultural diversity” refers to the manifold ways in which
the cultures of groups and societies find expression. These
expressions are passed on within and among societies.
In Bolivia there are a lot of groups with a different culture.
Every culture group find expression in another way. In
Bolivia the Cultural diversity is made manifest not only
through the varied ways in which cultural heritage of hu-
manity is expressed but also through diverse modes of
artistic creation, production, enjoyment etc. To manage in
Bolivia the manager must be strict and have to look good
how to react on different cultures, because all the culture
groups are different from each other. They find expression
in their own way they have other rules and methods in
their culture.
Early international experience:
It is important that you have international experience at a
younger age. That you get a lot of information about
countries with different cultures at school, so that you
have an experience if you are older and you have to man-
age international. For students in Bolivia this is the same.
Bilingualism:
In Bolivia it is important that you learn Spanish if you grew
up in parts in where they don’t speak Spanish, but other
family languages. A lot of young people in Bolivia went to
the bigger cities to learn Spanish instead of their own fam-
ily language. The people are forced to learn it as part of .

11. Cultural competence
the government’s effort to civilize its indigenous popula-
tion. Bilingual education gives them a chance to better
educate children as well as preserve indigenous cultures.
Leadership factors
The more self confidence you are, the more likely it is
you’ll succeed. By using 10 strategies you can get the
mental edge you need to reach your potential:
Dress sharp, Walk faster, Good posture, Personal com-
mercial, Gratitude, Compliment other people, Sit in the
front row, Speak up, Work out and Focus on contribution.
An international manager needs to be confident. By this
the international manager could succeed in Bolivia.
Curiosity:
Curiosity is about having interest in the world. Being curi-
ous allows a person to be open to experience and not to
sit back and see the world in black and white. For an inter-
national manager it is important to be open to experience,
because than you accept not things that were told to you
so easily. You have to be emphatic.
Communication skills:
Good communication skills are important for an interna-
tional manager. Good communication with people is very
effectively. Speak more languages is better if you have to
communicate abroad. In Bolivia you have to communicate
Spanish and maybe in the big cities English. Not only the
languages that you speak are important, but how you
communicate and with who is important too. It is not pos-
sible to communicate the same with all the people you
encounter, because not everyone is the same.
Core values:
Every manager have core values if he have to operate
outside his own country. The core values are given by the
organization and hold which form the foundation on
which we perform and conduct ourselves. As an interna-
tional manager in Bolivia the core values that the organi-
zation have given must be followed to work correct.

12. Bolivian culture by Nitza Hidalgo
Culture by Nitza Hidalgo
The model of Nitza Hidalgo is based on the theory the
every culture is made up out of three layers; the concrete,
the behavioral and the symbolic. Below we will describe
these different layers of culture based on the culture of
Bolivia.
The Concrete
The concrete layer of culture is the most tangible part of
the three layers. They define the outer layer of culture,
part of this layer are for example music and festivals. In
this part we will give an overview of the most important
festivals and traditions of Bolivia.
Festivals
Oruro Festival
The Oruro Festival is the biggest annual even in Bolivia. Its
ceremonies come from Bolivias rich Andean history and
are mainly based on “Pachamama”, mother earth.The
highlight of the Carnival is conducted over three days and
nights, with fifty groups
parading through the city
over a route of four kilo-
metres. The groups repre-
sent various indigenous
dance forms, and are ac-
companied by several
bands. Over 28000 danc-
ers and 10000 musicians participate in the procession that
lasts 20 hours.The festival is located in Bolivias folclore
capital Oruro.
Festival del Gran Poder
The festival del Gran Poder is La Paz’ bigger street festival.
The festival is based on the religious history of Bolvia and
was formerly named ‘The Festividad del Senor del Gran
Poder’. The name comes from a cult that developed
around a painting of the Trinity of the early 17th century.
The second person in the painting represents Christ de-
picted with native features. Nowadays the festival has a
much more folkloric feel to it with more than 50 bands

13. Bolivia culture by Nitza Hidalgo
Gastronomy
Bolivia has several traditional and interesting dishes and
drinks. As it happens with most other South American
countries, in Bolivia lunch is as important as dinner.
Two of the main ingredients in the cuisine of Bolivia are
meat and potatoes. The gastronomy of this country uses
these ingredients in many of its dishes and they are an
important component of the everyday life of Bolivians
Majao
Majao is one of Bolivians tra-
ditional dishes. The meal is
mostly served during lunch.
Majao is mostly based on
eggs, rise, tomatoes and beef.
Saltenas
A salteña is a type of empanada of Bolivian origin sold
throughout Bolivia. Salteñas are savory pastries filled with
beef, pork or chicken mixed in a sweet, slightly spicy or
very spicy sauce, and sometimes also containing peas,
potatoes and other ingredients. Typically salteñas can be
found in any town or city
throughout the country,
but each area has its
variations; Cochabamba
and Sucre claim to have
the best version of this
snack, and many will go
out of their way to try
the variation from Potosí.
Behavioral
This level of culture clarifies how we define our social
roles, the language we speak, and our approaches to non-
verbal communication. The Behavioral level reflects the
values of each culture.
Family
As in most Latin American countries family plays an impor-
tant, if not the most important, role in daily life.
It is really common that kids continue to life with their
parents even after marrying. Social roles in the family are

14. Bolivian culture by Nitza Hidalgo
assume that the father
plays the leader role in
the family they are
wrong. The mother plays
the role of head of the
household and has the
leadership.
The strong relationships in families are not only based on
culture but also on social security caused by poverty. Be-
cause of the poverty in Bolivia it is still assumed that the
parents take care of the kids and when they are not able
to do that anymore the roles change. This is also why
families still on an average have more kids than in western
civilizations because it provides an extra source of secu-
rity.
Politics
Bolivia politics faced inconsistencies since the Pacific war
from 1879 to 83, and then passed through the Chaco War
of 1932-35 and political instability, to regain democracy in
1982.Bolivia politics in this section tries to explain the pre-
sent political structure through the politicians and parties.
Bolivia is formed by the coalition of a number of parties.
The prominent political parties form the basis of the Poli-
tics in Bolivia. The group of the important political parties
in Bolivia can be seen as:
-Free Bolivia Movement
-Progress Plan
-National Unity Front
-Indigenous Pachakuti Movement

15. Bolivian culture by Nitza Hidalgo
The symbolic
This level of culture includes our values and beliefs. It can
be abstract, but it is most often the key to how individuals
define themselves.
Religion
Bolivia’s dominant relgion is the Roman Catholic church.
The national institute of statistics showed that the reli-
gious affiliation in the country with the following results.
Catholic 100%
Protestant 19,46%
No religion 2,44%
Other 0,11%
Although almost all Bolivi-
ans are officially Catholic
a much smaller portion of
this group actively partici-
pates in this religion by
for example going to
church.
Woman used to have the dominant role in Religion in Bo-
livia but this phenomenon has changed over the years.
Because in the past men felt no obligation to attend
church or to practice their religion. In the decades follow-
ing the Second Vatican Council the church tried to make
religion a more active force in social life with the result
that also men started to actively participate in their relig-
ion.

16. Bolivian culture by Geert Hofstede
Bolivian Culture by
Geert Hofstede
To better understand the Bo-
livian culture, there are five
dimensions which helps you
understand the culture.
Big Power distance – Low Power distance
In Bolivia is a big power distance, there is an hierarchy.
The less powerful members of organizations and institu-
tions accept and expect that power is distributed un-
equally. Subordinates acknowledge the power of others
simply based on where they are situated in certain formal,
hierarchical positions. Not everyone’s opinion is necessary
to now.
Individualism - Collectivism
The individualism is low in Bolivia, Bolivia is more an col-
lectivism country. They think it is more important to
achieve with an group, then by your self.
Masculinity – Femininity
Bolivia is an moderately low masculinity country. You can
recognize weak dominance, assertiveness and acquisition
of things. Bolivia has also parts of the femininity culture,
which is more conducive to people, feelings and the qual-
ity of life.
Uncertainty avoidance
The people in Bolivia do not have uncertainty avoidance,
they do not prefer structure over unstructured situations.
They are more emotion and motivated by inner nervous
energy.
Long-term - Short-term orientation
Short-term orientation is more important than long-term
orientation for the Bolivians. Their values oriented to-
wards the past and present, like respect for tradition and
fulfilling social obligations.

17. Bolivia culture by Geert Hofstede
Dutch Culture by Geert Hofstede
To give a better insight in the differences between cul-
tures, the five dimensions above are also worked out for
the dutch culture.
Big Power distance – Low Power distance
In the Netherlands there is not a big power difference,
this an low power distance country. Almost everyone is
equal to each other and every opinion is important.
Individualism - Collectivism
The individualism in the Netherlands is high. Everyone
works for his self and want the best only for his self. It is
not really important how it goes with the rest of the
group, the priority is how it goes with yourself.
Masculinity – Femininity
The Netherlands has a femininity culture they care about
the conducive to people, feelings and the quality of life.
Uncertainty avoidance
The people in the Netherlands prefer structured situations
over unstructured situations. They think it is good to have
rules and it is important to follow the rules.
Long-term - Short-term orientation
In the Netherlands they have short-term orientation, their
values oriented towards the past and present, like respect
for tradition and fulfilling social obligations.

18. Climate of Bolivia
Climate
The climate in Bolivia varies drastically from one climate zone to the
other. The months from November to March are the warmest months
of the year and also form the summer months. The weather is typi-
cally warmer and wetter during these months.
April through October, the winter months, are typically colder and
drier. In the highlands, the weather can be very cold and tempera-
tures frequently go below zero at night, especially on the Altiplano.
Snow is common in Potosi during the winter months and sometimes
also falls on La Paz and Oruro.
In contrast, winter in Sucre, Cochabamba and Tarija on the Cordillera
Real is a time of blue skies and comfortable temperatures. The
weather in the rainforest is usually very hot and is often very wet. The
drier period of the year is May to October. The section of the rainfor-
est that borders the Cordillera Real of the Andes Mountains is a bit
cooler, but still very wet. As altitude declines, the temperature rises.

19. Climate of Bolivia
Department Climate
La Paz Subtropical high altitude climate fluctuating between 5ºC and 20ºC. The rainy season extends from De-
cember to March. During the rest of the year it is generally cold in La Paz and on the high plateau, dry and
without appreciable precipitation. The subtropical “Los Yungas” area is hot.
Santa Cruz The climate ranges, according to the geographic zones, from warm to cold in the west and warm to hot as
one descends toward the tropical plains. The local climate is hot with relative humidity.
Cocha-
bamba
It is cold in the mountains, temperate in the southern mountain valleys and from warm to hot in the eter-
nal snows of the Andes, cold to temperate at the mountain fringe on the northern flank of the Andes;
mild to hot in the northern Yungas (warm valleys), hot in the north and hot in the southeast. In the south-
eastern area, which enjoys the department’s lowest rainfall, it is dry and hot.
Chuquisaca Temperature in the valleys to the north, center and southwest is mild. In the northeast and east, it is hot.
Tarija In the west, it is mild and cold, in the center, temperate, and in the south and east, hot.
Oruro This department has a polar climate: cold and dry in the rough high Andean plateaus and cold in the high
Bolivian plains.
Beni This department has a moist tropical climate.
Pando The entire department is tropical and hot.
Potosi This department has a cold dry climate that is temperate in the valleys. One of the coldest areas is the
Uyuni salt flat, where the temperature regularly drops to 20ºC below zero.

20. Economy of Bolivia
Economy
Bolivia is rich with natural resources such as tin, tungsten,
antimony, sulfur, copper, iron, oil, natural gas, silver and
gold, yet it has the second smallest GDP per capita in
South America. Bolivia has been described as ‘a donkey
burdened with silver’ and ‘a beggar sitting on a gold chair.’
Sucre is the legal capital and judiciary seat of Bolivia. La
Paz is where the government sits and is the largest metro-
politan city with almost eight million people. La Paz is also
the most important business center of Bolivia. Other im-
portant cities include Santa Cruz and Trinidad in the east-
ern rainforest region and Oruro, Cochabamba, Potosi and
Uyuni in the Andes highlands.
Economic Progress
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin
American countries, made considerable progress toward
the development of a market-oriented economy in the
1990s. Successes under President Sanchez de Lozada
(1993-97) included the signing of a free trade agreement
with Mexico and becoming an associate member of the
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as
the privatization of the previously state controlled airline,
telephone company, railroad, electric power company,
and oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to
tight government budget policies, which limited needed
appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout
from the Asian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil distur-
bances held down growth to 2.5%. Bolivia's GDP failed to
grow in 2001 due to
the global slowdown
and lagging domestic
activity.
Growth picked up
slightly in 2002, but
the first quarter of
2003 saw extensive
civil protests and loss
of confidence in the government. Bolivia will remain
highly dependent on foreign aid unless and until it can
develop its substantial natural resources.

21. Events and Festivals in Bolivia
Events and festivals
Bolivian Holidays are a central part of life in Bolivia, home
to some of the most sacred shrines and a large population
of descendants of the Inca. 70% of the population still
lives according to traditional ways, so this is a place that is
alive with festival and ceremony.
All year round festivals of all kinds are taking place in Bo-
livia. Achocalla is an interesting festival that is best en-
joyed at the smaller towns and villages of Sucre and
Cochabamba. This is a celebration of heritage and tradi-
tional music and folklore that is on display during Bolivian
holidays. Carnival in February is not to be missed - Santa
Cruz and Oruro provide the best displays for this occasion.
A colourful tropical parade is what you can expect in Santa
Cruz, while Oruro's version of Carnival is of an unmistaka-
bly Andean flavor and is a vibrant declaration of Bolivian
culture.
Semana Santa is in April, and this week is the sacred week,
as its name suggests in Spanish. On Good Friday, hundreds
of pilgrims arrive at Cochacamba on foot after walking
from La Paz. The festival of el Gran Poder (the Great
Power) is a unique bachannal affair similar to Carnival
with its grand processions, but with a religious color. The
festival whom it is
dedicated to,
Senor el Gran Po-
der (Mister Great
Power) is none
other than Jesus
himself.
Santisima Trinidad, San Antonio, and Corpus Christie are
all celebrated in the month of June. Yet it the midst of
these catholic holidays is a celebration that will capture
your interest, and you will not find anything similar to it
anywhere in South America.

22. Events and Festivals in Bolivia
This elaborate ritual of Inti Raymi, or the solemn feast of
the sun, of which some parts of are modified, was bought
back to life about half a century ago and is recreated
every year at the summer equinox. This Bolivian holiday is
based on a ritual that dates back thousands of years. This
ceremony was as important to the Inca was as the Ma-
yan's human sacrifices that their fierce gods drove them
to.
Bolivian culture is distinct, and the processions that one
sees on religious holidays are of a recurring theme for a
reason. Take a front seat and witness all the very different
processions, such as Inti Raymi's Virgins of the Sun, who,
in their elaborate costume, also savor the ritual and public
pomp of such an event.
According to Bolivia's historic tradition, a number of cele-
brations are in honor of certain Saints. July sees the pro-
cessions and dances of Patron Saint of Moxos. Beni also
sees in August the celebration for San Joaquin, with its
bullfights and games.

23. Ecotourism in Bolivia
When googleing ‘ecotourism Bolivia’ there are more than
298.000 hits. When looking further on these sites you will
find out that eco tourism an absolute hot item and that
lots of accommodations call their hostel, hotel, bed &
breakfast and lodges eco friendly. Mostly this is because
the accommodation is lodged in a National Park, and is
not called that way because it is sustainable or even con-
tributing to preserving nature. There are several tour op-
erators and travel agents which say they operate in a sus-
tainable way. For example, Latin Trail claims that they
develop programs for local tour operators and helping
communities grow through sustainable tourism.
Wiki travel gives online tips for not offending the local
people. They say that in Bolivia use the word "indigena" or
"indio" in Bolivia to describe indigenous people so might
not be used there. Bolivia Bella is an organization which
offers tips and information about Bolivia en ecotourism.
They also offer volunteer work. There is a tiny group if
Dutch tour operators which offers Bolivia. Those who of-
fer Bolivia do not explain very much about eco tourism or
sustainability. What most travel agents do say it that they
refer to Trees for Travel, Green seats and My Climate. The
conclusion is that ecotourism is a hot item in Bolivia but
that there is not much about that subject in the country
itself. They do give tips and call their accommodation ‘eco’
but there is a lot more to do to make the ecotourism a
bigger issue .

24. Geography of Bolivia
Geography
Bolivia is in central South America, landlocked between
Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. The huge ex-
panse of Lake Titicaca, north-west of the Bolivian capital,
La Paz, is the highest navigable body of water in the
world. Almost half of all Bolivians live on the Altiplano, a
high, cool plateau that extends between the two spines of
the Andean mountain range. Drought is a major problem
here, but the wet season brings problems too, as heavy
rains can quickly flood the hard ground. Besides the Alti-
plano, Bolivia has areas of rainforest, tropical valleys, and
fertile sub-tropical plains. There are major deposits of
silver, tin, and zinc. The chief threats to the environment
come from mining, and the unrestricted clearance of for-
ests. The following cities are the main cities of Bolivia:
-La Paz with 1100000 citizens
-Santa Cruz with 915000 citizens
-Cochabamba with 521000 citizens
-Oruro with 203000 citizens
-Trinidad with 176000 citizens
-Sucre with 164000 citizens
-Potosi with 123000 citizens

25. Gastronomy of Bolivia
Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Bolivia is as varied as its geography.
The national dishes most typical of the country are the
empanada salteña (kind of meat chicken rissole, potatoes,
olives and eggs, to which one can add onions, peas or
other vegetables) the chuño (cold dried potatoes, used in
soup chairo and other traditional dishes) montado of
lomo (eggs fried on a beefsteak, been useful with fried
rice and plantins (type of bananas) picante LED pollo
(boiled chicken passed to the frying pan and cooked in its
juice, accompanied by fried or chuño and salad scrambled
with peppers) lechon Al horno (pig of roast milk accompa-
nied by camote, sweet potatos and fried plantins).
Guinea pigs (cuy) and rabbits (conejo) are eaten in rural
areas, though you can sometimes find them in urban res-
taurants as well. A common condiment served with Boliv-
ian meals is llajhua, a spicy sauce similar to Mexican salsa.
The Bolivian beer, especially Cruzeña is one of best conti-
nent. The chicha cochabambina very strong liquor con-
taining fermented corn, is the drink preferred of Bolivian.
Typical Bolivian Schedule
Breakfast: Around 8am or 9am. Most
breakfast serving restaurants
don't open until 8am or 8:30am.
Lunch & Siesta (nap): Lunch is the main meal of the
day. The whole town basically
shuts down between noon and
2:30pm for lunch and an after-
noon siesta. Most businesses
close down during this time and
reopen again around 2pm.
Dinner time: Dinner time in Bolivia is usually
around 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m.
Party: Starts at 10pm, if your Bolivian
get there at 11pm. Parties will
go on until the early hours of
the morning.

26. History of Bolivia
History
Bolivia is the reflection of the past that is rich in rituals,
cultures and traditions. Below you will read more about
the culture of Bolivia. They think that the first inhabitants
of Bolivia where the Indians. They lived in Bolivia from
13000 before Christ. The period till 1500 after Christ is
named the ceramic-period. From this there is more well-
know because of symbols and paintings.
From 1200-1500 was Bolivia under the authority of the
Inca’s. The langue of the Inca’s is: Quechua, still is this one
of the official langue of Bolivia. Around 1520 the Inca
empire become less and in 1532 arrived Francisco Pizarro
and took over the country. In this time Bolivia did not
really exist but was a part of Peru. 1545 was established
the Potosí, one of the richer cities of the new world (north
and south America). The enconmienda-system was intro-
duced and the Indians had to believe in the Catholicism.
The Indians were forced to work. In the year 1650 half of
the Indians were still alive.
On the sixth of august 1825 was called out the Republicá
de Bolivar. Named after the most important person who
was fighting for the independency of Bolivia. After 1825
there were 16 different constitutions. One remarkable
fact is that Bolivia after 1825 lost half of the land of the
country, the lost it by wars. Between 1928 and 1935 was
a war between Bolivia and Paraguay, an important part is
this was where the oil companies. With this war became
the poverty worse. This lead to an economic stagnation. In
1936 started an revolution.
In 1952 was introduced the general voting right. In 1971
was another coup, now a days the democratic is back.
Coca-breaks
A typical character of
the Bolivia culture is
that there is not a coffee
break but an coca-break.
During this break they
are chewing on coca
leafs.

27. History of Bolivia
Pachamama
Pachamama is the supreme goddess revered by the in-
digenous people of the Andes . Pachamama means
"Mother Earth" in the native Quechua language. She is
considered to be the mother who provides life, food, and
protection. Rituals for the Pachamama are characterized
by the burial of cooked food, coca leaves, grains and corn
flour, cigarettes, and chicha to nourish the mother earth.
People toast to her honor before every meeting or festiv-
ity, often spilling a small amount of their drink on the floor
before downing the rest. Burnt offerings are also made in
which they ask for good health, money, good fortune in
business and work. Celebrations for the Pachamama in-
clude a respect for all living things, for they are not only
the fruit of her creation but also form part of the
Pachamama herself.
The Q’owa ritual is part of the millennial Andean tradition
of Bolivia. Today it is practiced in the valleys and in the
eastern part of Bolivia. Depending on the situation at
hand, a series of herbs and other specific and significant
elements are used in preparing the Q’owa.
Its significance may vary in each case, but most impor-
tantly the Q’owa is a means of presenting an agreeable
offering to the millennial spirits that govern these cus-
toms, specially the Pachamama (Mother Earth). This offer-
ing is given with the purpose of receiving protection and
blessing from the gods. It is a reciprocal process: we feed
the Pachamama and she protects us and helps us with our
families, love, work and business.
The ideal day for offering a q’owa is the first Friday of
each month, as well as the Tuesday in Carnival, neverthe-
less this ritual can be observed every Friday in homes and
businesses that range from coffee shops to construction
companies. In spite of many people saying that they don’t
believe in Andean traditions, the number of those who
practice the q’owa ritual has increased in the last years;
maybe because they don’t want to miss out on one more
possibility of having luck in their work or business. Also, an
important element that accompanies this ritual is the coca
leaf.

28. History of Bolivia
Games
Cacho and rayuela, as well as other folk games are sup-
posedly becoming outdated; yet there are always those
who, in spite of everything, keep those habits alive by
initiating a game of cacho or rayuela at parties or with
their friends and family. The origin of the Cacho game,
originally called Alalay, is not very clear. It is a traditional
game that is practiced by both young and old alike. To
play cacho, you need five dice and a special cup (made out
of thick leather). This "Yahtzee" like game tests the play-
ers’ luck and wit. There are different forms and versions of
cacho, for example: the General, Alalay, Throw with a
twist, Triplet, the Witch, etc. Over the years game rules
have been created and even championships have taken
place allowing the enthusiasts to show their abilities at
this game.
Market
The Cancha is an open air market in the city of Cocha-
bamba, the biggest in Bolivia and Latin America. It is a
place where you can buy basic food supplies, clothes, fur-
niture, electronic equipment and even cars. The Cancha is
a colorful marketplace, it is a mixture of products and
people, and it is full of activity seven days a week. There is
a greater influx of collectors and merchants on Wednes-
days and Saturdays, days in which there is a great show of
variety and where haggling techniques are used by those
selling and buying. This open air commercial area offers
tourists a handicrafts section where Bolivian souvenirs can
be purchased.
Coco leaf
The coca leaf, a
sacred leaf that
has been used
since pre-
Hispanic and
colonial times,
is of great im-
portance in the
Andean cultures because of its organized manner of culti-
vation and because of its great importance for the Aymara
people. The coca leaf is one of the benefits that Mother

29. History of Bolivia
Nature has given to the cultures of the Amazon Andean
regions and it has been part of their everyday life for a
long time. The coca leaf was and is an accomplice and
witness of the sorrows and joys of the people. It is part of
q’owa rituals, in which it is chewed as a form of respect to
the co-existence of our culture. It is a sacred leaf that has
nutritional, healing and spiritual qualities.
The Wiphala
The Wiphala is a symbol of national and cultural identifica-
tion from the Amazon Andes; it is an emblem of national
collectively and harmony. For more than 500 years it has
been a symbol of fraternity, reciprocity, ritualism, a repre-
sentation of unity in the diversity, and of the Ayllus com-
munity of Pusy Suya Tahuantinsuyo.
The Wiphala flapped in times of insurrection and in bat-
tles for independence from the suppression of the crown.
The checkered figures of the Wiphala have seven colours
that are the colours of the rainbow, and it has seven
boxes for each color that are distributed diagonally; the
white line is the central point of convergence of the kollas
and the kambas. The slanted seven-colour line is also the
point in which Urinsaya and Aransaya come together. The
Wiphala has probably been used since the creation of
Tiwanaku, more than 2000 years ago.

30. Infrastructure in Bolivia
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is an absolute must for a tourism destina-
tion. To get to the destination there’s need of an airport,
harbor or train station. This paragraph describes the infra-
structure of Bolivia. The official capital of Bolivia is Sucre,
which has its own airport Juana Azurduy De Padilla. The
government is situated in La Paz, which is a more known
city which also has its own airport. Besides that, Bolivia
counts more than twenty little airports for domestic
flights. This means that you are able enough to move
yourself in Bolivia.
In the cities there are several ways to travel. The public
transports in Bolivia exists of buses, taxis, cars, and trains.
The Ferrocariles Bolivia (FCA) is the railway organization in
Bolivia which serves as well as passengers as companies.
There are many train lines in Bolivia and wherever you
travel by train, they say you have to look well after your
belongings. Trains are more comfortable than one would
expect, having for example reclaimable seats. Besides that
there are also ferries and airport shuttle services. To get
from one to another city a bus service is an ideal way to
travel. One of the most dangerous roads in the entire
world is the Highway of Death, a Bolivian mountain road.

31. Population in Bolivia
Population
Bolivia's population was estimated at 7 million in 1989
(5.9 million at the 1982 census) and has been increasing
over the last decade by an average annual rate of 2.6 per-
cent. It has more than doubled over the last forty years,
numbering just over 3 million at the 1950 census.
Approximately 55 percent of the total population is be-
lieved to be "pure" indigenous Indian descent, 25-30 per-
cent mestizo, and about 15 percent European. The Indians
make up the great majority of the population in the north-
ern parts of the Altiplano and the higher valleys and ba-
sins of the Andes.
Spanish is the official language, but more than half of the
population speaks native languages. About 34 percent
speaks Quechua and 25 percent Aymara (mainly in the
Cordillera Oriental and southern Altiplano). More than 95
percent of the people are Catholic and about 1 percent
Protestant.
Bolivia's population is concentrated mainly in the north-
ern parts of the Altiplano and the basins and valleys of the
Cordillera Oriental. The eastern lowlands (with the excep-
tion of Santa Cruz and its surroundings), most of the Cor-
dillera Occidental, and the southern parts of the Altiplano
are only sparsely populated.
Only two of Bolivia's nine departments (17 percent of the
total area) have a population density of 16-20 persons per
square kilometer (40-50 per square mile), while 59 per-
cent of the total area has a density of less than 3 persons
per square kilometer (7.5 per square mile).

32. Population of Bolivia
The average population density for the country as a whole
is 6.4 persons per square kilometer (16 per square mile).
The portion of the urban population is 49 percent; it was
33.5 percent in 1950.
Since 1950 the Bolivian population has more than dou-
bled. As of 1995, the population of Bolivia totaled 7.4 mil-
lion and has grown at a rate of 2.4 percent annually since
1991.
The current population of the country is 8,043,499, with
roughly 62.5% located in urban zones and 37.5% in rural
areas. Bolivia is divided into nine departments. Sixty per-
cent of the population in Bolivia resides in urban centers .
Approximately 46% of the population is concentrated in
the capital cities of each department.
The migration trend is toward further urbanization, as the
population in the main cities is growing at a rate of 4.16%
annually versus an overall population growth rate of 2.4%.
The following table shows the breakdown of the popula-
tion by department, as of 1994.

33. Politics in Bolivia
Politics
Bolivia politics faced inconsistencies since the Pacific war
from 1879 to 83, and then passed through the Chaco War
of 1932-35 and political instability, to regain democracy in
1982.Bolivia politics in this section tries to explain the pre-
sent political structure through the politicians and parties.
Politics in Bolivia
Bolivia is formed by the coalition of a number of parties.
The prominent political parties form the basis of the Poli-
tics in Bolivia. The group of the important political parties
in Bolivia can be seen as:
♦Free Bolivia Movement
♦Progress Plan
♦National Unity Front
♦Indigenous Pachakuti Movement
♦New Republican Force
♦Movement Toward Socialism
♦Agrarian Patriotic Front of Bolivia
♦Without Fear Movement
♦Civic Solidarity Union
♦Revolutionary Left Front
♦Christian Democratic Party
♦Nationalist Democratic Action
♦Revolutionary Left Movement
♦Workers Social Union of Bolivia
Bolivian Politics:
Bolivian Politics is supported by the diverse political
groups and the individual members of each political
group. Names of some prominent politicians of Bolivia will
require the mention of:
♦Hugo Banzer
♦Ronald MacLean Abaroa
♦Luis García Meza Tejada
♦Hormando Vaca Diez
♦Antonio Machaca
♦Juan Lechín Oquendo
♦Armando Loaiza
♦Felipe Quispe
♦Casimira Rodríguez
♦Franz Tamayo
♦Víctor Paz Estenssoro