BootsnAll Travel Community

Warning BOLIVIA

There is a very common way to steal tourists:
the thief disguises himself in a Police uniform! He even has ID, his uniform is exactly the same than the police one... He will come to you and he will tell you: I need to check your documents (step 1). I need to see your WALLET (step 2). Where is my money???? SNIFF (step 3).

So simply ignore him. Nothing will happen because he is not a real police. NO REASONS AT ALL FOR THE POLICE TO STOP YOU.

Always keep your wallet and camera hidden (the less people notice you are a tourist, the better). Do not put them in a "comfortable" position for some1 to pull them. I don´t mean with this that you have to become paranoic! Bolivia is one of the safest countries in Southamerica, but tourists are, anywhere, a particular target for certain kind of people.


Regarding to meals and hostage: it is better to pay a little more and to be in an acceptable hotel than to choose the cheapest one (service will not be good and probably the neighborhood either). The same with food; do not eat in the streets or in places that look too cheap. It is dangerous. If your budget is limited, then you can go to supermarkets; there are sandwiches and things like that there. And you can buy fruits, etc. It does not mean that you have to lose bolivian kitchen! But be careful (specially with fried things and fresh vegetables).

This is a suggestion for transportation from one city to other: the best of course is to travel by plane. It does not mean that buses are not a good option but you should know which to take (not all are good companies). Anyway, consider this: there is a big contrast between Andes & Amazonian, so to go from one place to the other is hard by bus. So, if you are in La Paz, then go by plane to Rurrenabaque (Beni) and to Santa Cruz. Otherwise, go step by step, from La Paz(andes) to Cochabamba (which is in the middle) and then to Santa Cruz(tropic).

LAST WARNING!!!

There has been some tourists assaulted these last days (January 2007) in the surroundings of the Bus Station in La Paz. It seems to be a criminal band operating there... I don´t know how long this will last but in the meantime, be careful. Avoid walking alone in isolated places, take registered cabs (the company logo is in the door). Do not trust in people who wants to help: offering a cab, taking you to a certain place, even inviting you something: "I am promoting this new brand of juice..." (the juice will make you faint). Or "try this new scent" (the same effect).

Try to have a faked credit card besides the real one. If someone "asks" for it, give him the faked one.

We found a streetside cafe and ordered some sandwiches and a beer.

I had just finished my sandwich, and was carrying on a decent conversation when a local walks by, pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and drops his keys.

"Senor!" I yelled. No response.

"Senor!" Nothing. I grabbed his keys and chased him the 10 yards to get him back his keys.

"Gracias." He thanked me. When I turned back to my seat everyone was looking at another man now crossing the street behind where I was sitting, with my bag and chair sitting on the corner.

The other man, while I was distracted returning the keys, had grabbed my daypack and tried to walk of with it (my camera was on my shoulder). While, obviously, in their criminal recon it didn't occur to them that I had clipped my pack to the chair I was sitting in, and when he tried to walk off with it he also dragged the chair behind him. This made such an awful racket that the girl I was with, the waiter, and two other tables of people who had been watching me return the keys, turned and stared at him. He quickly decided his cover was blown, dropped my bag/chair combo on the corner and ran across the street. It happened so quick that it took everyone a second to realize what was going on.

When I got back to the table, I was dumbfounded by what had happened. These guys were like lightning. I have heard stories, and read about it on the internet, never thinking it would happen to me. Also, I always feel kind of lame clipping into furniture like I am repelling. I guess after a year of being cautious I just needed a reminder not to go slack on my lame security measures, because it was all that was needed to foil these shady bastards.

I also guess I can't be nice anymore. No one gets their keys back now!

Rob
Mom Says Im Running Away

Oh, by the way, the above post was in Mendoza Argentina.

Rob
Mom Says Im Running Away

quote:

Originally posted by brochitas:
Warning BOLIVIA

There is a very common way to steal tourists:
the thief disguises himself in a Police uniform! He even has ID, his uniform is exactly the same than the police one... He will come to you and he will tell you: I need to check your documents (step 1). I need to see your WALLET (step 2). Where is my money???? SNIFF (step 3).

So simply ignore him. Nothing will happen because he is not a real police. NO REASONS AT ALL FOR THE POLICE TO STOP YOU.

So how do we know if a cop is ever real? I always here these stories from Bolivia about fake cops.

Warning PARAGUAY...

It seems that no one has yet mentioned Paraguay here. Maybe it's really not worth a visit...

A recent Travel story <a href=http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/07-01/accidental-people-smuggling-in-paraguay-paraguay-south-america.html>"Accidental People Smuggling in Paraguay"</a>, the author had some scary experience by entering Paraguay at Ciudad del Este. She eventually did not pay too much penalty (I guess the custom officer they met is more law-abiding). Mine, however, is far more scary...

Here is how my "daytrip" visit to Paraguay unfolded on 2/18:

From some pre-trip info I got on some websites: citizens of the US. Canada, and Australia (that pretty much covers most of the English readers of Lonely Planet and Rough Guide from non-EU countries) do need an entry visa to enter Paraguay (I think US citizen need to pay $100?). But what about just walking in from a neighboring country (like, Brazil) for a few hours?

Due to that Lonely Planet is never clear about this visa issue (which I just e-mailed them to tell them this problem), they even implied you can try to walk just right in. I thought I could travel to Ciudada del Este (just across the river from Brazil) from Foz do Iguaçu for a few hours without a visa. I was wrong. I also thought if I did need a visa for a daytrip, they could just turn me back at the border (since I had a multiple entry visa to Brazil, I can always return to Foz do Iguaçu). I was wrong again and just too careless. I ended up paying heavily for that mistake.

The bus from Foz to Ciudada del Este just took us all the way into Ciudad del Este without even passing any custom. Due to my stupid American roommate insisting on getting a stamp (he did not have a visa either. Let's just call him "Miser Mike" since he is so miser to a very difficult point and tried to save every penny he could, even rumors has it that he has three houses in San Francisco Bay Area), we walked back to the custom to inquire the issue (again, we thought if we needed a visa for a daytrip, they could just deport us back to Brazil). Once that custom officer found out we did not have Paraguay entry visa, he actually took us to a small room at the back. With very basic English, he extorted us for $150 or he would detain us (instead of deporting us"). He even put my passport into his drawer, instead of Mike's, to threaten me (Maybe he thought Asian people are more pushover?). At the end, I had to give this corruptive thug all the Brazillian Reals (about $65) I had while Mike pretended he had no money with him at all (his only Spanish phrase "No dinero - no money" was useful here). While Mike still hoped to have his passport stamped, the thug officer turned him down. There would be even no trace that we used to be in Paraguay...

Even though I did hear many government officers in Latin America are very corruptive, it was still scary when you ran into one yourself. Especially after traveling in Chile, Argentina, and even Brazil without any incident, what happens in Paraguay is a proof that not all the Latin American countries have since "cleaned themselves up" in the past decade. Definitely not Paraguay.

All you travelers have to beware of this possible consequence of entering this country without visa.

I and Miser Mike eventually entered Ciudad del Este. I was penniless. We found Ciudad del Este is messy, chaotic, and nasty. It was also very hot that day but there is hardly any shades in that city. Compared to Ciudad del Este, Foz (Brazil) is really much, much nicer and cleaner. We left without eating or buying anything (well, I didn't have any money anyway). What a memorable trip. Now I have a least favorable country in the world!

That's terrible Saricie! Do you think that if you didn't visit the customs officer, you'd have no trouble exiting the country or entering Brazil?

By the way, I think had they really deported you, they'd ship you back to your home country (not Brazil) at your expense (or the expense of your homeland). But, that's just me speculating.

word to the wise...check your visa information *before* you go. Paraguay visa - $45 to $65 for US citizens. That's why I didn't dare step foot where a visa was required that I didn't have beforehand. It does suck learning the hard way. I went into Mexico w/o a visa (bus didn't stop), but was able to talk my way out of it as I was on a Mexican bus company that doesn't seem to stop at the border (and have a really good command of Spanish).

Something like that can happen *anywhere* in the world you don't have a visa to that you need to have one, not just Paraguay. I have heard far worse stories from other travellers. Sure there may be corrupt officers all over the world, but honestly, you guys did enter the country illegally...

Mmm...do you need visa to Mexico? I think visa is not required for most people. Even for me, having an US green card allow me to enter Mexico without visa.

The problem is the entry stamp. I wonder if you do not have your passport stamped while entering Mexico, will they punished you for that (if they think you entered Mexico "illegally") when you exit Mexico?

Italy did not stamp me when I exited that country. And it doesn't seem to matter because I had no problem in entering that country in a later visit...

quote:

Originally posted by Sean Luxembourg:
That's terrible Saricie! Do you think that if you didn't visit the customs officer, you'd have no trouble exiting the country or entering Brazil?

By the way, I think had they really deported you, they'd ship you back to your home country (not Brazil) at your expense (or the expense of your homeland). But, that's just me speculating.

Oop...but the nearest airport of Ciudad del Este is right in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil (where I have multiple entry visa). And yes, if I did not visit the custom officer, maybe I could sneak out of that country later without any problem.

I just think I should put it down here so other people won't do the same stupid thing I did (especially both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide really make you feel it's okay to just sneak into Paraguay for a short daytrip).

I use cross the borders accidentally in Western Europe (Germany to Austria, France to Italy) with required visas. Though I was scolded by an Italian officer, there was not much trouble (This was pre-Schengen days, so border checkpoints still existed). I know I was just too stupid to assume that South America is just like West Europe :<

If you are flying TAM Airlines in Brazil, and you have connections with your flights, make sure you have plenty of time in between flights. I flew many TAM flights in Brazil when I was there and ALL of them were delayed. I ended up missing some connections. Speak up if a flight is late and try to find a TAM staff member (not always possible!) and make sure they know you need to be accomodated!

Also, be careful at ATMs in Brazil! I used only bank ATMs and still got my bank account drained. While you are using ATMs (I think it was the Banco do Brasil in Pelhourino section of Salvador, but it could have been the HSBC in Manaus or Rio), cover the keypad as you type your numbers in and check to make sure extra money isn't being drained! I speak from experience, and it also happened to my friend Rich and he met four others who the same thing happened to!

TRAVEL WARNING

For those who are planning a trip to Pucon , Chile be aware of “Cabanas Alicia”, located across the Bus Terminal in Pucon. You will probably be approached by a young lady who works at the Terminal and since those Cabanas are at a walking distance, she will take you there personally.

I rented a Cabana for a week (30 dollars a day), and when I left to go to San Martin de los Andes in Argentina, I realized that my carry on had been forced open and my digital camera was gone.

I presented a theft complain to the Police in Santiago . After sending more than 50 e-mails to practically every one who had something to do with Tourism in Pucon, I found out that these Cabanas are operating illegally, and this was not the first time that a these people had robbed their tenants.

If you can share this mail with all the agencies that work with Pucon, you will be doing a favor to a prospective victim.

Listen. the street moneychangers in Cartagena are ALL con artists. Do NOT change your money with them. It's the old fast hands trick. They seem like they are counting out the right amount of dough, but they aren't. If you confront them, there is always a hammer lurking around who will clean your clock for you. Just don't deal with them. If they ask you, just walk away. I have never dealt with them, so I haven't seen the actual trick in action, but gotta be a dozen backpackers now have told me their story. I have a guy who follows me whenever he sees me trying to get me to change money. If I ever stop just to talk to the guy, the lurking thug appears, which is why I know about the lurking thug.

Play safe.

D

Watch out in Argentina for a guy claiming to be a backpacker from the netherlands who will tell you that he has been robbed of all his belongings including his money and passport. My partner saw him first in La Rioja (provincial capital) at the bus station when he was passing through and took pity on him, gave him money for a bus trip to BA to go to his embassy. Then, about 2 months ago we saw the same guy in Mendoza, he came up and asked us the time and was acting a bit dodgy and then as my partner recognised him and he must have also clicked that he was trying to rob the same person he ran off quickly....
There was a warning on our hostel noticeboard about a guy who sounded like the same one, apparently he hangs about in Mendoza around the bus station and we saw him at the plaza espana. He's about 180cm tall with sandy, longish hair, would be in his early 30s maybe.... Speaks english fluently.

My Blog - the Big Bike Trip.

Second the previous post about: taxis....possibly more of a general "things to be careful of" & not specific only to here in Buenos Aires---make sure to know the cross streets of where you want to go, and have an idea of how to get there (lest you be taken for an extended (read: price-raising) tour of a neighborhood. Also a good idea to just walk to a nearby "major" street & go from there.


Also second the previous suggestion on tying, clipping, or strapping your backpack to your chair (or yourself) when in a restaurant. Friend's backpack recently stolen from inside a restuarant, while we were sitting at the table. Apparently, the technique is that one person walks by and slyly, subtly kicks the bag to out from under the table where he or another person nudges it farther along. If they're in a group of people passing your table, you may not even notice. Good idea to make sure at least one strap is locked/tied/clipped to the chair (as a previous poster noted).

Airlines: Last evening I met an Australian woman who said to absolutely avoid Air Condor - consistently late, poorly equipped, poorly maintained. Instead she liked Lan Peru VERY much. I'll find out myself if this is so.

Update on an old warning: The Mariscal (New Town)in Quito has a security person just about on every street corner. Last night I walked several blocks without a problem though I wouldn't have walked down parts of Rios Amazonias as they were shut down. Too bad as I saw a great looking cafe with lots of locals having what looked like great food.

This is more in the way of advice rather than a warning: be very careful about the way that you describe things. I don't know what it is, and I know it's not singular to Ecuador as I've experienced it other places, but there's something about trying to get help in countries where the education system is very rigid that leaves people unable to go a tiny bit outside the box to see a connection. For example, this morning I was looking for Plaza Marin but failed to write it down. I was feeling lost and I stopped someone to ask where I could find Plaza Martin. He said there was no such thing. As is often the case with travels, a small error can lead to a great adventure and this was the case today as the man and his daughter were both walking to catch the bus to the equator and we ended up taking the journey together. Through this I learned about life for the regular working people in Quito (pretty darn bad at $200 per month)and made some nice friends. But his inability to transpose Martin to Marin meant that we all walked much further than was necessary! And yesterday I asked someone how to find Calle Chile. I may have said Avenida Chile. He said that he didn't know this street. Turns out it is one of the four streets that border the palaces of the president and the archbishop and that it was just two blocks from this man's place of business! PS - I speak quite passable Spanish so that wasn't the problem.

Spirit Airlines lacks 'spirit' in Peru

Long, slanted diatribe about Spirit's FLL to LIM service.

In Quito, Ecuador I had my wallet picked from my front pocket in a heavy independence day crowd. There was a lot of pushing and shoving (felt like a rock concert) so I was well distracted.

Lots of stories coming back from other travelers that theft is happening everywhere throughout south america, and even high vigilance wont protect you. Also bus theft seems to be ridiculously common, even if you sleep with your bag on your chest.

quote:

Originally posted by Saricie K:
Warning PARAGUAY...

what happens in Paraguay is a proof that not all the Latin American countries have since "cleaned themselves up" in the past decade. Definitely not Paraguay.

All you travelers have to beware of this possible consequence of entering this country without visa.

Imagine what would happen if one would go into the US without a visa ... let's say from Mexico ...

Warning!!!! Fortaleza Brazil and other major Brazil cities.

Don't eat the seafood from the famous seafood market in Mucuripe on Beira Mar avenue in Fortaleza - see below scientific e-coli link. In fact, don't walk on the beach with bare feet or swim in the water at either Beira Mar or Iracema, as there is a decent likelyhood you will become ill or get parasites.

This warning is only specific to Fortaleza, Brazil, because of the below scientific study link but it applies to all major cities in Brazil and many other Latin countries, as most dump their sewage into the water in, or near, the tourist districts. Not much difference than swimming or bathing your feet in your toilet and probably a lot more dangerous because you do not know the health of the people of which created the sewage.

I am an American male married to a Brazilian. I live in Brazil 6 months and the USA 6 months for the past 6 years. I became deathly ill with parasites and deadly bacteria, from either Rio or Recife after eating seafood, swimming, and walking barefoot on the beach near our hotel and it has forever changed my life. I survived but will never be 100% normal again. My bout with parasites left me with one bad eye, bad hearing, hormonal imbalance and a slew of other health problems.

This is the dirty little secret that the travel shows won't tell you all you see is them prancing on the famous Rio beaches to encourage you to go there. I'm not saying don't go, as there are many other wonderful things to see and do, but you had better heed my warning. If you desire water/beach activities stay away from the big cities and go down the coast to smaller resorts as there is much less pollution in less populated areas.

The robbers and corrupt police are the least of your worries. It's what you can't see that may kill you and the shame of this fact is.... this danger can easily be avoided with just common sense which many travelers, including myself, seem to leave at home.

Many of us think..."it can't happen to me!" Well you're wrong! This once healthy, strong, middle-age man with a dream lifestyle, turned into a skinny, sick man within months of being infected with deadly bacteria and parasites and I have been fighting for my health every since - now three years.

Until it happens to you, you will never know how difficult it is for you, and your family and friends, to fight for your health every day of your life until the day you die and all a result of my own ignorance as I was warned, as I am now warning you.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:v2KsX7s6p-gJ:www.i...n&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us