Amboro Tours

Bolivia is one of the safeties countries in South America, but like any country in the world the visitors have to take proper care of their belongings.

Amboro Tours trys to help you to prevent losses

Start by leaving your valuables items in the safe deposit box in the hotel where you are staying, make sure you get a receipt.

When I get out into the street take also photocopies of your travelers checks and passport in a different compartment of the originals.

It is also important if you can take with you a fake copy of your debit card.

Try to schedule your expenses with enough time.

It is advisable to go to the ATMs in the mornings.  If you do not need you plane ticket do not take it.

There are lots of ways that thieves used to distract their victims.

One of them is to pretend that vomits on the victim to distract them to steal.

Do not forget that appearances can also be a tool to commit a robbery.

The burglar may be a person of humble appearance with dark complexion, and may also be a blond or blue eyes of white complexion.

Do not accept any drink from a stranger, especially in public transport buses.

In Bolivia as in other countries also happen the problem so-called "express kidnappings", which is to hold the victim against his/her will for a few hours in order to steal and use her/him to obtain money with the victim´s credit card or debit card.

The following lines are also to help visitors to be more prepared for situations that they may encounter.

Be aware of fake police officers, that after asking for your passports, they try to get you into some vehicle with another supposed fake tourist accomplice to check your belongings and try to confuse you in some way, then ask for your money, “to check if it is fake”, and to the point of asking for the PIN number of your bank card.

If you think this going to happen to you.  We suggest that you excuse yourself saying that at this moment you have an emergency and continue walking.

Another alternative is to say that your travel agent or your hotel is only half a block away and then ask them if they would like to accompany you.

Also Amboro Tours recommend you to invest in a mobile phone, (only about Bs 200) to use it in case of an emergency. This same phone you can use it in different countries in South America.

Amboró Tours recommends that you be extra careful in the City Santa Cruz and when you visit the Arenal Park (few walking minutes from the main plaza) or Las cabañas at the Piraí River. These places are not recommended because of the lack of security in them.

Money exchange
We do not recommend changing money on the street corners.

Do not accept dollars or Euros currency that is a bit torn because it will be rejected if you try to use it.

Most of the banking facilities have ATMs where you can withdraw money (Bolivianos or U.S. dollars) any time of the day.

Fake Currency
Be ware of the circulation of fake money paper specially notes of 50s, 100s and 200s. This could happen with Bolivian currency and us dollars

False Travel Agencies or Tour Operators
Due to the success that Amboro Tours has had, other tour operators have appeared with similar or same names. Even though this situation is illegal, for now, these operators do exist in different places within the Department of Santa Cruz - for example in  the towns; Samaipata and Buenavista.

It is because of this that we recommend that you are not be taken by surprise. Amboró Tours only has offices in Santa Cruz (main office) and Buena Vista. (Where there is service only in special circumstances)

Local Transportation
Taking a taxi in the cities of Bolivia especially in main cities. We recommend you to ask the place where you are staying to call by phone a Radio Taxi for you, most hotel or hostels work with local transportation companies. These vehicles could be much safer than taking a taxi from the street and for about the same price or less.

Useful Links
News from Bolivia
http://www.noticiasbolivianas.com/index.php

Weather

http://clima.starmedia.com/sudamerica/bolivia/viru_viru/

Note : As you should have noticed, Amboro Tours publishes its different Itineraries and Price Lists on  Internet,  other companies may  copy them. Please Keep this in mind when Buying.