r/Travel_Safety

Guys, I want to share our experience from the last week in Bolivia because I wish I had seen something like this before (we've already met travelers in similar situation, but it's quite new situation and we were searching any info on a Bolivia Travel Facebook groups as well, but couldn't find nothing - so really want to keep you updated)

There are ongoing protests across the country right now, with road closures affecting a lot of routes (especially north of La Paz) -this already makes any travel difficult, but the biggest issue for us was getting to/from Rurrenabaque. We had scheduled the visit to Amazon with local agency, but ended up with paid flights with airlane that probably bunkrupcted or will soon (EcoJet), so it's tiny chance we will get money back, both for flights like also for a stay in a jungle.

Flights now are extremely unreliable. After Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) reduced/suspended routes, EcoJet is (was!) basically the only option, and it’s now disaster - our flight to Rurrenabaque was first delayed (3 hours) then we actually boarded the plane, put our luggage on the trail, and flight got cancelled 5 minutes before boarding. We didn't get any explanation, few hours later they said they will open another flight next day ... and guess what - it also got canceled!

At the same time, you can't also get out by any bus - operators don't work because of roadblocks, many routes simply don’t operate and local taxi drivers told us it gonna be just worse.

We ended up making a pretty hard decision - we skipped already paid tour tickets (no refund) and changed our plans completely just to leave the country as soon as possible (we just scrolled through the departure tables and get on to the plane to Cusco:)) Staying in Bolivia now doesn't feel stable or predictable anymore! Maybe only Uyuni part is fine, since you can get back to Chile/San Pedro.

So please note:
- internal flights to/from Rurrenabaque are frequently canceled or heavily delayed
- road transport is disrupted or blocked
- tourists are getting stuck for days trying to get out

Bolivia is an amazing country (we started travel from south and it was incredible) but right now, if you’re planning Rurrenabaque / Death Road / Amazon trips, be very careful and have a backup plan or just option to stay longer/go out from country.

If anyone is currently there or recently traveled or experienced the same thing, I would be happy to hear your experience too, especially if you started (or TRIED) any refund process with EcoJet or any bus/tour providers ... we still try to figure out how to get in contact with ours, and it doesn't look promising.

u/viatua — 11 days ago

▲ 12 r/Travel_Safety+2 crossposts

Blockades and Travelling Through La Paz, Bolivia.

I’m seeing a mix of info online, and seemingly the official websites are t accurate.

We’re planning to travel from Salta to Uyuni by bus on 11/5 - doing a tour in Uyuni after this for 3 days, then travelling Uyuni to La Paz 16/5 (roughly), ~ a week in La Paz, then La Paz to Cusco 22/5. We are doing the Salkantay hike on the 25th, so won’t have much time to play with if we’re stuck. We were going to bus, but very happy to fly La Paz to Cusco if need be.

We can go from Uyuni to Chile if La Paz isn’t an option, but we would love to see La Paz if possible!

I know it’s still a week or so away, so might be hard to tell right now. However, does anyone have any info on these routes at the moment?

reddit.com

u/Vast-Neighborhood500 — 5 days ago

▲ 14 r/Travel_Safety+2 crossposts

[Money Guide] Peru 2026: ATM Hacks, Card Fees, and Why Cash is Still King

Hi everyone!

I just wrapped up a trip through Peru and wanted to share some updated money and payment tips for May 2026.

💰 Currency & Exchange Rates (May 2026)

The Peruvian Sol (PEN) is stable. You don’t need to worry about "black market" rates like in other neighboring countries.

• Current Rate: $1 USD ≈ 3.43 PEN | €1 EUR ≈ 3.71 PEN.

• The Spread: Exchanging cash usually involves a 2–5% spread. You’ll see rates around 3.40–3.50 PEN per USD at official houses.

• Where to Exchange: Use authorized "cambistas" (street exchangers with official vests) or casas de cambio in Lima/Cusco. Avoid airport booths—their rates are significantly worse.

• USD Quality (Crucial!): Bring crisp, new, unbent USD bills. Peruvian banks and exchangers are notorious for rejecting bills with even a tiny tear, ink mark, or heavy fold.

🏧 The ATM Situation & Fees

ATMs are plentiful in cities but can be a "fee trap" if you aren't careful.

• The MultiRed Hack:Banco de la Nación (MultiRed) is still the only one with zero local fees for international cards.

◦ The Catch: Limit of 400 PEN (~`$117 USD) per session. You can repeat sessions, but read the next point!

• ⚠️ Watch Your Own Bank Fees: This was my biggest mistake. Even if the ATM says "S/ 0 Fee," your home bank might charge an International Withdrawal Fee. After 5 withdrawals at MultiRed, I realized I’d wasted €15. Check your bank's app before doing multiple small sessions!

• Other ATMs: BCP, BBVA, and Scotiabank charge between S/ 18 and S/ 36 (`$5–10 USD) per withdrawal.

• Rural Warning: Coastal surf villages (Máncora, Chicama) and remote Andean towns often have zero working ATMs. Stock up on cash in big cities first.

💸 Western Union: The Alternative

If you don't want to carry a stack of cash or deal with ATM limits:

• Rates: Often very competitive (approx. 3.37 PEN).

• Fees: Low or even zero transfer fees depending on your country of origin. It’s a solid backup if you need a large amount of cash at once without the S/ 400 ATM limit.

Cards vs. Cash

• Cards: Widely accepted in mid/big shops, rentals, accomodations (especially in bigger cities/towns).

• The 5% Surcharge: Many local businesses add a 5% fee for card use. Always ask: “¿Hay un recargo por pagar con tarjeta?”

• Cash is Mandatory for: Small "tiendas," local rentals (surfboards, bikes), street food, and taxis.

💡 Quick Summary Tips

Always carry "Sencillo" (Change): Breaking a 100 PEN bill in a taxi is impossible. Keep 10s and 20s.
Decline the Conversion: If the ATM asks to charge you in your "Home Currency" vs. "Local Currency (PEN)," always choose PEN. Your bank’s rate is always better than the ATM's rate.
Cash Discounts: You can often negotiate a small discount at hostels or for tours if you offer to pay the total in cash (PEN) upfront.

Also I gave a try to TUTAI app (someone mentioned it in a group - thank you!) and I must say it provided me some real-time safety alerts and cultural payment tips that were quite useful and saved me a few headaches.

Safe travels! If you have questions on this topic feel free to ask. I will post some other points soon, especially bargaining tips since I am testing a few methods on the field to see what works best.

reddit.com

u/Odd-Percentage-1311 — 3 days ago

▲ 40 r/Travel_Safety+4 crossposts

Bloqueos Update for Travelers - May 13, 2026

Hello everyone!

I know many travelers have trouble accessing up to date information on bloqueos in Bolivia, so I am sharing another update to help!

Currently, some of the bloqueos have been broken up and some travel along main tourist routes has resumed.

However, La Paz remains strongly affected by bloqueos so travel by ground in and out of the city remains difficult.

The map above shows some of the active bloqueos as of this morning.

Keep in mind that the situation changes daily and local reports are more reliable then the government maps, which are not always up to date.

Common Routes That Are Blocked!

>>> La Paz - Copacabana (Blocked)

>>> La Paz - Uyuni (Blocked)

>>> La Paz - Rurrenabaque (Blocked)

Common Routes That Are Open :)

>>> Sucre - Potosí - Uyuni (Open)

>>> Santa Cruz - Sucre (Open)

>>> Tarija - Uyuni or Potosí/ Sucre (Open)

Essentially, La Paz is still locked down so any travel through this region will be very difficult. Travel in other regions os resuming, but there is high demand and limited capacity.

We will share any new local reports as we receive them!

Bloqueos are generally not a threat to safety unless you try to cross them or get caught in the middle of a conflict.

Do your best to avoid protest lines and plan travel by air to La Paz until the conflict is resolved.

More updates to come soon! Please feel free to comment any local reports or ask for updates.

u/Yapa_Bolivia — 18 hours ago