Border Peru – Bolivia

In America, Bolivia 2001, Peru 2001 On  09/07/2001  2 comments

Crossing the border from one country to another is not a good experience around here. It is even worse if there is threats of closing the roads by the Bolivian farmers that were on strike. I knew I couldn’t go to Copacabana because the roads were closed as a form of protest. I went to the Bolivian consulate to know if I would have problems and they told me to cross the border through Desaguadero (a frontier city in Peru). It should be a longer but safer way.

I left very early so I would have more time in case of getting stuck somewhere. The 3-hour trip to Desaguadero had no problems, therefore the road was good. In the city we had to get off the bus with the backpacks, go in-line to the Peruvian immigration to give the exit stamp on the passport and cross the border walking. On the other site there was a bus waiting for us. We spent some more time in-line in the Bolivian immigration to get the entrance stamp. They gave me a 30-day visa even though I said I wanted to stay longer. The Bolivian bus was smaller and the backpacks were tied on the roof.

During the trip to La Paz, we saw many rocks placed by the side of the road. Each time that we passed by some town, there was a great amount military policemen in barricades protecting the road so that the farmers wouldn’t close it or throw rocks on the buses. The towns we passed by were so small and looked harmless; threatening was the number of armed military men.