Table of Contents
Reaching the Peru Bolivia Border
Peru Bolivia Border Crossing: The easiest way to reach Bolivia from Peru using land transportation is by bus. There is a daily departure at 7am from Puno Copacabana. The trip takes about 3h30. Going somewhere else is also possible but will take much longer and it would be a shame to miss Copacabana.
In order to book the bus, we used redbus APP on smartphone. It was quite easy to book the ticket. We chose Transzela bus company as prices are similar with other company and we believe that the conditions are quite the same, yet with Transzela you get a huge seat and they have so far the best review on redbus.pe.
We had a hotel near the bus terminal and woke up at 5:30 am to get ready. After a quick breakfast at 6am we went to the bus terminal. Once in the terminal, first we get to the bus company desk to check-in.
Be careful as there are 2 bus terminals in Puno. Normally you should be using the Terrestre terminal.
After the departure of the bus, we made a quick stop before the border to exchange money, as we didn’t know if we would need it right away, we didn’t exchange as there were many buses stopping at the same time and it got packed. We then kept on our way and were at the border at 10:10am
Map of the day crossing the Peru Bolivia Border
Peruvian border
On at the Peruvian border, everybody gets out and walk to the Peruvian immigration office. You line up in front of the building, but it goes quite quickly. In less than 10min, we were done. Once the stamp “out of Peru”, we walked to the Bolivian border.
Between countries at the Peru Bolivia Border
Between both borders there is an international area where you can find street shops, a church and a big “Peru” statue for one last picture.
After you passed the arch, the Bolivian immigration office is on the left.
Bolivian border
As a French, it was easy for me to get in Bolivia and pass the Peru Bolivia Border. I just went inside the office and they stamped my passport. I was out in 5min.
But it was a whole different story for Tina…
She needed a “visa on arrival” which we thought would be easy to get and wouldn’t require much. As such we didn’t really check and didn’t prepare anything. That was a small mistake 🙂
To have the Bolivian visa on arrival you need:
- Flight information (Go and return flight from the continent),
- hotel reservation,
- photos,
- passport main page,
- bank statement.
As we didn’t prepare anything, we had of course not a single document. But on the side of the immigration office there is a small store that has WIFI and can print documents. Hmm, let’s find the document now…
We connected to the WEB and started looking for all documents. Thankfully we could get her bank statement from the bank APP, the flight information from an email, hotel reservation from booking, she took pictures there, and made a copy of her passport.
So far so good, we have all documents, and it only cost us 45 bs. If like us you don’t have Bolivianos, there is an exchange office near the shops as well. This border has everything you need.
She went back in the immigration office and her application was rejected because it wasn’t Tina’s name on the hotel reservation but mine. Huuh o.O ? We tried to explain the situation to the immigration officer, that we are travelling together but he wouldn’t listened, gave us back all the paper and sent us out.
Uhhh Uhhho What to do? We didn’t know what to really do at this time and though about buying a hostel room for one night on her name. We went back to the store to get WIFI and the guy there asked us what’s happening. After explaining to him our situation, he asked us if we had the code and private number from booking’s email. We gave it to him, and he changed the reservation name from booking website. What a relieve!
We returned, and it worked, they accepted the application and gave her the visa. Of course, it wasn’t free and cost 690 Bolivianos (they accept Bolivianos or USD) that you can pay by card.
After we walked back to the bus where people had just started getting in and where we get another control of our passport with the Peruvian exist stamp and Bolivian entry one. It was now 11am.
Side stories at the Peru Bolivia Border
While in the immigration office, there was an American woman that also needed a Visa and it cost her 160USD. Which is much more that what was required to us. Check-out the price as it is not a fixed one and is changing from country to country.
There were also two other travellers that asked how to reach Copacabana as their bus left without them. Always watch out for the bus.
End of the Peru Bolivia Border adventure and recommendation
The bus departed and made another stop at 11:25am where an old guy came in the bus to sell something. Nobody knew what it was. Some bought some didn’t. We didn’t. It may only be a burglar. Later on, nobody asked us anything so it was just a scam!
We finally made it to Copacabana bus terminal which is basically in the street at 11:30 with almost 2h delay.
Recommendation: we checked later online and found that you can apply for online VISA in the Bolivian embassy, if you have one nearby your place, do it, it takes 24h and is free. You can check it there: https://www.boliviahop.com/visa-requirements/#basic_documents
Where to stay in Copacabana
The best accommodation in Copacabana is simply: LA CUPULA. Years after that travel, we are dreaming of this accommodation, its fireplace, and incredible view of lake Titicaca.
“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
You may also like
