Bolivia (BO)
Bolivia is South America's highest and most landlocked country — a plurinational state of dramatic contrasts, from the world's highest navigable lake (Titicaca at 3,812m) and the vast salt flats of Uyuni to the tropical Amazon basin.
Capital: Sucre
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: BOB (Bs.)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 24)
Emergency: 110
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Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before you need them.
General Emergency
110
Police
110
Fire Brigade
119
Ambulance
118
Poison Control
Hospital de Clínicas La Paz: +591 2-222 0123
Mental Health
SEDEGES crisis line: +591 800-10-0068 (La Paz). Limited availability — international helplines (Crisis Text Line) may be needed.
Domestic Violence
SLIM (Servicio Legal Integral Municipal): 800-10-0200 (free, national)
Child Protection
DNA (Defensoría de la Niñez y Adolescencia): 800-10-0067
Road Assistance
No national breakdown service. Contact your insurer or local mechanic (mecánico). In remote areas, truck convoys and local communities often provide assistance.
Hospital de Clínicas / Clínica privada guardia
118
Public hospitals (Hospital de Clínicas in La Paz, Hospital Japonés in Santa Cruz) have 24/7 emergency departments. Private clinics (Clínica Incor, Clínica de la Virgen) offer faster service for fee-paying patients.
24 hours, 7 days a week
How to call emergency services in Bolivia
Calls to 110/118/119 are free from any phone. State your location (departamento and city), nature of emergency, and number of people. Spanish is essential — very few emergency operators speak English.