Common tourist scams in Bolivia and how to avoid them

Bolivia is not a high-crime destination by regional standards, but the scams that do run are concentrated where tourists are: La Paz city centre and the bus terminals, the Uyuni tour agencies, Copacabana's lakefront, and long-distance buses. Most are about cash, because so much of daily life here is cash.

The fake-police routine is the one to know. One or two people show a badge or a lanyard, say they are checking for counterfeit dollars or drug money, and ask to see your wallet, your notes or your bag. Sometimes a second person joins and counts the money, and notes go missing in the shuffle. Real police do not audit a tourist's cash on the pavement. Say no, keep your hand on your wallet, and walk into a shop, hotel lobby or bank. If you genuinely need to deal with police, go to a station.

Taxi overcharging is routine rather than a trick. At El Alto airport, at the La Paz bus terminal and late at night, drivers quote a flat price to foreigners that can be several times the local rate. Agree the price before you get in, or ask for the meter; if the driver refuses both, take the next car. Note the plate number and, in La Paz, prefer a radio taxi or an app where one is available. Shared taxis and minibuses are cheaper but have their own pickpocket risk.

Counterfeit boliviano notes circulate, especially Bs 100 and Bs 200. The classic version is paying with a large note and getting a fake one back as change, or a vendor telling you your note is fake and swapping it. Check notes as you receive them, break big bills at banks or supermarkets rather than at stalls, and keep small notes for markets and buses.

Around Uyuni, the salt-flat tours are the main money issue. Agencies vary widely in what the price covers: park entry, meals, sleeping bags, the transfer back. Cheap quotes often add costs later, or the operator is not who you thought. Pay at the agency office, get a written itinerary and receipt, and check that the driver and vehicle match what you booked. Cards are accepted at some agencies but not all; carry enough cash for the park fee.

On buses and in markets, distraction theft is the everyday risk: someone bumps you, spills something on you, or starts a loud argument while a hand goes into your bag. Keep your bag in front of you, zipped, with the strap across your chest, and keep your phone out of your back pocket. Overnight buses are best with your bag under your legs or as a pillow, not in the overhead rack. In La Paz, the cable car and the Witches' Market area are busy enough to hide a hand.

Card skimming and ATM issues are less common than cash scams but worth planning for. Use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day, cover the keypad, and decline any offer of help from a stranger at the machine. If a card is swallowed or a transaction looks wrong, call your bank before you leave the area. Keep a second card and some US dollars as backup.

Carry two wallets: a small one with a day's cash and an old card, and a hidden one with the rest. If someone demands your wallet, you hand over the small one.

Photograph your passport, visa stamp and entry card, and keep copies in your email and your bag. A missing entry card is a paperwork problem at exit, not a scam, but it costs time.

Learn the numbers in Spanish and the word for change. Being able to say the price back, or ask for smaller notes, removes most of the ambiguity scammers rely on.

Use official taxi ranks or app-based rides where available, and avoid unmarked cars that approach you at the airport or terminal.

Keep your phone in a zipped pocket or bag, not in your hand on the street. Phone snatching from a hand is quick and hard to undo.

If you are scammed, do not chase it. Move to a safe, busy place, cancel any card involved, and file a police report if you need one for insurance. Reports are free; a copy helps with claims.