| Freelance Web Editor Paul lives with his wife Denise in La Paz, Bolivia, where they run their own business. Sometimes he misses family back in the UK and the familiar sights and sounds of home, but there are plenty of things to love about living in Bolivia, a country where expats get a lot more for their money. |
 Paul Irvine |
- Where were you born?
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, UK
- In which country and city are you living now?
Bolivia, La Paz city
- Are you living alone or with your family?
My wife and I live together.
- How long have you been living in Bolivia?
Since Dec. 2005 until April 2006 in Bolivia, then we both lived in England for 6 months, and again in Bolivia from Oct. 2006 until Summer 2008.
-What is your age?
It changes annually! I was born on Feb. 06 1973.
- When did you come up with the idea of living in Bolivia?
I met my wife (then girlfriend) in Chevington England in September 2004. Since February 2005, I travelled back and forth several times from the UK to Bolivia, and my girlfriend came to GB a few times. We married in La Paz on January 27th 2007. I made the decision to live in Bolivia so that Denise and I could spend more time with my new in-laws and settle here a while longer before we go back to the UK. I have every intention of visiting regularly and also of retiring here!
Bolivia Landscape - Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
I used to travel to Peru and Brasil, therefore renewing my 90-day permissions every 3 months (I'm a British Citizen). Since then, I opted for a one-year residency visa c/o the Bolivian Immigration authorities. It's quite a process and there's a tremendous amount of paperwork and procedure involving Interpol, the national police and the hospital. Extending the one-year visa to stay is relatively straight forward and not too much of a hassle. Best to go prepared.
The actual Bolivian Immigration service itself leaves much to be desired; it is not very well organised and they just love to photocopy everything six or seven times - for the sake of it. Good thing Brasil is their neighbour - they must murder a dozen trees solely for Bolivia every five minutes or less. There are computers in the immigration department but I think they use them to play digital games of bat and ball. The procedure to apply for the one-year visa/carnet took all of 3 months from start to finish and it cost approximately 1,400 Bs. Note: it is not uncommon to experience government departments and their officials encouraging you to bribe them before they will do anything for you! Alas, welcome to South America.
- Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, not at all. I got full travel and medical insurance from the UK prior to coming to Bolivia and I renew it online as it expires.
- How do you make your living in Bolivia? Do you have any type of income generated?
I make my income from freelance Website design that I do for clients usually originating from the UK. Most leads I get from www.freelancers.net and occasionally some from www.getafreelancer.com in the US. There's also a full-time work option from several of the established foreign enterprises in the region.
- Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak so-so Spanish. The customs here are very different to those in the UK. It's considered very rude if you don't kiss on the cheek and embrace friends at a meeting or at a party. A quick wave from a distance doesn't suffice here!
- Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes, sometimes. My family at home, I miss them all. My friends. I was raised on a cattle farm in Northern Ireland and I miss that life a lot. I miss the Thames as well, especially Marlow where I used to live in Buckinghamshire. There's no such thing as quaint countryside pub here! I'd love a good Sunday Roast and a cold pint of Guinness. Guinness is only available in La Paz in The Irish Pub on Plaza Abaroa (in small bottles!)
- Do you have other plans for the future?
We kick-started our own enterprise; Alpaca Merchant. It is a family run business founded by myself and my wife following our time spent in Bolivia. After falling in love with the natural surroundings, we decided that we wanted to give something back. Hence, Alpaca Merchant was born and is now a thriving business supporting several local people and their families in the mountainous regions around La Paz. We provide fashionable men's, ladies and children's clothing specialising in jumpers, scarves and wraps all manufactured at source.
We design, knit and weave the majority of our own products respecting that the foundation of Alpaca is South American where generations of weavers have produced wonderful designs reflecting combinations of cultural patterns and rich colours. Customers tend to originate from countries where cooler climates suit the wear of alpaca-made produce best.
Myself from Northern Ireland and coupled with a background in textiles and in IT, and my wife being from La Paz and experienced in business administration, we joined our talents to introduce fine quality alpaca made clothing, aesthetically attractive, luxurious and practical to the rest of the world.
- What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We live in the south zone of La Paz, in an area known as Achumani. We rent a four-bedroom two-story detached house with large front and rear gardens for just a fraction of what you'd rent the same property for in the UK per month.
- What is the cost of living in Bolivia?
Next to nothing. It's incredibly economical to survive in Bolivia. The cost of living is supremely low. You get a lot for your pound here. Food and everyday necessities are cheap to buy. One Pound Sterling at home is worth 16 Bs in Bolivian currency. There's milage in that fact alone! Everything is mega cheap here.
- What do you think about the Bolivians?
The Bolivian's are mostly very easygoing. They're pleasant, tolerant, fun and welcoming. Occasionally you do encounter the odd irritating, detestable and rude person, but those kind of charming people you get back in the UK every once in a while too.
- What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Bolivia?
Positives: The cost of living is terrific. The range of fruit available is amazing, delicious and very cheap. Travel to everywhere is facilitated by an international airport, an excellent bus terminal and a wonderful and varied climate. Travel tickets are incredibly good value as well, especially by road.
Negatives: Well, when it rains, boy it really buckets it down! The national postal service is sometimes real slow. I suggest that you use www.pc2paper.co.uk for speeding up surface mail. I use this service to get letters delivered home quickly.
- Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Bolivia?
Enjoy it! And do everything you always wanted to do but didn't do back home!
(For UK citizens) register with LOCATE on the British Embassy Website as soon as you arrive. They're the most reliable and informative depot for what's happening in the country. Go to and see as much of Bolivia as you can, it's amazing and well worth investing the time and energy.
Observe the local customs and if you don't speak any Spanish, try to express a few general terms (you'll make a lot of friends just giving it a go). Copacabana by Lake Titicaca is not very far from La Paz and makes a super visit for any long weekend break. Same goes for the other cities of Potosi, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. The climate throughout Bolivia is varied. La Paz is the highest city in the world; a short walk sometimes can easily feel like a quick sprint! Santa Cruz is much lower and a great deal more humid and tropical. If you're going to do any of the "Death-Road" cycle trips, be sure to inform your embassy about your intentions. If anything goes wrong en-route, you'll be more than glad that you know that they know.
- Do you have any favorite Websites or blogs about Bolivia?
Mentor to Bolivia
Democracy in Bolivia
BoliviaMall.com
Bolivia Times (in English)
Alpaca Merchant
Masterline-Logistics
