SouthWind Destinations: Bolivia | Las Palomas

Scheduled Bolivia Wingshooting | Las Palomas Trips

Three Day Hunts: .June 9-14, June 13-18, June 20-25, Sept. 1-6, Sept 11-16, Sept. 22-27, Oct. 29-4, Oct 6-11, Oct. 13-18 and Oct. 20-25.

Four Day Hunts: June 27-3 (4 slots), July 2-7 (4 slots), Aug. 7-11, Aug, 21-27, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, Oct. 2-8. Oct. 9-15, Oct. 16-22 and Oct. 23-29

Typical Bolivia Wingshooting | Las Palomas Itinerary

Day 1,

Most people will be flying on American Airlines, which normally arrives Bolivia at 8:11 am. Our guides will meet you after you clear immigrations. They'll assist you through customs and transfer you to the Las Palomas Lodge--a short 90 minutes drive away. For those wanting a charter to the lodge, the cost is $200 per person. You should arrive in plenty of time to get settled in before lunch. You'll shoot half a day this afternoon.

Days 2, 3 and (4 on four day hunts)

These are two or three full days of dove shooting staying at La Palomas Lodge. We are usually up at day break, have a full breakfast and then head for the fields. One morning will be a pigeon shoot--so you'll need to be up a little earlier this day. The morning shoot lasts until around 10:30-11:00 am, followed by a break for lunch. As most drives are within 30 minutes, you'll to the lodge for a hot lunch, and a dip in the pool or siesta before heading back out for the afternoon roost shoot. On days we travel further, you'll enjoy a bar-b-que lunch specially prepared in the field. The afternoon roost shoots are truly breathtaking as millions of birds come flooding back in the roosts. You'll be shooting the eared dove in incredible numbers.

Day 5 or (6)

This will be your last morning's shoot. After the shoot, you will return to the lodge with plenty of time to get packed up, have lunch and then return to Santa Cruz and your room at a a 5-star hotel.

Day 6 or (7)

This morning, our agents will again meet the group and transfer you to the international airport for your 6.5 hour non-stop flight back to Miami, arriving around 4:00 pm.

When Wingshooting In Bolivia at Las Palomas You Will Need:

In 2007, the Bolivian government passed a law requiring that all U.S citizens need to have a tourist visa amd yellow fever vaccinations for entry. You can get your tourist Visa before or or after arrival, you must have proof of the yellow fever vaccination to leave the US. Southwind Destinations will be glad to assist you with getting your tourist visa before you travel.

The flights from the U.S. to Bolivia are normally overnight flights leaving Miami late in the evening and arriving in Santa Cruz, Bolivia the next morning. The flight will make a brief stop in La Paz, Bolivia around 6:00 am . While you usually will not leave the plane, please be aware you might experience some altitude symptoms, as La Paz is at about 13,000 feet in elevation.

VERY IMPORTANT! As you will normally be flying on American Airlines, make sure to check your luggage in your hometown all the way to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. You are limited to two pieces of checked luggage, including your shotgun cases. It is required from TSA that all guns must be checked in as baggage, and shipped in a hard-sided, lockable gun case. For any questions regarding checked or carryon luggage please, visit http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm. For those who need airline approved gun case, may we suggest AMERICASE (800-972-2737) http://americase.com/pages/airlines.html as they are up to date on the requirements and have a reputation for quality.

WHAT TO BRING: You will find the dress in Bolivia to be casual. The lodge has daily laundry service available, so it is not necessary to bring a lot of cloths. The weather during our hunting season (April-November) is typically pleasant and comfortable in the evenings and early mornings, and warms up quickly during the day. You can expect highs in the 80-90s and lows in the 60s. Lightweight hunting boots or tennis shoes are fine. Be sure to check the weather or call our office before you go to get the current forecast.

Consider wearing shorts and bringing a rain suit, as this will keep you warm enough until the sun starts to bake. There is very little walking involved, so a light boot or tennis shoes usually works fine. As you are closer to the equator, be sure to bring a good hat and sunscreen as well as a good pair of shooting glasses and ear protection. Definitely bring camouflage or KAKI clothing for the hunts, as the birds can be skittish. Dress at the lodge is very casual, where most will be wearing bathing suits or shorts during the mid-day. As with all outdoor activities where you will be in the field, bug and mosquitoes are a possibility. You should always bring bug repellant. Please bring all medications, particularly if you have health issues. While emergency services are available, they are not considered to be close by.

Bolivia runs at 220 volts, so you may need a converter. However, just about all cell phone and laptop chargers accept antyhing from 240 to 110. The lodge has Wi-Fi as well as a public PC if anyone needs to check emails. Cell phones work sometimes, but they also have land lines for calls, as well. If you have a IPhone, Droid or PDA that you can download apps, the Skype app allows you to talk directly to another computer or call home for pennies a minute.

SHELLS: Shotgun shells are $13.00 per box of 25 and at the end of the trip; you will be presented with a bill for the shells you have shot. You can pay for your shells with cash, traveler’s check or personal checks, However- If you pay by personal check or Travelers checks there will be a flat $30.00 change fee. You must purchase all your shells in Bolivia as it is against the law to bring shotgun shells with you into Bolivia.

TIPPING POLICY: Suggested tips for the bird boys are $30-$40 per day per boy. You can have one or two boys. Most groups take up a collection for the lodge staff. $60-100 per person is the norm. It will be distributed among the cooks, maids, scouts and drivers.

In Closing the most important item is for you to relax, have fun and enjoy yourself. You will find Jorge and Karen Molina, as well as their entire staff to be extremely accommodating so if you need something, please ask and they will do their best to take care of you.