Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about sending flowers to Bolivia from abroad with BoliviaFlorist: delivery times, costs, payment and local customs.
Ordering and delivery to Bolivia
How do I send flowers to Bolivia from abroad?
You order online at boliviaflorist.com and a local florist in Bolivia makes and delivers the arrangement by hand. Choose the flowers, pick a size and a delivery date, write your card message and pay by card or PayPal. It works the same from the US, the UK, Europe, Asia or anywhere else. Bolivian addresses rarely use postcodes, so give the city, the zona or barrio, the street and number, the building and floor if there is one, and a nearby landmark. In Santa Cruz, add the ring road (anillo). The recipient's phone number is required.
Which cities in Bolivia do you deliver to?
We deliver to every town in Bolivia. That includes La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cochabamba, El Alto, Sucre, Oruro, Tarija and Potosí, as well as smaller places such as Trinidad, Montero, Quillacollo, Yacuiba and Uyuni. In the main cities same-day delivery is normally available. In very remote areas, for example parts of the Amazon north or the far south-west, the florist may need until the next day.
How much does flower delivery to Bolivia cost?
Delivery costs a flat fee of USD 14.95 per order, wherever in Bolivia the flowers are going. There are no other surcharges: no extra charge for same-day delivery, for a particular city or for the printed card message. The fee is shown in the cart before you pay, so the total you see at checkout is the total you are charged.
What happens if the recipient is not at home?
The florist will try to hand the flowers to someone who can receive them safely. That is why a phone number is required: the florist may call the recipient to coordinate. If nobody answers the door, the flowers can be left with a neighbour, a building porter, reception or a concierge, or the florist arranges a new delivery attempt. For offices and gated condominiums, add the company or condominium name and any gatehouse instructions.
Can you deliver flowers to a hospital or clinic in Bolivia?
Yes, florists deliver to hospitals and private clinics in Bolivian cities. Include the name of the hospital, the patient's full name, the ward or room number if you know it, and a phone number for the patient or a relative. Some wards, such as intensive care, do not accept flowers, and in that case the florist will leave them at reception or with the family. A compact arrangement or a bouquet with a vase is the most practical choice for a hospital room.
Delivery times and dates
Do you offer same-day flower delivery in Bolivia?
Yes, same-day delivery is available Monday to Saturday for orders placed before 11:00 am local time in Bolivia. Orders placed after 11:00 am are delivered the next day. This applies to most areas; very remote places may need next-day delivery. Next-day delivery is available nationwide. Bolivia keeps the same time all year (UTC-4), so check the difference with your own time zone before the cut-off.
Do you deliver on Sundays and public holidays in Bolivia?
No, there are no deliveries on Sundays or on the main national public holidays. Examples of blocked dates include New Year's Day, the Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, Labour Day on 1 May, Independence Day on 6 August and Christmas Day. The date picker on the site blocks these days automatically, so any date you are able to select is a valid delivery day. If the occasion falls on a Sunday, most customers choose the Saturday before.
Can I choose a delivery time or schedule an order in advance?
You can schedule delivery for any available date up to about 3 months ahead, which is useful for Mother's Day, birthdays and anniversaries. Deliveries take place during the day. If you prefer a morning or afternoon window, write it in the delivery instructions and the florist will try to meet it, but exact times are not guaranteed. For a surprise at an office, mention the working hours so the florist arrives while the recipient is there.
Flowers, sizes and add-ons
What is the difference between Regular, Upgraded and Deluxe?
They are three sizes of the same design. Regular is the base version, Upgraded has about 30% more flowers and Deluxe has about 60% more. The product photo shows the Upgraded version, so choose Upgraded if you want the arrangement to look like the picture, Regular for a more modest gesture, or Deluxe for a fuller, more generous result. Most arrangements are offered in all three sizes.
Will the flowers look exactly like the photo?
They will match the style, colours and overall look, but small differences are possible. Each arrangement is made by hand by a local florist using what is fresh that day. If a particular stem is out of season in Bolivia, the florist may replace it with flowers of equal or higher value in the same colours and style. Remember that the photo shows the Upgraded size.
What can I add to my flowers, and do you sell cakes or gift baskets?
You can add a box of chocolates, a glass vase, a plush teddy bear, a greeting card, balloons or a bottle of wine. We do not sell cakes, food hampers or other gifts: BoliviaFlorist is a flower service, and the add-ons listed here are the only extras available. Add-ons are selected on the product page before checkout and are delivered together with the flowers by the same florist.
Is a card message included?
Yes, every order includes a free printed card message. You write the text during checkout and it is printed and delivered with the flowers. Sign it with your name, because the florist does not add the sender's details and the recipient may not know who sent the bouquet. Messages can be written in Spanish or in any other language. If you want something more elaborate, a greeting card is available as an add-on.
Payment and your order
How can I pay, and in which currency?
You can pay with an international credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) through Stripe, or with PayPal. All prices are charged in US dollars (USD). The site can also show approximate prices in euros (EUR) and Bolivian bolivianos (BOB) for reference, but the amount charged is always in USD. Checkout is secure and encrypted, and your card details are handled by the payment provider.
Will I receive a confirmation of my order?
Yes, you receive an email confirmation with your order number right after ordering. Keep that number: if you need to ask a question or change something, mentioning it lets us find your order immediately. If the email does not appear within a few minutes, check your spam folder, and if it is still missing write to us through the contact form at /page/contact.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Yes, changes and cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the delivery date. After that point the florist has usually bought the flowers, so later changes are handled on a best-effort basis. Send your request through the contact form at /page/contact and include your order number. Replies usually arrive within a few hours.
What if the flowers arrive damaged or are not what I ordered?
If the flowers arrive damaged or clearly different from what was ordered, we arrange a replacement or a refund. Contact us within 24 hours of delivery through the form at /page/contact, with your order number and a photo of the arrangement as it was received. The photo lets us review the case with the florist quickly and decide with you whether a new delivery or a refund is the better solution.
Who is behind BoliviaFlorist?
BoliviaFlorist is operated by Flowers Worldwide LLC, a company registered in the United States. Its sister brands are abcFlora.com, for worldwide flower delivery, and FlowersCloud.com. Orders placed on boliviaflorist.com are prepared and delivered by local florists in Bolivia, while payment, customer service and order follow-up are handled by the Flowers Worldwide team through the contact form.
Occasions and flower etiquette in Bolivia
When is Mother's Day in Bolivia?
Mother's Day in Bolivia is on 27 May every year, whatever day of the week it falls on. The date honours the women of Cochabamba who defended the city on the Coronilla hill in 1812. It is the busiest flower day of the Bolivian year, so order several days ahead. If 27 May falls on a Sunday, choose Saturday 26 May, because there are no Sunday deliveries.
Is Valentine's Day celebrated in Bolivia?
Yes, but Bolivia has two days for love. 14 February is observed as Valentine's Day, especially in the cities, while 21 September is the traditional Day of Love, which coincides with the first day of spring and Students' Day. On 21 September couples and friends exchange flowers, and in recent years giving yellow flowers on that date has become popular. Red roses remain the classic romantic choice on both days.
Which flowers are traditional gifts in Bolivia?
Roses are the most popular gift flower in Bolivia, followed by lilies, carnations, gerberas and mixed bouquets in bright colours. Many are grown in the valleys of Cochabamba. Red roses express love, pink and mixed colours suit mothers and birthdays, and white flowers are mainly associated with weddings, religious occasions and mourning. Bolivia's national flowers are the kantuta of the Andes and the patujú of the lowlands, both in the red, yellow and green of the flag.
What is the etiquette for sympathy and funeral flowers in Bolivia?
White flowers are the customary choice for condolences in Bolivia. Wakes are usually held soon after a death, at the family home or a funeral parlour, so order as early as you can and give the name of the deceased and the address of the wake. Write a short, respectful card message. Flowers also matter at Todos Santos, on 1 and 2 November, when families visit cemeteries and remember their dead. 2 November is a public holiday, so plan delivery for the days before.
Does Bolivia's altitude or climate affect flowers?
Yes, conditions vary a great deal across Bolivia. In La Paz, El Alto, Oruro and Potosí the air is cold and dry, flowers last well indoors, and they should be protected from night frost. In Santa Cruz, Trinidad and the Amazon north it is hot and humid, so bouquets need fresh water daily and a place away from direct sun. Cochabamba, Sucre and Tarija have mild valley climates. The rainy season runs roughly from November to March.