We flew to Viru Viru Airport near Santa Cruz de la Sierra with our dog Ibo from Asunción. It was a direct flight of about two hours, so the journey itself was relatively short and without connections.
Ibo traveled again in the cargo hold, in his designated crate. After landing, we faced a series of small, sometimes surprising steps that it’s good to be prepared for.
Online registration form and WiFi
After arrival we had to fill out an online registration form. Fortunately, WiFi was available at the airport – slow, but ultimately functional. Without it it would have been more complicated, so we recommend having a mobile data connection or being prepared to wait a bit.
Security check even after arrival
Unlike many other airports, we were surprised to find a baggage security check even after arrival. It’s nothing major, but it’s good to be aware of.
Picking up the dog on the baggage belt
One of the biggest surprises was that Ibo’s crate arrived on the same belt as regular luggage. Until now we were used to picking up the dog at the Lost and Found or another special area. Seeing Ibo among the suitcases on the belt was a bit comical, but we were also concerned for his safety. In the end it turned out it harmed him in no way and everything went smoothly.
Veterinary check – more of a formality
Ibo was the only dog that arrived on that flight that day. Nevertheless, the airport staff called an employee to check the veterinary documents. We had them issued directly in Paraguay, so there was no need for translations since both countries speak Spanish.
The local employee only checked the documents, scanned the QR code on the last page, and approved the entry without inspecting the dog itself in any way. Only after all formalities were completed were we allowed to remove Ibo from the crate.
Practical tip: scissors in checked luggage
We recommend having scissors or another suitable sharp tool in your checked luggage at check-in. Crates are usually secured before departure with plastic “eska” straps and you will have a very hard time removing them without tools. Of course, such an item definitely should not be in your carry-on luggage.
Airport facilities
Viru Viru Airport offers standard facilities – car rentals, small restaurants, currency exchanges, shops selling SIM cards, and we even found a small pet supplies store.
We left the airport in a rented car, but local taxis are also available. However, you should expect that not all taxis accept dogs. Practical alternatives are apps like Uber or taxi services where you can arrange transport with a dog in advance.
Cash comes in handy
It’s not a strict requirement, but we recommend having at least a small amount of local currency (BOB) on you, or getting some at the airport. The exchange rate might not be ideal, but you’ll appreciate having cash if needed. We didn’t have any cash and ran into a problem right when leaving the airport — there was a 10 BOB fee to exit by car. The man at the window refused a payment of 1 USD, so we paid 2 USD and overpaid unnecessarily.
Overall rating
We rate the arrival and handling of formalities at Viru Viru Airport as average but relatively pleasant. We arrived during a period of favorable weather, which made the whole experience much nicer. Therefore, we recommend checking the expected weather before arrival — heat, strong winds, or rain can spoil your first impression of the country if you’re not prepared.
Despite small peculiarities, our entry into Bolivia with the dog went without major complications and Ibo handled it better than we expected.