Current Time in Cobija
Bolivian culture regarding time
Bolivian culture regarding time
A relaxed national character regarding time
It is not uncommon for people to be late for appointments in Bolivia, and some tardiness tends to be socially tolerated. In business and private life, the culture of prioritizing human relationships over time is deeply rooted.
The habit of taking a long lunch break
Even in urban areas, many companies have a lunch break of about two hours from 12:00 to 14:00, and the culture of going home to eat remains. In the afternoon, work usually resumes after 14:00.
It is common for events and gatherings to start late
It is common for events such as weddings and birthday parties to start one to two hours later than the time written on the invitation, and guests will act accordingly.
Values regarding time in Bolivia
Human relationships are important and time is flexible
In Bolivia, values that emphasize "good relationships" and "the atmosphere of the place" over "exact time" are strong, so it is not essential to keep to punctuality. Schedules often change depending on the flow of conversations and exchanges.
A relaxed sense of time
In work and daily life, there is a tendency to emphasize "doing things properly rather than rushing," and relaxed schedules and actions are preferred.
Diverse sense of time as a multi-ethnic country
In Bolivia, where indigenous cultures and urban Latin cultures mix, attitudes toward time differ depending on the region and ethnic group, and diversity is tolerated.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or moving to Bolivia
It is necessary to get used to "Latin time"
Meetings and gatherings often do not start at the scheduled time, which may seem "late" to Japanese or Western people, but if you understand this as a cultural difference, things will go more smoothly.
Public transportation timetables are only a guideline
Buses and long-distance transportation may depart and arrive earlier or later than scheduled, so it is important to have some leeway in your schedule. In particular, in rural areas, trains rarely run on time.
Be aware of the opening hours of government offices and stores
Public institutions and stores often take a long break at noon and reopen later in the afternoon, so it is important to check the opening hours in advance when visiting.
Interesting trivia about time in Bolivia
People are surprised when you arrive on time
In Bolivia, people may think that arriving exactly on time means being impatient, and there are times when arriving a little late is considered to be "reading the air."
Indigenous calendar culture is still alive and well
Indigenous peoples such as the Aymara value their own views on time and calendars (for example, the Andina calendar), and seasonal events such as harvest festivals are often based on this calendar.
Is there a relationship between altitude and sense of time?
In high-altitude areas such as the capital La Paz, the air is thin and active time tends to be shorter, so many people start early in the morning and go to bed early at night. This is also due to the climate and physical condition management.