Bolivia travel guide

Getting there

The main international airports are El Alto (La Paz) and Viru Viru (Santa Cruz). Popular land crossings include Peru via Copacabana or Desaguadero, Chile via San Pedro de Atacama tours to Uyuni, and Argentina at Villazón.

Best time to visit: May–Oct – dry season with clear skies; Jan–Mar for the Uyuni mirror effect.

Tougher months: January–February: heavy rains can cause landslides, flooded roads and closures in the lowlands and Yungas – though this is when the Salar mirror is most likely.

Weather by month in La Paz

• 15°J●●●
• 15°F●●
• 15°M●●
• 15°A●
• 14°M
• 13°J
• 13°J
• 14°A
• 15°S●
• 16°O●
• 17°N●
• 16°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/La_Paz. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 60 of 198 other passports can enter Bolivia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 138 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Bolivia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-18). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Bolivia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Bolivia are based around La Paz, Salar de Uyuni or Lake Titicaca & Copacabana. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Bolivia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, C. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +591.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• La Paz (Altiplano · city): A wildly scenic city tumbling down a canyon, with witches' markets, cable cars and nearby Valle de la Luna.
• Salar de Uyuni (Southwest · salt flat): A surreal white desert plus multi-day tours to lagoons, volcanoes and geysers near the Chilean border.
• Lake Titicaca & Copacabana (Altiplano · lake): A pilgrimage town on the shore of the high lake and gateway to the Islands of the Sun and Moon.
• Sucre (Central valleys · colonial city): A relaxed, UNESCO-listed colonial city, popular for Spanish lessons and mild weather.
• Potosí (Highlands · silver city): Once among the richest cities on Earth, with a historic mint and baroque churches at dizzying altitude.
• Madidi National Park (Amazon basin · rainforest): One of the most biodiverse protected areas on the planet, reached from the river town of Rurrenabaque.
• Torotoro National Park (Potosí department · canyons): Dramatic canyons, caves and dinosaur footprints in a remote, rewarding landscape.
• Samaipata (Santa Cruz department · valleys): A laid-back village near the ancient carved rock of El Fuerte and cloud forests of Amboró National Park.

Things to do

• Cross the Salar de Uyuni. Ride a 4x4 across the world's largest salt flat, a blinding white expanse that turns into a giant mirror after rain.
• Ride La Paz's cable cars. Glide over the city on the vast urban cable-car network for jaw-dropping views of the canyon and snowcapped Illimani.
• Cycle the Death Road. Descend thousands of metres from icy Andean passes to steamy Yungas jungle on the infamous former highway.
• Sleep on Isla del Sol. Hike between Inca ruins on Lake Titicaca's Island of the Sun and watch the sun set over the deep blue water.
• Descend into Potosí's mines. Join a cooperative-run tour inside Cerro Rico for a sobering look at centuries of mining life.
• Wander white Sucre. Explore the graceful whitewashed streets, churches and markets of Bolivia's constitutional capital.
• See the coloured lagoons. Spot flamingos on the blood-red Laguna Colorada and geysers steaming at dawn in the far southwest.
• Explore the Amazon. Take a riverboat from Rurrenabaque into Madidi National Park or the pampas to spot caimans, capybaras and pink river dolphins.

Source: full Bolivia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Salteñas – juicy baked pastries filled with stew
• Silpancho – thin beef cutlet with rice, potatoes and egg
• Sajta de pollo – chicken in spicy yellow chilli sauce
• Api – warm purple corn drink, often with fried pastry

Source: RoamSun Bolivia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Bolivian boliviano (BOB). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants; small tips for guides and drivers..

Emergency numbers: 110 police · 118 ambulance · 119 fire.

• The boliviano is the currency; carry small notes, as change can be scarce in rural areas and markets.
• ATMs are available in cities and Uyuni, but cash is essential for remote tours, buses and small towns.
• Use registered radio taxis or ride-hailing apps, especially at night and from bus stations, to avoid fake-taxi scams.
• Road blockades and protests are common and can strand travellers – keep plans flexible and follow local news.

Source: RoamSun Bolivia facts