Bolivia Travel Information

US citizens require a tourist visa for Bolivia, available on arrival at major airports for around $160 USD or in advance through the Bolivian consulate. EU, UK, Canadian, Australian, and most other nationalities enter visa-free for stays up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond entry.

The best time to visit Bolivia depends on what you want to see. The dry season from May to October is ideal for the Andes, Amazon, and overall easier travel with sunny days. November to April is the wet season, when the Salar de Uyuni becomes the famous mirror reflecting the sky, though other regions face rain and harder road access.

La Paz sits at 3,650 meters and the airport at 4,061 meters, so altitude sickness is common in the first 24 to 48 hours. The best preparation is arriving via Santa Cruz first to acclimatize gradually, staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol initially, and taking it easy on the first day. Coca tea (mate de coca) is widely used locally for symptoms.

Bolivia is generally safe for tourists who use standard precautions. Petty theft happens in busy areas of La Paz and Santa Cruz, so we coordinate registered transport and stick to tourist-frequented neighborhoods after dark. The Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, and Amazon regions where most EcoVoyager itineraries spend their time have very low crime.

Spanish is the most widely spoken language and is essential for most travel. Bolivia is officially multilingual with 37 recognized languages, and Quechua and Aymara are spoken extensively in the highlands. English is limited outside major hotels and tour operators, so we provide bilingual guides on every expedition.

The Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) is the local currency. US dollars are accepted at hotels and major tour operators, but everyday spending requires Bolivianos. ATMs are widely available in La Paz, Santa Cruz, Sucre, and Cochabamba but rare in rural areas, so we recommend carrying cash for the Salar de Uyuni and Amazon expeditions.

Yellow fever vaccination is required if you're traveling to the Amazon lowlands (Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz lowlands, La Paz lowlands). It's also required to enter several neighboring countries after a Bolivia visit. We recommend getting the vaccination regardless of your specific itinerary for the lifetime protection it provides.

Bolivia is known for the Salar de Uyuni (the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers), Lake Titicaca (the world's highest navigable lake, shared with Peru), and La Paz as the world's highest capital. It's also a stronghold of indigenous culture with strong Quechua and Aymara traditions, the Madidi Amazon rainforest, and pre-Inca ruins at Tiwanaku.

A meaningful Bolivia trip needs at least 10 to 12 days to combine the Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, and either the Amazon basin or Sucre's colonial highlands. Two to three weeks lets you add the southwest Lagunas Route, the Jesuit missions of Chiquitania, or extended Amazon time in Madidi National Park.

Tap water in Bolivia is not safe to drink. Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and even brushing teeth. EcoVoyager-vetted hotels and lodges all provide bottled or filtered drinking water at no extra cost, and we encourage refillable bottles for sustainability.