Bolivia
Plurinational State of Bolivia
South America · BOL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Bolivia
Bolivia is a rewarding South America trip for travelers who want salt flats, high-altitude cities, and dramatic Andean scenery in one country. It works best as a focused route around La Paz, Uyuni, and one or two heritage or lake stops rather than a fast cross-country sweep.
Popular For
Things To See
- La Paz
- Uyuni Salt Flat
- Salar de Uyuni
- Lake Titicaca
- Sucre
- Tiwanaku
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- High altitude shapes the trip, so first days should stay light and well-paced.
- Uyuni and the altiplano are strongest when the route is built around them instead of forced into a rushed loop.
- Dry-season timing makes the salt flats and road conditions easier to manage.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Bolivia.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Bolivia Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Bolivia.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Sucre
- Population
- 11,365,333
- Area
- 1,098,581 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Aymara
- Guaraní
- Quechua
- Spanish
Currency
Bolivian boliviano (Bs.)
BOB
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
34.3
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 28.4
- Restaurants
- 22.2
- Rent
- 8.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Sucre (19.02°S, 65.26°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
65/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 75/100
- Lived safety
- 46/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.733
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.011
- 10-year change
- +0.034
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.961
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.419
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.675
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (7)
- 🏛️
Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture
Inscribed 2000
- 🌿
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Fuerte de Samaipata
Inscribed 1998
- 🏛️
Historic City of Sucre
Inscribed 1991
- 🏛️
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
Inscribed 1990
- 🏛️
City of Potosí
Inscribed 1987
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 30.9%
- Forest cover
- 46.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 24
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 47
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
49/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
77/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There was no change to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise increased caution in Bolivia due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel to Chapare Province due to crime. Advisory Summary U.S. government employees working in Bolivia need special authorization to travel to Chapare Province due to a higher incidence of crimes associated with narcotrafficking. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist spots. Stay aware of your surroundings. U.S. government employees working in Bolivia are encouraged to pay extra attention to their surroundings in El Alto because of petty crime. Large demonstrations about local politics and the economic situation can happen with little warning. Demonstrations may block transportation and other essential services. Medical services for routine and emergency procedures are limited in rural areas. Review the Health section of the Travel Guidance for more information. Consider the risk of traveling to high altitude locations in Bolivia. Level: 4 – Do not travel Chapare Province Do not travel to Chapare Province due to crime. Do not travel to Chapare Province for any reason. Significant amounts of coca are produced illegally in Chapare province. Local police presence is limited and there is a higher prevalence of violent crime associated with narcotrafficking. U.S. government employees working in Bolivia need special authorization to travel to Chapare Province. The U.S. government has limited ability to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chapare Province. Review our information on Travel to High-Risk Areas. If you decide to travel to Bolivia: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report. Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Stay aware of your surroundings. Stay alert in tourist spots. Carry a copy of your passport and visa (if applicable). Leave originals in your hotel safe. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Refer to our list of medical providers. Review the CDC’s page on Travel to High Altitudes. Make sure your insurance includes medical evacuation coverage. Check with your doctor about required vaccines and shots for high-risk exposure before you go to Bolivia. Review the Health section in the Travel Guidance for Bolivia. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Bolivia. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data