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.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
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
- 45/100
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
Reconsider travelin Belize due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Please read the entire Travel Advisory. Crime Isolated incidents of violent crime can happen even during the day and in tourist areas, though the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime. Crimes include sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder. Much of this violence is linked to gangs. Local police lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious crimes. Most crimes remain unresolved and unprosecuted. Emergency medical services are usually unavailable or significantly delayed. Serious injuries or illnesses normally require medical evacuation to another country. Due to security risks, U.S. citizens should follow the same guidance as government employees while traveling. U.S. government employees are strongly discouraged from: Traveling to the south side of Belize City from the Haulover Creek Canal to Fabers Road. Driving between cities in Belize after dark. Read the Travel Guidance section page for additional information on travel to Belize. Reconsider travel to Southside Belize City due to crime.
Read full advisory →Data current as of June 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