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Bolivia — Lago Titicaca y los Andes
— Official guide · Updated 2026

Bolivia
Travel Guide 2026

Everything you need to know before travelling to Bolivia — visas, altitude, when to go, budget, ecosystems and the best destinations. Written by Bolivians.

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9 departments
Altiplano · Valles · Amazonia · Chaco
11 ecosystems
La mayor diversidad de Sudamérica
1,098,581 km²
5º país más grande de SA
~11.5 million
Habitantes
Spanish · 36 languages
País oficialmente plurinacional
Bs (BOB)
1 USD ≈ 6,9 Bs (cambio oficial 2026)

When to visit

When to go to Bolivia?

Bolivia has no single season — it depends on what you want to see. The dry season (May–Oct) is most comfortable for the Altiplano. The wet season activates the Amazon and the mirror effect.

May–OctDry season — best for travel

Clear skies, good road conditions, perfect Altiplano temperature (15–22°C days). Ideal for the Salar de Uyuni (perfect white crust), trekking near La Paz, and southeastern Bolivia. Chaco wildlife concentrates around water sources.

Nov–AbrWet season — mirror effect and Amazon

The Salar de Uyuni floods shallowly creating the world's most photographed mirror effect (Dec–Mar). Amazon and Chapare at their biological peak. Roads may be difficult in remote areas. Carnaval de Oruro in February.

FebCarnaval de Oruro — UNESCO Heritage

Bolivia's largest folkloric entrada: 20,000+ dancers, 30,000+ musicians, 48 conjuntos. UNESCO declared it a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage. Book Oruro accommodation 3–6 months ahead.

AgoAugust festivals — Urkupiña and more

August is Bolivia's festival month: Urkupiña in Quillacollo (Cochabamba) — the country's largest pilgrimage with 400,000 people — and dozens of patron saint celebrations across the altiplano.

Top destinations

The 10 must-see destinations

All destinations →
Salar de Uyuni
3.656m
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest salt flat · 10,582 km²
La Paz
3.640m
La Paz
World's highest capital · 30km cable car
Lake Titicaca
3.812m
Lake Titicaca
World's highest navigable lake
Tiwanaku
UNESCO
Tiwanaku
Pre-Inca city · 2,000 years of history
Madidi National Park
1,895,750 ha
Madidi National Park
World's most biodiverse park · 1,000+ birds
Death Road Bolivia
3.600→1.200m
Death Road Bolivia
World's most famous mountain bike descent
Sucre
UNESCO
Sucre
The white city · Constitutional capital · Cal Orcko
Carnaval de Oruro
14–15 Feb 2026
Carnaval de Oruro
UNESCO Heritage · 20,000 dancers · 48 conjuntos
Chiquitanía
UNESCO
Chiquitanía
Jesuit missions · Baroque music · Santa Cruz
Pampas del Yacuma
Beni
Pampas del Yacuma
Pink dolphins · Anacondas · Caimans

Ecosystems

Bolivia has 11 ecosystems

From altiplano at 5,000m to Amazon jungle at 100m. Bolivia has more geographical diversity per km² than almost any other country on earth.

Altiplano
3,500–4,500m · Uyuni · Titicaca · La Paz
Amazon
200–800m · Madidi · Rurrenabaque · Pampas
Valleys
2,500–3,200m · Cochabamba · Sucre · Gastronomy
Yungas
800–2,800m · Death Road · Coroico · Coffee
Chiquitanía
200–600m · UNESCO Jesuit Missions
Pantanal
100–200m · Jaguar · Eastern Santa Cruz
Llanos de Moxos
150–400m · Geoglyphs · Beni · San Ignacio
Southwest · REA
4,200–5,000m · Laguna Colorada · Geysers
Gran Chaco
300–1,000m · Kaa-Iya · Villamontes
Tucumano Forest
1,000–3,000m · Tariquía · Blue Morpho
Cerrado
Northern Santa Cruz · Noel Kempff · Savannahs
Explore all ecosystems →

Visas & entry

Do I need a visa for Bolivia?

From 1 December 2025, US citizens moved into Group 1 — no visa required for 90 days. UK, EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand already had this status. ALL travellers must complete the SIGEMIG (free digital registration, 8–10 min) before arriving.

SIGEMIG — mandatory for all

Free digital migration registration. Complete at sigemig.gob.bo before flying. Generates a QR code you present at the border. Takes 8–10 minutes. Without SIGEMIG, the immigration officer will register you at the border.

Altitude & health guide →
CountryGrupoDaysNota
🇺🇸 USAGroup 190Visa-free since 1 Dec 2025
🇬🇧 UKGroup 190No visa
🇪🇺 EU (all)Group 190No visa
🇨🇦 CanadaGroup 190No visa
🇦🇺 AustraliaGroup 190No visa
🇳🇿 New ZealandGroup 190No visa
🇯🇵 JapanGroup 190No visa
🇰🇷 South KoreaGroup 190Visa-free since 1 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 IndiaGroup 230Visa on arrival · $30
🇨🇳 ChinaGroup 230Prior visa at consulate

⚠ Always verify at cancilleria.gob.bo — the list is updated regularly.

Budget

How much does Bolivia cost?

Bolivia is one of South America's most affordable countries. Real cost mainly depends on tourism type: the Altiplano and cities are very affordable; the Amazon and remote national parks cost more.

$30–50 USD/día
Backpacker
  • ·Hostel dorm: $8–15
  • ·Market food: $3–6
  • ·Intercity bus: $5–15
  • ·3-day Uyuni tour: $70–120
$60–100 USD/día
Mid-range
  • ·2–3 star hotel: $30–60
  • ·Local restaurant: $8–15
  • ·Private tours from $50
  • ·Internal flights: $60–120
$120–250 USD/día
Comfort
  • ·Boutique hotel: $70–150
  • ·Gourmet restaurant: $20–40
  • ·Custom Love Bolivia tours
  • ·Nature ecolodges: $120–300

Travel guides

Practical guides for your trip

Everything you need to plan before arriving in Bolivia, one focused guide per topic.

When to Visit Bolivia
Seasons · Mirror effect · Carnival · 12 months
Bolivia Visas 2026
USA visa-free · SIGEMIG · 3 groups · Requirements
Altitude & Altitude Sickness
Soroche · 14 destinations · Symptoms · 7 tips
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Jaguar · Condor · Pink dolphin · 12 species
Carnaval de Oruro
UNESCO Heritage · 20,000 dancers · Programme
Bolivia Itineraries
7 · 10 · 14 · 21 days · Plan your trip
Bolivia Gastronomy
Salteña · Chicha · Singani · 5 ecosystems · Markets

— FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Bolivia

We answer every question personally. Drop us a line.

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— Love Bolivia

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We design your custom itinerary — 9 departments, 11 ecosystems, local Bolivian guides. A 45-minute call with someone who knows every corner of the country.

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