Bolivia: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Bolivia is one of the most underrated travel destinations on Earth.

From the high peaks of the Andes mountains, the mind-blowing salt flats in Uyuni, to the hot and sweaty jungles of the Amazon, Bolivia has a little bit of everything. Adrenaline for adventure-seekers, diverse cultures for explorers and nature on its finest for those wanting to connect with the Earth.

Bolivia has something for everybody, so let’s check it out!

The Key Info
The Country in Numbers
The 5 Largest Cities
Top Attractions
When to Travel
Important Holidays
Visa
Currency
Packing List
Dos and Don’ts
Secret Blogger Tips
Top Instagrammable Places
Fun Facts

Dive into our (free) travel guides below!

The Key Info

Bolivia is located in the center of the South American continent and it shares borders with Peru and Brazil to the north, Brasil again to the west, Paraguay and Argentina to the south and Chile and Peru to the east. This landlocked country is the 5^th largest country in South America, and yet it is home to barely 11 million people.

Bolivia’s has two capitals: Sucre is the constitutional capital, while La Paz is the political one, for it is there where the government is.

Spanish and all the languages spoken by the different indigenous groups in Bolivia are considered to be official languages.

Bolivia is divided into 3 different natural regions: the highest one, the Andes region on the southwest, the intermediate region where the Andes start to descend transformed in impressive valleys to the center and south of the country, and the Plains, covered by rainforest and with a very low altitude, which constitute most of the country.

Bolivia in numbers

Population: 11,383,094 million inhabitants
Total size of the country: 1,098,581 km²
Capital cities: La Paz and Sucre
Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
Languages: Spanish and a lot of different indigenous languages
Religion: Roman Catholic (66%), Protestants (17%), non-religious and others (17%)

The 5 largest cities in Bolivia

The largest cities in Brazil are Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Sucre.

# 1 Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia, has 2,110,000 inhabitants and it is located in the center of the country.

This city hosts one third of all tourists coming to Bolivia and it has a lot to offer. From the cathedran Basílica Menor de San Lorenzo and the historical city center, to many parks and a zoo where any traveler can enjoy the natural diversity of the area.

But the best thing about Santa Cruz is that it is located within a day’s trip from many amazing places, like the breathtaking national parks of Kempff Mercado National, Amboro and Kaa-Iya, the archeological ruins of El Fuerte, the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos or La Higuera, the place where the famous revolutionary Che Guevara was murdered.

# 2 La Paz

La Paz is located in the center-west part of the country and it is home to almost 2 million inhabitants.

Set against a striking backdrop of snow-capped mountains is Bolivia’s political capital and the world’s highest capital at a height of 3625 meters above sea level. La Paz is full of modern cafes, clubs, bars and restaurants, like the ones found in Calle Jaen, one of La Paz best kept colonial streets. You can also find traditional markets like Mercado Rodriguez or South America’s biggest flea market Mercado 16 de Julio, historic plazas like Plaza San Francisco and colonial architecture such as the one found in Basilica de San Francisco. There are numerous sights to discover, like the Teleferico (cable car) or the Moon Valley and adrenaline pumping activities to experience.

# 3 Cochabamba

Cochabamba is located in the center of Bolivia and it is home to over 1,2 million people.

It is one of Bolivia’s boom cities. The spacious, ever-expanding new-town avenues have a wide choice of restaurants, and it has a lively bar scene. You must check the Cristo de la Concordia and enjoy the views from there, It’s also the base for outdoor adventures further afield, including trips to Parque Torotoro.

# 4 Oruro

Oruro is located in the center-west part of the country and it is home around 300 thousand inhabitants.

The city itself does not offer much in terms of architecture. But there are good museums like Museo Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas and Museo Etnográfico Minero. But this city is mainly known for its Carnival, so make sure if you are visiting Oruro to do so during the Carnival.

# 5 Sucre

Sucre has around a quarter million inhabitants and is the located in the center-south of the country.

Sucre is the nation’s colonial centerpiece and historical heart. It holds many whitewashed colonial-era buildings, spectacular rooftop terraces and quaint garden patios. A great mix of all this features is the Convento de San Felipe Neri.

TOP Tourist Attractions

# 1 Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is one of the flattest places in the world and tourists travel in 4×4 vehicles across the expanse of the salt flats to visit locally fashioned structures made entirely from bricks of salt. This surreal place is most spectacular after a rain, when water sitting atop the cemented salt acts like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky above.

# 2 Tihuanaku

Tiwanaku is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia listed as a World Heritage. Its name comes from what is believed to have been one of the most important civilizations prior to the Inca Empire in the region. It is also one of the oldest and highest urban cities ever built.

# 3 Cerro Rico

Looming over Potosi there is a red, dusty mountain. Cerro Rico, reaching 4782 meters high, was rich in natural resources and once produced so much silver it pushed Potosi to become the wealthiest city in the Americas. Today, tourists can take guided tours through Cerro Rico’s claustrophobic mines and have a sense of that its like to work in this historic mine.

# 4 YUNGAS ROAD

One of the most popular activities in Bolivia is the death-defying bike ride along one of the world’s most dangerous roads. Surrounded by mountainous terrain and terrifying precipices, the winding road grimly known as ‘Death Road’, due to its notoriously high death rate, stretches 69kms from La Paz to Coroico, connecting the Amazonian rain-forest to the busy city.

# 5 Tarija wine region

This Bolivian region, located in the south, produces some of South America’s finest wines. Growing most of their grapes at an elevation of around 1800 meters, Tarija is officially the highest wine producer in the world. Though wine tasting tours in Tarija are not a refined experience, wine aficionados and budding sommeliers will enjoy sampling the variety of fruity reds and floral whites on offer, as well as the local specialty – singani.

Best time to travel

May to October is the best time to visit Bolivia, as the dry weather offers blue skies and less travel disruption due to the rains.

This coincides with Bolivian winter, though, so the highlands will be cold – and well below freezing in the desert at night.

The humid jungle, however, benefits from the cooler temperatures. The start of the dry season, from April to May, offers lower prices and fewer crowds, but still feels fresh from the recent rains.

Holidays in Bolivia

January 1: New Year
January 22: Plurinational State of Bolivia Anniversary
February 2: Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria
March-April Floating: Carnival
March-April Floating: Holy week (Good Friday through Easter Sunday).
Floatin 60 days after Easter: Corpus Christi
May 1: Labor Day
June 21: Andean New Year (on traditional date of Aymara New Year and the winter solstice)
August 2: Agrarian Reform Day
August 6: Independence Day
November 2: All Saints Day
December 25: Christmas Day

Do I Need a Visa?

Europeans Union citizens with a valid Schengen passport do not need a visa to enter the country for touristic reasons.

US citizens do need to apply for a visa.

As for the rest of nationalities, you can check if you have to apply for a visa here: https://www.boliviahop.com/visa-requirements/

Bolivian Currency

Bolivian currency is the Boliviano. Banknotes are available at 10, 20, 50, 100 y 200 Bolivianos, and coins range from the 10, 20 and 50 cents to the 1, 2 and 5 Bolivianos.

Money / Credit Cards: Credit cards are of common use in the main cities, so there should be no problem paying with them. Although when travelling outside of major cities, it is a good idea to pack enough cash.

Dos and Don’ts in Bolivia

Brazil, as any other country has its rules and practices that you need to know when travelling there to avoid feeling uncomfortable or even being disrespectful

Do	Don’t
Try and learn some greetings. Most encounters are characterized by shaking hands or kissing (one cheek on left hand side).	Carry large notes. But do try to carry coins, they are life savers.
Always carry a bottle of water; the altitude is very dehydrating.	Travel without toilet paper. Your welcome.Decline a gift from a local.
Obey the Zebras. Downtown neighborhoods of any large Bolivian city are a chaotic mess but a team of friendly zebras hit the streets each day to bring some order to the madness. Follow their lead, and you’ll be fine.	Take pictures of people without consent. Try to establish a relationship first before you try that, for example by buying whatever they might be selling.

Must-Haves for Your Bolivia Packing List!

Rainwear or waterproof clothing.
Hiking boots and socks. Your feet will thank you if you are planning on longer treks.
The standard voltage in Bolivia is 115 / 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are of type A and C.
Sunscreen, for due to the altitude it is very easy to get burned.

Secret tips from bloggers worldwide

The Lomas de Arena: a landscape of sand dunes – Bolivia Bella
Takesi: A beautiful three day trek begins at a high mountain and ending in the lush semi-tropical Yungas region. – Restless Boots