Highlights
Salar de Uyuni
The world's largest salt flat, a white plain more than 10,000 square kilometres in size. After rain it turns into a giant mirror; in the dry season it cracks into hexagons. Tours visit Isla Incahuasi, an island covered in giant cacti.
The Southwest Altiplano
Multi-day jeep tours from Uyuni cross a high desert of volcanoes, geysers and coloured lagoons, including the red Laguna Colorada with its flamingos and the green Laguna Verde.
La Paz
A city in a deep canyon beneath the snow-covered Illimani mountain. Mi Teleférico, a network of cable cars, links La Paz with El Alto and gives views over the city, and markets such as the Witches' Market are full of traditional goods.
Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol
The lake straddles the border with Peru. From the lakeside town of Copacabana, boats go to Isla del Sol, with Inca ruins, terraced hillsides and walking trails.
Sucre
The constitutional capital, a UNESCO-listed colonial city of whitewashed buildings, churches and museums, with a milder climate than La Paz.
Potosí
Once one of the richest cities in the world thanks to the silver of Cerro Rico, the mountain above it. The colonial mint, Casa de la Moneda, tells the story of the silver trade.
Madidi National Park
A huge park where the Andes meet the Amazon, reached from the river town of Rurrenabaque, with jungle and pampas tours to see monkeys, caimans, pink river dolphins and birds.
Tiwanaku
The ruins of a pre-Inca civilisation near Lake Titicaca, with carved stone gateways such as the Gate of the Sun and monolithic statues.
Interesting facts about Bolivia
- Bolivia has two capitals: Sucre is the constitutional capital, while La Paz is the seat of government.
- The constitution recognises Spanish and more than 30 Indigenous languages as official.
- Although Bolivia lost its coastline in the War of the Pacific in the 1880s, it still maintains a navy, which operates on lakes and rivers.
- La Paz's Mi Teleférico is one of the largest urban cable car networks in the world.
- In the seventeenth century, Potosí was one of the largest cities in the world.
Best time to visit
The dry season from May to October is the most popular time, with clear skies, good road conditions and cold nights on the Altiplano. The Salar de Uyuni is best known for its mirror effect in the rainy season from about January to March, when some routes may be flooded. The rainy season from November to March can make jungle and lowland roads difficult. Carnival in Oruro, in February or March, is one of South America's great festivals.
Practical information
| Capital | Sucre (seat of government: La Paz) |
|---|---|
| Currency | Boliviano (BOB) |
| Languages | Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní |
| Plugs | Type A, B, C |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz (some areas of La Paz use 115 V) |
| Emergency | 110 police, 118 ambulance, 119 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Around 10 per cent in restaurants catering to tourists is appreciated. Tip guides and drivers on tours. |
Getting around
Long-distance buses link most cities, and some overnight services are comfortable, but mountain roads can be long and slow. Domestic flights save time between La Paz, Uyuni, Sucre, Santa Cruz and Rurrenabaque. The Salar de Uyuni and the southwest are visited on jeep tours. In La Paz, the cable car network, minibuses and taxis cover the city. Allow time to adjust to the altitude when you arrive.
Staying connected in Bolivia
Mobile coverage is good in La Paz, Santa Cruz, Sucre and other cities, and in towns along the main roads. On the Altiplano, on the Salar de Uyuni and in the Amazon basin, coverage is patchy or absent for long stretches, and multi-day tours often go without signal. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and hostels in cities but can be slow in remote towns. Download offline maps, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Bolivia eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Bolivia
- Google Maps: Directions in cities and offline maps for remote regions.
- Maps.me: Offline maps with trails and points of interest on the Altiplano and around Lake Titicaca.
- Google Translate: Spanish translation; download the language pack for offline use.
- XE Currency: Quick boliviano conversions, as most payments outside cities are in cash.