Bolivia holidays
Bolivia holidays at a glance
Our Bolivia holidays take you to many people’s idea of a quintessentially South American country, a landlocked republic of dramatic landscapes and proud indigenous culture, set against the legacy of Spain’s baroque colonial presence. Ice-capped Andean peaks, the desolate plains of the altiplano and eerie rocky deserts contrast with verdant valleys and lush Amazon rainforest.
Bolivia is most famous for the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, and it shares shimmering Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, with neighbouring Peru. Less familiar is the pristine rainforest of the Amazon basin, among the most biodiverse on the planet. High above it all sits La Paz, one of the most extraordinary cities in the world, its adobe houses clinging to the canyon sides beneath a wall of mountains.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Bolivia
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Give yourself time to acclimatise. La Paz deserves at least two nights before you head to the salt flats. Don’t rush through Sucre. It’s Bolivia’s most beautiful city.
When to visit Bolivia
Bolivia has a huge range of landscapes, from the windswept altiplano of the high Andes to the steamy Amazon, and altitude shapes the weather as much as the season. The high areas of La Paz, Lake Titicaca and the Uyuni salt flats are chilly, while the lowlands of Santa Cruz and the Amazon stay warm year round.
Despite the colder winter temperatures, April – October is the best time of year to visit Bolivia. Crisp blue skies and plenty of bright sunshine are the perfect backdrop to any of Bolivia’s dramatic landscapes, from the glittering Lake Titicaca to the horizon-bending Uyuni salt flats. As this is a popular time for visitors, it is important to plan ahead as hotels will be busy. High altitude areas tend to be cooler in the days and very cold at night; these include La Paz, Lake Titicaca, the Uyuni salt flats and Potosí. There are countless cultural events during these months. In May/June, the Fiesta del Gran Poder sees lively parades and performances from thousands of costumed dancers in the streets of La Paz. An exciting car rally takes place in Sucre in May, while in June the Fiesta de Trinidad features bullfighting and traditional dances in the Amazonian province of Beni.
The rainy season sees milder temperatures in the windswept altiplano and an increase in humidity in the lowland areas. The heaviest rains can cause muddy conditions which disrupt travel by road, but also create a surreal mirror effect in the Uyuni salt flats, where the shallow layer of rainwater reflects the skies above. The Feria de Alasitas in La Paz takes place in January, where countless miniature items are sold from stalls to appease the god of abundance, Ekeko. Carnival celebrations are held across the country in February, with glittering parades and thousands of dancers in elaborate costumes.
Places to visit in Bolivia
Bolivia takes a little effort to travel around. The distances are long and the altitude is high, but the variety is extraordinary. Most holidays pair La Paz and the salt flats with Lake Titicaca, then add more as time allows. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
La Paz and the altiplano
At a dizzying 3,632m, La Paz is the world’s highest capital, its colourful, closely-packed buildings tumbling down a canyon beneath the ice-jacketed peak of Illimani. Beyond the city, the vast altiplano unfolds into windswept plains, ancient ruins and indigenous communities that have shaped this corner of the Andes for centuries.
Watch a priest bless flower-decked cars outside Copacabana’s white basilica, sail across the cobalt water to Isla del Sol, and walk island trails with the snow-capped Cordillera Real on the horizon. On Bolivia’s shore of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake feels quieter, more sacred and closer to its Andean roots.
Santa Cruz and the Oriente
Eastern Bolivia is little visited by tourists, but it’s brimming with variety, vitality and living history – tropical forests, Jesuit missions, vast wetlands and a lowland culture that couldn’t feel further from the Andean landscapes most people associate with the country. Santa Cruz, Bolivia holidays offer wildlife, history and adventure.
Top Things to do in Bolivia
Bolivia’s dramatic terrain and deep-rooted indigenous culture mean there’s plenty to do beyond the salt flats. From high-altitude treks to mine tours and rainforest canoe trips, here’s what we recommend.
Discover a surreal landscape of endless salt, blindingly white in the dry season or mirroring the sky in the wet season.
Take on Bolivia’s top trek: an adventurous journey across kaleidoscopic extremes of landscape and terrain.
Explore the extraordinary ruins of a wealthy ancient capital, an important precursor to the later Inca empire.
Accommodation in Bolivia
Our Bolivia accommodation reflects the country’s layered history and culture. City hotels are often converted colonial buildings, full of character but with modern comforts. On the salt flats, a hotel built from blocks of salt is part of the experience. In the Amazon, eco-lodges such as the Chalalán offer guided access to the jungle, while on Lake Titicaca, simple but atmospheric lodgings on the Isla del Sol put you on the water at sunrise.
Remote, authentic jungle lodge in an area of extraordinary biodiversity, with proceeds helping conservation and the indigenous community.
Friendly modern, mid-range hotel on the banks of Rio Bení with well furnished rooms and a lovely pool.
Charming and friendly guesthouse in a 17th-century hacienda on the idyllic Isla del Sol, with magnificent views over the cobalt waters of Lake Titicaca.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Bolivia
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays in Bolivia.
Group Bolivia Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
17 days from £5,636
Condor: Peru in depth
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
20 days from £3,851
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Tailor-Made Bolivia Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Peru and Bolivia: trekking Andean peaks to tropical rainforest
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · La Paz and the altiplano
17 days from £4,140
Discover Bolivia and northwest Argentina
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Uyuni salt flats · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano
14 days from £4,800
Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
16 days from £5,510
FAQs about visiting Bolivia
Bolivia is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When's the best time to visit Bolivia?
The weather can be a critical factor: the altiplano highlands look their best in the sunlight Apr-Oct, in Dec-Jan it can be dull and chilly at this altitude (3,500-3,800m). The lowlands of the east are hot and humid all year around.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language of Bolivia?
Spanish is the official language of Bolivia.
- What is the national currency of Bolivia?
Peso Boliviano is the national currency of Bolivia. Notes in local currency (and in some cases US dollars), can be withdrawn from ubiquitous ATMs in principal cities and some smaller towns; there are many money exchanges (casas de cambio) and banks which exchange US dollars (a few accept euros or sterling but the rate may be poor).
When withdrawing money from an ATM using a debit card, you are offered a choice of account type from which to make your withdrawal: select ‘Credit Card’ (ie NOT Current account or Savings Account options).
- What's the time difference between Bolivia and UK?
The time difference between Bolivia and the UK is GMT -4 hrs.
- Do I need a visa for Bolivia?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for Bolivia?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What countries combine well with Bolivia?
If you’re planning a trip to South America there are some perfect destinations to combine with a holiday in Bolivia. Try a visit to Peru via Lake Titicaca, 122 km and a couple of hours’ drive from La Paz; or even a holiday in Chile, entering the country via the dazzling salt lakes of Uyuni.
- What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Bolivia?
The key festivals and cultural events in Bolivia are:
Gran Poder: La Paz, Late May/early Jun annually: processions of groups of indigenous dancers in costume, with historical and cultural themes.
Carnival: Oruro, La Diablada, Feb-Mar: One of the most eye-catching on the continent, with parades of people in elaborate costumes. - How do I adapt to the altitude in Bolivia?
Much of Bolivia is occupied by stunning high Andean terrain, with La Paz at 3,500m.
Travel to high altitude can cause mountain sickness and even if you feel fighting fit it’s important to take things easy and stay hydrated (drink plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and caffeine) as you get used to the thin, dry air.You may initially notice a headache, dizziness or breathlessness and this usually improves with acclimatisation. If you are pregnant or taking the contraceptive pill, have a medical condition such as heart or lung condition, anaemia, asthma, high blood pressure you should seek the advice of your GP before booking.
We also recommend you check your travel insurance covers travel to high altitude. If you’re taking the family, remember small children may be less capable of communicating altitude-related symptoms effectively: keep an eye on them too. Rest assured we will plan your itinerary carefully, taking into account any time spent at altitude. If you have any questions or concerns about altitude please speak to your travel expert.
Further advice on travel to altitude is available on www.travelhealthpro.org.uk.
If you still have questions, please contact us and one of our Travel Experts will be happy to help.
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