Backpacking Bolivia: our best things to see and do in Bolivia

Welcome to Bolivia to discover the most beautiful landscapes of South America. Yes, really! We're taking you to the incredible Salar de Uyuni, breathtaking lagoons and volcanoes in Sajama National Park, the charming town of Sucre, and the impressive La Paz. A trip to Bolivia offers unbelievable landscapes that seem from another planet, leaving an everlasting impression. Bolivia is also where Benoit first surpassed the symbolic 6000 meters altitude by climbing to the summit of Parinacota Volcano.

In short, Bolivia is a highlight of our trip around the world, and we hope to return one day to continue our discoveries and perhaps even go on a beautiful trek ;).

To prepare your backpacking trip to Bolivia, we're sharing this comprehensive guide!

Map of our articles in Bolivia

We spent a month in Bolivia and wrote several blog articles about this South American country. You will find all our articles at the end of this page, but if you prefer to choose them geographically, you can simply click on the button below to display our Bolivia map.

Show the Map

Our trip to Bolivia in video

Here is a preview of what awaits you (and much more!) in Bolivia.

When to go to Bolivia?

Since Bolivia is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed: when it’s winter here, it’s summer there, and vice versa. That’s the first point to keep in mind.

The second thing to know is that due to the variety of landscapes and altitudes, there is no single climate rule in Bolivia. The altitude primarily dictates how many layers you will need to wear.

In the Amazon or the plains, you are unlikely to need your beautiful llama sweater (everyone buys one of those things in Bolivia!). There, temperatures usually hover around 30 degrees all year long.

On the other hand, on the Altiplano and during the austral winter, it’s a different story! Llama wool sweaters, pom-pom hats, kitsch gloves, the whole kit is not too much! For example, in the Uyuni salt flats, temperatures are mild during the day: 15-20 degrees. But at night... Mamma mia! I have rarely been so cold in my life! -15 degrees is not uncommon, and many lodges often have neither heating nor insulation! In short, I officially spent my first night equipped with a hat, scarf, and lovely fleece-lined leggings. Yes, I succumbed to such an atrocity! So, bring warm layers!

Personally, I think the best season to come to Bolivia is the dry season, which is during the austral winter from March/April to November. It is entirely possible to come between November and March, but the chances of encountering rain are higher. It’s logical since this corresponds to the rainy season. Seeing the Salar de Uyuni under a thin layer of water seems magical, but if it rains too much, the Salar won’t be accessible at all! We arrived in Bolivia at the end of August, and it was fantastic.

Things to do in Bolivia in 3 weeks and more

Bolivia hides many lovely places, some very touristy, others much less so. For us, our trip to Bolivia was somewhat time-limited because we had an appointment in Chile with a friend 30 days after we arrived in Bolivia. So, we didn’t see everything in 1 month. For example, the entire Amazonian part is totally unknown to us. Oh well, we’ll have to come back one day, what a shame! I’m joking, of course, we loved Bolivia so much that we’ll gladly return to finish what we started!

Note: Don't forget to acclimatize yourself in the cities before setting off to explore the Andes!

Bolivia in 3 weeks

To plan your itinerary through the country, here are our favorite things to do and see for a 3-week trip to Bolivia.

• 3 days in La Paz: It's the highest administrative capital in the world. Yes! The capital of Bolivia is indeed Sucre. Perched at 3650 meters above sea level, the city of La Paz won us over! We loved the surrounding landscapes, the downtown vibe, and the good food! On the other hand, we didn’t like the crazy traffic and the certain chaos that reigns there... In short, it’s a must-see that should be visited at least for a day for its unique topography! If you’re short on time and prefer nature, this is where I would cut days of visit.
• 2 days by Lake Titicaca: Visit the highest navigable lake in the world with breathtaking landscapes and its famous Isla del Sol. The region is really beautiful, despite a few grumblers we met who told us: "Well... Lake Titicaca is still a lake, we have lakes in France too!". So NO and NO. We do have lakes, but not of this size, and certainly not at this altitude!

• 3-4 days in Salar de Uyuni and Sud Lípez: A pure wonder! Seriously, don’t miss this! And if you come, don’t be stingy with the number of days you want to spend there. We did a 4-day tour and were amazed. We advise against staying less than 3 days: it would be really unfortunate and frustrating to have just a glimpse! Not convinced? Come take a look at our article on Salar de Uyuni and you’ll see!
• 3-4 days in Sucre: A timeless city, or should I say out of Bolivia! Its quiet and clean streets, almost European modernity in a colonial setting really charmed us! It’s a city where it’s nice to relax for a few days and just wander around the streets and eat ice cream! Oh yes, because the climate in Sucre is much more pleasant than in Uyuni, so we take off our gloves and put on T-shirts! In total, we spent 6 days there because we needed some rest in the Bolivian capital where it’s good to live.

• 4 days between Sajama National Park and Lauca Park in Chile: Sajama Park is the gem of the northwest of the country. It’s a much less touristy region due to its somewhat difficult access. This national park was our big Bolivian favorite with postcard landscapes featuring snow-capped volcanoes, lagoons, and hundreds of llamas grazing peacefully in such a setting! And while you’re in the area, we recommend its Chilean neighbor, Lauca National Park.
• 1 day to climb Parinacota volcano: This was Benoit's big thrill! He chose Parinacota to climb a 6000-meter summit. Located in Sajama Park at the border with Chile, this experience was one of the highlights of his trip.

Bolivia in more than 3 weeks

If you plan to spend more than 3 weeks in Bolivia or want other ideas to refine your itinerary, here’s what we would recommend:

• 1 day on the Death Road from La Paz: Not that we want to die, especially since personally, I’m about as comfortable on a bike as a panda on stilts, but for Benoit, it’s really something that tempts him. Hurtling down a winding 69 km road with a 3500 m negative elevation and sometimes a 600 m drop on the side? Not for me! In short, although it’s considered a must-do, it’s up to you to decide whether to skip it or not!
• 6-7 days to tour Illampu in the Cordillera Real: If you love treks, we can only recommend this circuit. Little known, you’ll hardly meet anyone, all in grandiose landscapes.

• 2-3 days in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park: The crazy waterfalls up to 88 meters high, the tropical climate, and the almost infinite variety of animal species like the pink dolphin or the jaguar make it a prime destination! Located near the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in western Bolivia, this area was not part of our itinerary at all. It would have required us to travel a lot of kilometers for just a few days on-site... In short, the Bolivian Amazon and its wildlife will be for next time!

• 2 days on the wine route in Tarija: We tasted 2-3 bottles from the area and it made us want to explore the region and do a vineyard tasting. Well, knowing that our world trip goes through Argentina, we suspect we’ll have the opportunity to taste more later!
• 2-3 days in Torotoro National Park: Located 140 km south of Cochabamba, this park is accessible only by 4x4, and that’s precisely what put us off. Today, vehicles shuttle between Cochabamba and Torotoro, but the journey is somewhat chaotic. There’s also the option of organized tours. In short, it’s not the amazing canyons, waterfalls, or dinosaur remains that put us off, but the more complex transport at the time... And we clearly lacked time to reach this park on our own. In any case, this park is definitely part of our must-sees in Bolivia, and we won’t miss discovering it properly on our next trip! Find all the necessary info to visit it in the beautiful weazel’s article.

• 2 days in Potosí and its silver mines: The city of Potosí is known among travelers for being a unique place. Here, you will discover the harsh living conditions of miners working to extract various minerals. We could have visited Potosí on our way to Sucre, but it would have forced us to cut down on the rest time we had planned. And frankly, we didn't feel like rushing. Besides, Sucre is definitely more charming than Potosí! In short, the silver mines and our potential claustrophobia challenge will have to wait for our next trip to Bolivia!

Learning Spanish in Bolivia

When we arrived in South America, we decided to take Spanish classes in Quito, and honestly, it was probably one of the best decisions of our adventure! Before arriving, we had absolutely no knowledge of Spanish, and thanks to the classes, we acquired the basic vocabulary needed to communicate fluently with the locals! It changed our travel experience! So, while we didn’t take classes in Bolivia, we met many travelers who did. Bolivian Spanish might not be the cleanest, but from what we've heard, the best city for taking classes is definitely Sucre. Incidentally, it's also the Bolivian city we found most pleasant to live in. So, if we were to settle down for a few weeks, we would choose the capital city!

Combining a 3-week trip to Peru and Bolivia: is it possible?

We often get asked if it’s possible to combine Bolivia and Peru in one trip. On a long-term journey, absolutely! That's what we did.

However, if you’re planning a 2-week vacation, it seems challenging and potentially exhausting. The travel distances are long and not always ultra-comfortable. If you want to visit both Peru and Bolivia, I recommend planning at least 3 weeks and limiting yourself to regions that are not too far apart.

To go to Peru from La Paz or Copacabana, we recommend taking the Bolivia Hop bus to cross the border. The concept? You buy a ticket with multiple possible stops between two cities. You can get off at any stop without a time limit. Plus, guides are on board these red buses to inform you about all aspects of the country.

An idea for a 3-week itinerary could be:

• Arrival in La Paz for 3 days, then a night bus to Uyuni
• 4 days visiting Uyuni, the Salar, and Sud Lípez
• Bus to Potosí or Sucre for a 2-3 day stay
• Night bus back to La Paz and continue to Lake Titicaca
• 2 days at Lake Titicaca, then a night bus to Cusco (we did this trip in the other direction)
• Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu in 4-5 days
• Departure to Lima by night bus and 2 days visiting the city
• Return from Lima

As you can see, even with a light program, a trip between Peru and Bolivia is quite packed in 3 weeks. So, I would rather encourage you to take your time and focus on one country or the other. Some tours offer to do this route in 2 weeks, including many internal flights as they are not very expensive. Personally, taking 5-6 flights in 2 weeks seems like a total ecological aberration, so I don't particularly recommend it.

How to get to Bolivia: airports and flights

We arrived in Bolivia by land from Peru and left the same way, heading towards Chile. If you're planning to arrive by plane, you'll most likely land at El Alto International Airport in La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia. Benoit’s parents even joined us in La Paz when they came to spend their vacation with us during our world tour.

Currently, there are no direct flights to Bolivia from France, Switzerland, or Belgium. Therefore, your flight will have at least one layover, often in Spain, Brazil, Panama, or Colombia. Budget-wise, you should expect to pay between 900 and 1400 euros for a round-trip flight.

For some reason, flights to Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra are often cheaper than those to La Paz. To find the best rate, my advice is to enter Bolivia as the destination country when searching on Skyscanner. Also, don't hesitate to set France, Belgium, or Switzerland as your departure country. By entering the entire country, you’ll see fares from different departure airports, and sometimes it’s worth taking a train to another city to benefit from a promotion.

Compare flights on Skyscanner

Traveling in Bolivia: money and budget

In Bolivia, the currency is called the boliviano, abbreviated as BS or BOB. The exchange rate for this currency is relatively stable and generally hovers around 1 euro = 7.5 bolivianos.

Credit card payments are possible in some hotels and good restaurants, but overall, it’s definitely better to plan on using cash rather than cards in Bolivia. Instead of carrying large sums in euros or dollars, we recommend using a bank with no fees for withdrawals.

ATMs are plentiful, and during our visit, we had no problems withdrawing cash as international cards are widely accepted. To minimize bank fees, make sure your bank doesn’t charge withdrawal fees, or consider signing up for an online bank like N26.

Bolivia is one of the cheapest countries in South America (and the world). To be honest, it was one of the countries where we spent the least during our world tour in terms of value for money.

Overall, we had a budget of 21.1 euros per day per person in Bolivia, which corresponds to 158 bolivianos daily. This budget included numerous excursions: 4 days at the Salar, climbing Parinacota... Moreover, Benoit’s parents visited us for 2 weeks, which led us to spend a bit more than usual. We opted for slightly better-equipped hotels, less backpacker-style, and preferred restaurants over street food.

Check out our detailed Bolivia budget

What visa do you need to travel to Bolivia?

Entering and traveling in Bolivia is quite simple in terms of administration. French, Swiss, and Belgian nationals are exempt from visas if their stay in Bolivia is less than 90 days. A stamp is placed on the passport upon arrival, by land or air, allowing a tourist stay of up to 3 months. It’s great when things are simple, right? As usual, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Bolivia.

Another step is necessary, though quick. You must register your next residence during your Bolivian stay within 48 hours after arrival, whether by air or land. This document will be checked when you leave the country, and if you don’t present it, you may face a fine of 300 bolivianos, about 40 euros.

Beware of online agencies that charge a significant amount to register you. The official registration address is here. Don’t hesitate to try several times as this site can be buggy. Click on "Cuenta extranjero" (account for foreigners), then "Turista," and enter the usual information: first name, last name, document type, date of birth, etc., then click on "Registrar."

Vaccinations and health in Bolivia

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are mandatory for traveling around Bolivia. However, the Pasteur Institute recommends a few vaccines for prevention:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Rabies
• Yellow fever
• Typhoid fever

For more information on health modalities for travelers in Bolivia, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations.

General health

Bolivia is not exactly at the forefront of medical technology. In case of problems, you’ll always find a doctor or pharmacy, but it’s definitely not the cutting edge of medicine. To be prepared for any eventuality, having good travel insurance is really important. Yes! It’s just as useful for a world tour as for shorter trips! To help you choose, we’ve written a complete comparison guide for travel insurance.

Regarding overall health risks, pay attention to hygiene and water! We had the most intestinal issues in Bolivia. Nothing dramatic, but let's say traveler’s diarrhea was never far away. So, never drink tap water without filtering it (with a filter bottle), avoid ice cubes, wash fruits and vegetables with potable water, and in general, only eat well-cooked foods.

Lastly, beware of altitude! We mentioned this earlier, but acclimatization is essential to avoid altitude sickness, which can cause serious problems.

Culture, festivals, and events in Bolivia

Like the rest of South America, Bolivia is festive all year round. Chances are your trip will coincide with a cultural event! Here’s a list of notable festivals you shouldn’t miss.

• February: The Oruro Carnival is an institution in Bolivia, so much so that it’s listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage! All citizens gather for six days in a joyful and colorful atmosphere. Brass bands, folkloric dances celebrating the perpetual struggle between good and evil, parades, celebrations... Other carnivals are then held in Santa Cruz, Sucre, and La Paz, but the most important and spectacular is Oruro’s. It’s even said to be the second-largest carnival in Latin America after Rio! So, if your trip to Bolivia falls in February, don’t miss this vibrant cultural event!

• March: The Pujllay festival takes place at the beginning of March in the town of Tarabuco, near Sucre. Wrongly called the Tarabuco Carnival, this event celebrates the army's victory over the Spanish in 1816. It’s an opportunity for different Bolivian communities to wear traditional costumes and gather to sing and dance in a colorful and ultra-festive atmosphere!
• May/June: The Fiesta del Gran Poder (the Feast of the Lord of Great Power) is held every year in the streets of La Paz in a lively atmosphere where diversity is the key. This religious festival includes folkloric dances and rites mixing religion and Andean tradition.
• June: At the Tiwanaku archaeological site, between Lake Titicaca and La Paz, thousands of Aymaras gather on June 21 to celebrate the winter solstice, marking the end of winter, the harvests, and the Andean New Year. Rites and offerings are then performed to thank the sun for past and future harvests. Note that this day has been a public holiday since 2009.

 

Bolivian food

It’s hard to beat Peruvian cuisine during a trip to Latin America! Nevertheless, Bolivia has some typical dishes you must try during your stay.

• Sopa de mani: Often consumed as a starter, this hearty soup is characterized by its raw peanuts mixed with meat and vegetables.
• Trout (trucha): If you visit Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, trout will undoubtedly be on the menu! Baked with vegetables, it’s simply divine!
• Silpancho: It's THE quintessential Bolivian national dish! It consists of beef, potatoes, rice, and a fried egg. It's often accompanied by a small salad of tomatoes and onions. Yes, you certainly won't be hungry afterward! ;)

• Anticucho: This is the Bolivian version of Shish kebab, with beef hearts as the meat. You can easily find this street food dish at food stands on the streets.
• Charqui: This isn't a dish on its own but rather a common ingredient in Bolivian cuisine. You'll likely come across a dish containing pieces of this dried and salted meat at some point.
• Bread: You'll find all sorts of bread throughout your trip, and they can (almost) rival French bread! So, don't hesitate to try the different varieties. The most well-known are cuñapés, which can accompany a dish or be eaten alone.
• Humintas (or humitas): These small savory or sweet corn pastries, steamed in banana or corn leaves, will surely win you over! They are typically eaten for breakfast.

Practical information and resources for a trip to Bolivia

Time zone

Bolivia is in the UTC-4 time zone in summer. This means that when it’s noon in France, it’s 6 a.m. in Bolivia. Note: Bolivia does not observe daylight saving time.

Official language

The official language of Bolivia is Spanish. If you have some basic knowledge, it will be very useful for easy communication. Additionally, you should know that many indigenous languages are still spoken in Bolivia. There are over 30 of them! However, to be honest, there’s little chance you’ll start speaking Quechua or Aymara. In any case, Spanish is a reliable option that works perfectly!

Electrical outlets

Power outlets in Bolivia are of types A/C. For type C, we can use our European chargers, but for type A, you will need a universal adapter.

Internet

This is more complicated… In reality, the internet is available in Bolivian hotels and guesthouses. However, the connection speed is often quite limited. Things have been improving over the years, but Bolivia remains one of the South American countries with the worst network. We were always able to access basic applications, but for uploading photos, we definitely waited until we were in Chile to back them up.