Bolivia holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Bolivia holiday in South America
Bolivia is South America's wildest adventure: The Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flat in the world – transforms into an endless mirror during the rainy season. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world with cable cars as public transport, the Yungas Death Road offers an adrenaline kick by mountain bike, and at Lake Titicaca, you encounter ancient Aymara culture. Bolivia is rugged, authentic, and incredibly cheap.
Capital
Sucre (official), La Paz (seat of government)
Language
Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Currency
Boliviano (BOB)
Time zone
UTC-4
Flight time from DE
approx. 16–18 hours (with layover)
Entry requirements
Passport (visa-free for 90 days)
Top 5 highlights in Bolivia
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Salar de Uyuni
The largest salt flat on Earth: 10,000 km² of white surface, mirror effect in the rainy season, and Incahuasi cactus island.
La Paz
Highest capital city in the world (3,640m): Witches' market, cable car network, and view of Illimani.
Tiwanaku
Pre-Inca ruins (UNESCO) at Lake Titicaca – mysterious Sun Gate and 1,500-year-old high culture.
Yungas Death Road
The 'most dangerous road in the world' by mountain bike – 64 km and 3,600 meters downhill through the cloud forest.
Lake Titicaca
The highest navigable lake in the world (3,812m) on the border with Peru – Isla del Sol and Aymara culture.
Hotels in Bolivia
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Bolivia
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für Bolivia. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit Bolivia
Recommended travel time
May–October (dry season)
Summer
15–25°C
Winter
5–18°C
How much does a holiday in Bolivia cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
15–25€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
25–55€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
55–130€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for Bolivia
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Take altitude sickness seriously: La Paz is at 3,640m – coca leaf tea helps with acclimatization
Always book Uyuni tours with a reputable provider – cheap tours can be dangerous
Do not photograph Bolivian Cholitas (women in traditional dress) without permission
It gets freezing cold at night in the highlands – pack warm clothing even in summer
Mercado Rodriguez in La Paz for the cheapest and most authentic food
Food & drink in Bolivia
These dishes you must try!
Discover Bolivia
7 regions, cities and highlights in Bolivia
Cities
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is the culinary capital of Bolivia and one of the most pleasant cities in the country — located in a fertile valley at an altitude of 2,558 meters, with a mild spring climate year-round, earning the city the nickname Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera. The fourth largest city in Bolivia with around 630,000 inhabitants is the heart of Quechua culture and an ideal starting point for adventures in the Bolivian Andes and subtropics. The Cristo de la Concordia on Cerro San Pedro is 34.2 meters tall (plus a 6.2 meter base), taller than the famous Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, and offers a breathtaking view over the entire Cochabamba valley. A cable car (Teleferico) takes you up, or you can climb the 1,399 steps on foot. On Sundays, you can ascend a staircase inside the statue to the outstretched arms. The Mercado Campesino (La Cancha) is one of the largest open-air markets in South America: an apparently endless labyrinth of stalls stretching over dozens of city blocks, selling literally everything — from llama wool to fresh fruit to traditional medicine. The smell of freshly cooked Sopa de Mani and sizzling Saltenas wafts through the aisles. The colonial center around Plaza 14 de Septiembre, with the cathedral, the archbishop's palace, and pastel-colored arcade houses, forms a calm counterpoint to the chaotic market hustle. The Convento de Santa Teresa, an active Carmelite monastery, opens its doors to visitors and showcases a surprisingly rich collection of colonial sacred art. The Toro Toro National Park, a day trip southeast of Cochabamba (4-5 hours), offers a surreal landscape: dinosaur footprints, deep canyons, limestone caves, and condor watching in a little-visited, spectacular Andean landscape.
Copacabana (Bolivia)
Copacabana is the gateway to Isla del Sol on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca — the highest navigable lake in the world (3,812m). This sleepy pilgrimage town with its Moorish-style basilica by the lakeshore is the starting point for boat trips to the mythical Island of the Sun, the birthplace of the Inca Empire according to legend. The combination of a spiritual atmosphere, breathtaking mountain scenery, and cultural depth makes Copacabana a magical place.
La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia's seat of government, is the highest capital city in the world. Built at an altitude of 3,640 meters in a breathtaking canyon, the city stretches from the snow-capped peaks of Illimani (6,438 m) down to the more tropical valleys. The world's most modern cable car network ("Mi Teleférico") connects the different levels of the city and offers unparalleled panoramic views. The Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) sells dried llama fetuses and potions for Aymara rituals. La Paz is raw, chaotic, and fascinating: Cholita women in bowler hats and wide skirts dominate the streets, and the notorious "Death Road" attracts adrenaline junkies from around the world. Tours to Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon lowlands start from here — La Paz is the adventure gateway to South America.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the largest and most economically dynamic city in Bolivia and the gateway to the tropical lowlands of South America. Unlike the highland image of Bolivia, Santa Cruz is located at only 416 meters above sea level in a fertile plain on the edge of the Amazon basin — with a completely different climate, its own culture, and surprisingly modern infrastructure. The Plaza 24 de Septiembre is the heart of the old town: Surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral (built 1770-1838), colonial arcade buildings, and lively cafes, the square forms the social center of the city. In the evenings, locals and visitors gather here under the majestic Toborochi trees, while street musicians and food stalls create a vibrant atmosphere. The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lie east of the city and are among the best-preserved mission churches in South America. Six church complexes from the 17th and 18th centuries — including San Xavier, Concepcion, and San Jose de Chiquitos — combine baroque European architecture with indigenous craftsmanship. The missions are accessible within 4-6 hours of travel and offer a unique cultural experience. The Biocentro Gümbe, an ecological leisure park on the outskirts of the city, is home to over 600 species of butterflies, lagoons for swimming, and tropical gardens. The Amboro National Park, just 130 km to the west, unites three ecosystems — Amazon rainforest, Andean highlands, and Chaco dry forest — with exceptional biodiversity, including spectacled bears, jaguars, and over 800 bird species. The Camba culture — as the residents of the lowlands call themselves — is vibrant, hospitable, and deeply rooted in tropical joie de vivre. The Carnival of Santa Cruz is the second largest in South America after Rio.
Sucre
Sucre, the "White City" of Bolivia, is the constitutional capital of the country and one of South America's best-kept travel secrets. Located at an altitude of 2,810 meters, the UNESCO World Heritage city enchants with its uniformly white colonial architecture, a pleasant spring climate year-round, and a relaxed atmosphere that starkly contrasts with the bustling La Paz. The Plaza 25 de Mayo, the heart of the city, is surrounded by magnificent colonial buildings: the cathedral, the Casa de la Libertad (where Bolivia's Declaration of Independence was signed), and the government palace. On sunny afternoons, locals gather under the palm trees, shoeshiners offer their services, and students from the nearby university — one of the oldest in the Americas — enliven the scene. Sucre has made a name for itself as a learning destination for Spanish. Dozens of language schools offer affordable one-on-one lessons (often under €10 per hour), and the combination of pure Bolivian Spanish, the pleasant climate, and the safe, student-friendly atmosphere makes the city an ideal place for a language stay. The Mercado Central is a culinary adventure. On two floors, market women in traditional Pollera skirts offer Salteñas (Bolivian empanadas with a sweet, juicy filling), Chicharrón (crispy pork), and Api (hot corn drink). The food is authentic, delicious, and incredibly cheap. A unique experience is offered by the Parque Cretácico — a nearly vertical rock face on the outskirts of the city, where over 5,000 dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period are preserved. It is the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world, and the thought that Tyrannosaurus and sauropods once walked here leaves one speechless. The surroundings of Sucre offer hikes to indigenous communities of the Yampara culture, whose traditional weaving art is among the most intricate in South America, as well as excursions to the thermal springs of Tarabuco.
Areas
Salar de Uyuni
The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world — 10,582 km² of dazzling white at an altitude of 3,656 meters in the Bolivian Andes. During the rainy season (January-March), a thin layer of water transforms the salt into the largest natural mirror on Earth — the sky merges with the ground into a surreal infinity that dissolves any sense of perspective. The famous 'perspective photos' — where people ride on dinosaur toys or climb out of chip bags — are a popular ritual here. In the middle of the salt flat lies Isla Incahuasi, covered with gigantic cacti. The Siloli Desert in the south offers the Árbol de Piedra (Stone Tree) and colorful lagoons (Laguna Colorada with flamingos). The salt hotel Palacio de Sal, built entirely from salt blocks, is one of the most unusual accommodations in the world.
Uyuni
The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world and one of the most surreal natural wonders on our planet. Spanning over 10,000 km² at an altitude of 3,650 meters in the Bolivian Andes, it features a dazzling white surface. During the rainy season, the salt lake transforms into a giant mirror, merging sky and earth — a photographic motif that is unmatched worldwide.
Complete guide for Bolivia
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
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Plan a holiday in Bolivia
Bolivia is one of the most popular travel destinations in South America, offering Adventure, Budget, Nature and much more. The best time to visit Bolivia is May–October (dry season), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 15–25€ (Budget) to 55–130€ (Luxury), Bolivia is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Sucre (official), La Paz (seat of government), Bolivia can be excellently explored. The official language is Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and the currency is Boliviano (BOB). From Germany, you can reach Bolivia in approx. 16–18 hours (with layover). Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Salteñas, Pique Macho, Silpancho, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Bolivia has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Bolivia holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Bolivia is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
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