Best Time to Visit Bolivia

Two Bolivias, one calendar

Bolivia has two very different climates. La Paz and Sucre sit high in the Andes. Santa Cruz de la Sierra is down in the hot, flat lowlands. So the best month depends on where you're going.

For the highlands, April to November is the sweet spot. That's the dry season. Days are sunny and clear, which helps if you're planning the Salar de Uyuni salt flats or a day trip to Lake Titicaca. La Paz is cool even at its warmest, with November the hottest month at 17°C. Nights get properly cold, so you'll want a warm jacket for the walk back to your hotel near Plaza Murillo. Sucre is milder. Its warmest month is also November, at 24°C, and its white colonial streets feel lovely in the afternoon sun.

Santa Cruz is different. June and July are best there, when the heat eases and the air feels less sticky. October is the hottest month at 33°C. Want to visit the Jesuit mission towns of Chiquitania? Go in the cooler dry months too.

The wet season

All three cities share one thing: January is the wettest month. Santa Cruz gets the most, at 174 mm. Rain from December to March can turn roads muddy and slow down overland trips. Some Salar tours get tricky then, though a thin layer of water can make the salt flats look like a giant mirror. Travelling in the wet season means fewer crowds, but you'll need patience and a flexible plan.

Holidays and crowds

High season runs from June to August, when dry weather meets northern-hemisphere summer holidays. Expect fuller tours in La Paz and Uyuni. Carnaval, in February or March, is huge in Oruro and busy across the country. Buses and hotels fill up then, even though it's rainy. Gran Poder, a big folk parade in La Paz, usually lands in late May or June. Locals also pack the roads around Todos Santos on 1 and 2 November.

For the best mix of good weather and calmer streets, aim for April, May, September or October.