Bolivia travel guide

Best time to visit Bolivia from the UK

Best value: Sep–Apr. May–Oct: dry season; Salar de Uyuni mirror effect in Jan–Mar. Busiest and priciest: May–Aug.

Each bar is the average temperature in La Paz for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

• Our pick: November and DecemberThe warmest of the best-value months (9°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
• Peak season: May–AugUsually 5–7°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
• Warmest: November (9°C) · coolest: July (5°C)Temperatures barely change through the year, so the season matters more than the weather.

Festivals and events

• Oruro Carnival Feb–Mar · Oruro
• Alasitas Jan–Feb · La Paz
• Festival of Gran Poder May–Jun · La Paz

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time

About 12h 45m

Distance

9,979 km

Main airport

VVI

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add Bolivia to your bucket list Search flights to VVI

Practical info and travel guidance

• FCDO adviceAdvises against all but essential travel to parts of BoliviaCheck which areas before you book.
• VisaNo visa neededUp to 90 days
• HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
• LGBT+ travellersLegal, but attitudes can be conservativePublic affection may draw attention.
• Women travellersFCDO warns of sexual assault or harassmentTake extra care at night and with drinks.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for Bolivia, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 22 September 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for Bolivia before you book and again before you go.