Bolivia

South America

Bolivia

Bolivia holds some of South America's most surreal landscapes at extreme altitude. The Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, turns into a mirror during the wet season and produces some of the most photographed scenery on the continent, while La Paz sits in a canyon at nearly 3,600 meters, its cable-car network doubling as public transit with views over the whole city. Lake Titicaca's Andean communities and the jungle-edged Amazon lowlands around Rurrenabaque add real range to a trip here.

Why go thereNature & landscapes Indigenous cultures Mountain hiking Ancient ruins Markets & bazaars Adventure sports Culture & heritage Wildlife Climbing & mountaineering Deserts Festivals & events Rural traditions

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Salteñas

Baked pastries holding a soupy stew, eaten standing at mid-morning without spilling.

Silpancho

Rice, potato, a pounded breaded steak and a fried egg, stacked flat and wide.

Pique macho

Beef, sausage and chips heaped with tomato, onion and locoto, shared by several.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Salteñas

Baked pastries holding a soupy stew, eaten standing at mid-morning without spilling.

Silpancho

Rice, potato, a pounded breaded steak and a fried egg, stacked flat and wide.

Pique macho

Beef, sausage and chips heaped with tomato, onion and locoto, shared by several.

Sopa de maní

Peanut soup with beef and potato, topped with fried noodles or chips.

Anticuchos

Beef heart skewers grilled at night carts and served with a potato and peanut sauce.

Chairo

Altiplano soup of chuño, lamb and wheat, thickened by the freeze-dried potato.

Majadito

Rice cooked with dried beef and urucú, topped with plantain and egg, from Santa Cruz.

Fricasé

Pork in a yellow chilli broth with hominy, eaten on cold La Paz mornings.

Sajta de pollo

Chicken in yellow chilli sauce with chuño and a sharp onion salad.

Charque

Dried salted llama or beef, pounded and fried, served with corn and cheese.

Chuño

Potato freeze-dried by Andean night frost and sun, stored for years.

Tucumana

Fried pastry of meat and vegetables, dressed at the stall from a row of sauces.

Cuñapé

Cassava starch and cheese rolls from the lowlands, best straight from the oven.

Api con pastel

Hot purple maize drink with a fried cheese pastry, a winter breakfast.

Llajua

Locoto and tomato ground on a stone, present on every Bolivian table.

Singani

Muscat grape spirit distilled at altitude, drunk in a chuflay with ginger ale.

Entry & health

Set your passport

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Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping is not obligatory in Bolivia and service charges are rarely included on bills, but it's appreciated: a 10% tip in restaurants is standard, and for guides, drivers or hotel staff a small daily cash tip (a couple of USD equivalent) is customary; cafes and taxis don't expect tips but rounding up is welcome.

Chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea (mate de coca) is a normal, legal part of Andean culture (helps with altitude) — don't be alarmed and feel free to try it, but never attempt to take coca leaves out of the country.
Greet people with a handshake (or a light cheek kiss between women) and use polite titles; a friendly greeting before getting to business is expected.
Ask permission before photographing indigenous people, especially at markets, festivals, or Pachamama ceremonies — some communities consider it disrespectful or expect a small payment.
Dress modestly and remove hats when entering churches or attending religious/indigenous ceremonies.
Time is flexible ('hora boliviana') — locals may arrive late to informal gatherings, though punctuality is expected for organized tours and transport.
Bargaining is common and expected in markets and with informal vendors, but do so politely rather than aggressively.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Bolivia — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA