Things to Do in Bolivia

About Bolivia

La Paz hits you at 3,640 meters with thin air that makes your lungs burn and the smell of diesel mixed with api morado—the purple corn drink vendors sell for 3 bolivianos ($0.40) outside the Mercado de Las Brujas where dried frogs hang next to miniature houses for offerings to Pachamama. The city's topography is absurd: pedestrians share the Prado with zebras—costumed traffic guardians who dance across 16-lane intersections while cholitas in bowler hats sell everything from batteries to roasted guinea pig on every corner. Ride the Teleférico Red Line over El Alto's maze of brick houses painted in colors that would make a kindergarten classroom jealous—orange, lime, magenta—then drop into Sopocachi where cocktail bars charge 35 bolivianos ($5) for singani sours that taste like grapes and altitude sickness. The Witches' Market smells of sage and sulfur; San Pedro prison sells handmade crafts through its gates; and the Valle de la Luna looks like God got impatient and half-finished sculpting the mountains. You'll gasp for breath climbing the hills to Calle Jaén's colonial museums, but the view across the canyon of houses stacked like colorful Legos makes you forget the headache—at least until you try to sleep at 4 AM when the altitude wakes you up again. Bolivia doesn't ease you in gently, but that's exactly why travelers who come for the salt flats end up staying for the chaos.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Book the 12-hour bus from La Paz to Uyuni with Todo Turismo for 120 bolivianos ($17)—they actually have heating and semi-reclining seats, unlike the 80-boliviano death traps that break down at 4,000 meters. In La Paz, the Teleférico costs 3 bolivianos ($0.40) per ride and gives you views worth a hundred times more than the tourist cable cars. Download the 'Mi Teleférico' app to check lines—Red and Yellow connect most neighborhoods you'll need. Don't trust Google Maps for walking directions: what looks like a 10-minute stroll might involve climbing 200 vertical meters. Shared taxis (trufis) cost 2.50 bolivianos ($0.35) and follow fixed routes—wave one down and shout 'paradero' when you want off.

Money: Bolivia runs on cash—good luck finding places that take cards outside fancy restaurants in La Paz. ATMs charge 20 bolivianos ($2.85) per withdrawal and often run out of money on weekends, so pull cash on weekdays. The black market for dollars on Calle Santa Cruz in La Paz gives better rates than banks, but count your money twice and don't flash your cash. Tipping isn't mandatory but leaving 10% at restaurants makes you memorable in a good way. Carry small bills: vendors claim they can't break 100-boliviano notes for a 15-boliviano meal, hoping you'll just say 'keep the change.' Exchange your bolivianos before leaving—nobody outside Bolivia wants them, not even neighboring countries.

Cultural Respect: Don't photograph cholitas without asking—those bowler hats and layered skirts aren't tourist attractions, they're daily wear. At markets, greet vendors with 'buenos días' before browsing; they'll often knock off a few bolivianos. When offered chicha (fermented corn beer) in rural areas, accept at least a sip—refusing is like insulting someone's grandmother. Remove your shoes when entering Aymara homes in the Altiplano, and bring small gifts like coca leaves or fruit for your hosts. Coca isn't cocaine—locals chew it for altitude and will offer you some. Accept graciously even if you don't chew; just hold it in your cheek and don't swallow. Learn 'gracias' and 'por favor'—Spanish politeness goes surprisingly far in indigenous communities.

Food Safety: Street food in Bolivia will test your stomach, but skipping it means missing the best parts. Look for stalls with crowds of locals—if Bolivians trust it, you probably can too. Salteñas (soup-filled pastries) cost 8 bolivianos ($1.15) from morning vendors; the steam should be visible when they break them open. Avoid anything with mayonnaise that's been sitting in the sun. In La Paz, Mercado Lanza's second-floor food court serves 12-boliviano ($1.70) soups that'll cure altitude sickness—try the chairo with llama meat. Peel your own fruit; don't buy pre-cut mango that might've been washed in tap water. Coca tea helps with altitude but tastes like bitter grass—add sugar liberally. If you must have familiar food, pizza shops in Sopocachi use imported ingredients but charge 70 bolivianos ($10) for what costs $3 anywhere else.

When to Visit

May to October is Bolivia's dry season—when the Salar de Uyuni becomes a perfect mirror and tourists pay 40% more for everything. September hits the sweet spot: daytime temperatures in the Altiplano hover around 18°C (64°F), the mirror effect peaks, and hotel prices haven't reached October's insanity. November brings afternoon rains that turn Uyuni's roads into mud traps, but also empties the salt flats of tourists and drops prices by 30%. December through March is summer—La Paz warms to 20°C (68°F) but the Altiplano gets hammered by torrential downpours that can strand you for days; this is when locals actually visit the salt flats because international tourists stay away. April and May offer clear skies and blooming quinoa fields around the Salar, with temperatures around 15°C (59°F)—cold at night but perfect for photography. The Oruro Carnival in February/March fills every hotel room within 200 kilometers and triples prices, but the 20-hour dance parade is worth planning around. For budget travelers, February offers the cheapest flights and emptiest hostels, though you'll need rain gear. Families prefer July-August when Bolivian schools are out—expect crowds at every attraction and book the Uyuni tour at least a month ahead. Solo travelers should target shoulder seasons: May or October gives you the mirror effect without the tour group chaos, and prices for 3-day Uyuni trips drop from 1,200 bolivianos ($170) in peak season to around 800 bolivianos ($115).