Things to Do in Bolivia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Bolivia
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
68°F (20°C)
High Temp
45°F (7°C)
Low Temp
3.2 inches (81 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Altiplano UV levels reach dangerous levels when clouds clear - sunglasses essential even on overcast days
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December is Bolivia's spring shoulder season. Hotel rates drop 30-40% below peak July/August prices. Dry-season reliability still holds in the highlands. Book now.
- + The Salar de Uyuni salt flats become a giant mirror. December's first rains create this 2-3 week window. Thin water layers deliver perfect reflections. Photographers fly in for this.
- + La Paz's cholita wrestling moves outdoors in December. Temperatures hit the sweet spot for elaborate skirts. Too-cold and too-hot extremes disappear. The show gets better.
- + Coffee harvest season floods Yungas with aroma. Working fincas let you pick alongside farmers. Fresh beans dry in sun. Flowering orchids compete for attention. Tourists miss this other months.
Considerations
- − Amazon mosquitoes peak in December. Rurrenabaque swarms hit annual highs. Pack serious repellent. Wear long sleeves through 32°C (90°F) midday heat. They bite anyway.
- − Altiplano weather snaps after December 15th. Morning clear skies rot into afternoon hailstorms. Elevation 3,600m (11,800ft) magnifies every shift. Carry layers. Always.
- − Christmas week pricing starts December 20th. Domestic flights to Santa Cruz triple overnight. Previous week bargains vanish. Book early or pay.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Bolivia in December is a country waiting for the summer rains. The air feels thick. It holds dry-season dust and the first damp scent of afternoon showers. Locals in highland cities like Sucre and Cochabamba are busy. They string lights and set up stalls for Christmas markets and the loud Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Fireworks crackle. Brass bands thrum against colonial buildings. This is a month of clear changes. Days on the Altiplano are bright under a strong sun. Nights demand a warm layer. The rhythm moves from quiet countryside to festive plazas. It is a good time to see Bolivia's impressive natural beauty and its communal spirit.
3-Days Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Colored Lagoons +Sunset+Mirror Effect
guided_experienceA three-day Altiplano expedition shows a landscape of surreal scale. You will cross the endless, cracked-white geometry of the salt flat. Feel the thin, cool air at high-altitude lagoons. Their waters are tinged red and green by minerals. Watch the sky melt into liquid gold at sunset. The journey often ends with the mirror effect. A shallow layer of water turns the world into a perfect reflection.
This tour packs the huge, alien beauty of southwestern Bolivia into one complete journey from salt desert to volcanic peaks.
Insider tip: Pack sunglasses with strong UV protection. The sun's reflection off the white salt and the high altitude create a blinding glare.
This month: Afternoon rains in December can sometimes create the mirror effect earlier in the season. This is not guaranteed.
Uyuni Salt flat 2 day+sunset at Salt Water Region + Mirror effect
otherThis two-day trip focuses on the Salar de Uyuni's well-known sights. It spends time on the vast salt plains and the specific saltwater region for the mirror effect. You will feel salt crystals crunch underfoot. See strange islands of fossilized coral. Witness a sunset where the sky's fire is duplicated on the earth's glassy surface.
It has a more concentrated look at the salt flat's phenomena. This is good for travelers with limited time who want the mirror effect and sunset.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, waterproof boots. The areas around the saltwater regions can be muddy and slippery.
Traditional Bolivian Cooking Class w/ Cocktail Making by La Boca del Sapo, Sucre
foodIn a Sucre kitchen, the smell of toasted cumin and searing onions mixes with fresh locoto peppers. With guidance, you will handle the sticky dough of salteñas. Taste the complex balance of a proper llajwa sauce. Then shake up a frothy, herbaceous chuflay cocktail.
This class gives a hands-on start to the comforting, complex flavors of Bolivian home cooking.
Insider tip: Come hungry. The class usually involves preparing and then eating a full, multi-course lunch.
This month: This activity pairs well with a visit to the festive Christmas Markets in Sucre. You can source local ingredients or walk off a meal of market treats.
Uyuni Salt Flat 1 Day Tour +Sunset in the Salt Water Region with Mirror Effect
guided_experienceA single day on the Salar de Uyuni changes your perspective. You will drive across the blinding white expanse. Visit the train cemetery to touch rusted machinery. Stand in the silence of Isla Incahuasi among giant cacti. The day ends as the sun lowers. It colors the sky pastels reflected in shallow, mirror-like water.
It is the easiest way to experience the huge scale and visual magic of the world's largest salt flat on a tight schedule.
Insider tip: Coordinate with your guide to be at the mirror effect site during golden hour for the best photographs.
1 Day Trek in the Crater of Maragua and Inca Trails in Sucre
adventureThis trek winds through the painted hills of the Maragua Crater. Bands of terracotta, ochre, and cream stone curve around the valley floor. You will hear gravel crunch on ancient Inca trails. Feel the dry December sun. Peer into fossilized dinosaur footprints pressed into the rock long ago.
It mixes geological wonder with history. You walk a natural amphitheater of color on paths used for centuries.
Insider tip: Carry at least two liters of water per person. The high-altitude, dry December air is deceptively dehydrating.
2-Day Private Tour Uyuni Salt Flats including Tunupa Volcano
private_tourA private two-day tour allows a tailored pace across the Salar de Uyuni. Tunupa Volcano is a constant backdrop. You will have freedom to linger in the salt plain's silence. Explore caves and slopes at the volcano's base. Find a perfect, undisturbed spot for the mirror effect without other groups.
This exclusive trip trades a shared group itinerary for intimate, personalized exploration of the salt flat and its volcano.
Insider tip: Request a vehicle with a sunroof for clear panoramic views and photography on the flat.
Where to Stay in Bolivia in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe
Cochabamba's biggest religious party packs Plaza 14 de Septiembre for three days. Brass bands duel with fireworks. Vendors pour api morado and fry buñuelos. Dancers spin morenada in feathered costumes. At 2,500m (8,200ft) December humidity blends incense with chicha fermentation.
Mid to Late December
Christmas Markets in Sucre
Bolivia's constitutional capital decks Plaza 25 de Mayo with wooden stalls. Indigenous textiles hang beside German-style ornaments. At 2,800m (9,200ft) evenings drop to 12°C (54°F). Canelazo keeps hands warm while you buy alpaca scarves you'll wear that night.
Packing Checklist
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View Bolivia Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Local buses from Uyuni halt after December's first heavy rain. Book 4WD tours. Saving money on public transport strands you.
Tip cholita wrestlers in bolivianos. They convert dollars at terrible rates post-match.
Ask Coroico coffee farms for 'cafe oro'. Green beans cost 1/10 roasted price. Bring your own roasting pan.
December's variable weather means hotel heating becomes important - ask specifically for 'calefaccion' when booking, many places lack it despite cold nights
Street food vendors in Santa Cruz water down their hot sauce during December - request 'llajua picante' to get the real spicy version locals eat
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming December means summer weather everywhere - you'll freeze at 7°C (45°F) in La Paz while sweating through 32°C (90°F) humidity in Rurrenabaque the same week
Booking salt flat tours from San Pedro de Atacama instead of Uyuni - December rains often close the Chile-Bolivia border crossing, leaving you stranded
Wearing hiking boots on Tiwanaku's wet sandstone - the 600-year-old surfaces become ice-skating rinks with December moisture, locals wear rubber soles
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