Is Bolivia Safe for Tourists to Visit?
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When people talk about whether a country is safe to visit, they generally judge it based on crime rates and whether or not the country is a warzone.
Whilst crime is an important metric to take into account, there are other risk factors that should be considered when planning a trip.
So is Bolivia safe for tourists to visit? Well if we only talk about crime, then yes. Whilst Bolivia is no Singapore or Japan, it also doesn’t have a big problem with violence like Ecuador or neighbouring Brazil despite a moderate risk of petty crime.
However, Bolivia has a lot of other hazards to consider. Dangerous roads, high altitude, terrible hygiene standards, harsh environments… the list goes on.
As a result, I wouldn’t call Bolivia a good South America beginner destination because it has a lot of challenges.
In this post I will be explaining what makes Bolivia a trickier destination when it comes to safety.
What are the Main Dangers in Bolivia?
Of course when talking about Bolivia’s dangers, we have to mention crime.
However the real problems come in the form of the terrible roads and driving standards, the low safety standards overall and the tap water which can make you very ill.
Not to mention the high altitude and other environmental factors. We will look into everything here, so you’re well prepared for your own Bolivia trip.
This fantastic country is one of my favourites in the world, and I highly recommend a trip there. Just make sure you do it safely! Or at least as safely as you can…
Crime
Let’s start by addressing people’s main safety concern: crime.
This is even more of a problem in South America compared to other continents, as the likes of Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil have reputations for lots of violence. Although I will say that Venezuela is much safer than its reputation suggests based on my own recent trip there and conversations with locals.
But in Bolivia, it isn’t a major issue. Sure, there is crime here, but it shouldn’t be your primary concern.
Most crime in Bolivia won’t have any impact on tourists at all. It is the world’s third-largest producer of cocaine, although tourists are unlikely to be caught up in places where this occurs. Corruption and money laundering are rife, however once again, this is very unlikely to affect tourists at all.
Violent crime and theft are what we as travellers generally have to be concerned about. But in Bolivia, these aren’t widespread. You do need to be more cautious in La Paz however, as that is where the majority of thefts will occur.
As with many major cities, it’s the bus stations where you need to take the most caution.
There’s a good chance you will travel through Terminal de Buses La Paz at some point.
It is advised not to take taxis from here (Uber is fine, albeit fairly slow in La Paz, Yango is what the locals use). This is due to drivers often scamming people, and even the small chances of an express kidnapping, where victims are held temporarily and forced to take money out to give the kidnappers. You should also be wary of pickpockets operating around the terminal.
In general though, crime isn’t your main concern in Bolivia. Read the next few sections to find out what is.
Oh, and be sure to have good travel insurance just in case something does go wrong.
VisitorsCoverage Insurance
Don’t risk being left with a possible $100,000+ bill if something goes wrong on your travels through Bolivia.
Click on the link below to avoid a stressful trip, protect yourself, and know that you will be covered in emergency situations.
Road Safety
Of all the countries I’ve been to, Bolivia has the most dangerous roads in the world.
Firstly, the traffic is pure chaos, it feels like the wild west. Cars weave in and out of tight gaps with drivers focused only on getting to the front of the horde.
On buses, Bolivian drivers are notorious for driving for much longer than they should without the appropriate rest time.
On our way from Copacabana to La Paz, an angry van driver started yelling at our bus driver for getting too close and cutting him off. Pretty standard practice here…
Then we have the roads themselves. They are often poorly maintained, and many of them wind through mountains for several hours, closely hugging sheer drops from a cliff.
The roads are dangerous at the best of times, but you should try to avoid them during the rainy season from November-March as flooding can occur and conditions are even riskier than usual.
Just two months before I first wrote this article, there were at least 30 deaths in Bolivia as a bus fell from a cliff. This isn’t a one-off either. There are 1,400 road fatalities annually from the population of 12 million.
I recently took an 18-hour bus from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, and a 20-hour bus from there to Santa Cruz de La Sierra. Neither felt safe really.
On the latter, the bus crossed a river on a small wooden barge. My girlfriend’s mother had recently taken this trip, and she was told that everyone had to get off the bus for the river crossing, as people have drowned before when buses have gone in the water.
We were never given the option to leave the bus. Fortunately nothing bad happened, and odds are it won’t to you either, but this is just another hazard you will encounter on Bolivian roads.
Oh, and many drivers in Bolivia are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Our tour guide in La Paz told us how Bolivia has a major alcohol problem. This extends to the roads too.
And lastly, the vehicles are poorly maintained, and often don’t have seatbelts.
Road safety is an afterthought in Bolivia, a country I’ve been to four times now. I think next time I will fly between cities, even though it isn’t cheap (domestic flights are often over £100/US$120).
Wildlife
Bolivia is so diverse that it feels like several different countries wrapped into one. And chances are the wildlife won’t hurt you in La Paz or Uyuni.
If you’re heading to Uyuni by the way, check out the best time to go.
But Bolivia is one of nine countries to have the Amazon Rainforest within its borders. And sure enough, the jungle can be unforgiving at times. It also comes with many deadly creatures, which are often avoidable, but it’s wise to be aware of them.
Bolivia is home to the world’s deadliest creature.
No, not sharks or lions, but mosquitoes.
These disease-carrying insects may have illnesses including malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus. You should wear DEET repellent in jungle areas to keep them at bay, and also make use of long-sleeved shirts. I would also suggest wearing trousers rather than shorts regardless of the warm weather.
Aside from mosquitoes, Bolivia is home to deadly snakes, crocodiles, caimans and even monkeys that can cause harm if you get too close. Now this leads me onto the next point…
Poor Safety Standards on Tours
Tours in Bolivia do not follow western safety standards. Or any safety standards at all really. Even highly-rated agencies care little about your safety here.
When we visited the Pampas near Rurrenabaque, our reckless tour guide guided our boat right next to another, where another tour group were being ambushed by monkeys.
One girl had her face scratched, and others screamed as the monkeys climbed all over them. Both our guide and theirs were baiting the monkeys with food, and getting them to climb all over people for pictures.
Monkeys carry rabies among other illnesses, I hope the girl who was scratched had her vaccines afterwards…
Anyway, that was just one of many safety incidents we encountered across multiple tours in Bolivia.
We were advised not to wear lifejackets because “there’s no need”. I ignored this “advice”…
On one occasion, we took a tour into the Amazon. It started with a 30-minute boat ride. When we reached land, we stepped off the boat, thinking our guides would have told us of any dangers.
But nope, the first I knew was when I stepped onto what looked like mud, but turned out to be some form of quicksand. Within seconds, I was knee-deep in this stuff and had to be pulled out by both our boatman and guide.
I was lucky enough to have boots on which prevented my legs getting caught in it. My girlfriend wasn’t so lucky, and had to remove her socks which later led to blisters from wearing the wet and dirty boots during our jungle trek.
It’s not just the jungles that can be perilous. In La Paz, it is common for tourists to take bike tours of the infamous “Death Road” that claims 300 lives per year. Sure enough, a cyclist died after joining a tour in rainy conditions, and plunging off the edge of the cliff. His guides abseiled down to discover his body.
Even from personal experience, I decided against taking a tour after hearing too many horror stories, but I met a Canadian who did take one. When I saw him again in the evening, he had a large bandage on his hand, and told me stories of past deaths on the road.
Oh, and I fell ill with altitude sickness on a 3-day Uyuni tour. My guide didn’t care and it was only because I had a great tour group around me that I was able to recover later on.
Even if you go with a highly-rated tour agency in Bolivia, you can’t guarantee safety. Ratings are generally based on how fun the tour was, and safety is generally overlooked if people don’t have personal bad experiences to share.
Try and do as much research as possible before taking any tours here, and learn how to counteract any dangers you may face. Make sure you bring a first aid kit just in case…
Whilst booking tours in person with local agencies is generally cheaper, booking tours online with a reputable provider may be your safest bet here.
High Altitude
The average elevation of Bolivia is the third-highest in the Americas (behind Peru and Chile) at 1,192m or 3,911ft above sea level. Take out the low-lying Amazon and Chaco regions which cover roughly 75% of the country, and the rest is at pretty high altitude where it can cause some problems.
This includes La Paz, which at 3,650m or 11,975ft above sea level is often referred to as the world’s highest capital city (incorrectly, as Sucre is actually the constitutional capital of Bolivia). It also includes the magical Uyuni salt flats and surrounding altiplano.
And most travellers coming to Bolivia will visit at least one of La Paz or Uyuni, often both.
Now these regions can cause you a lot of issues. High altitude is no joke, and it can be deadly. Even when it isn’t deadly, it can still cause a lot of misery.
The worst thing about altitude sickness, is that it often hits at random.
You should gradually ascend to higher altitudes over the course of several days (or better, weeks). You should also limit strenuous activities until you have acclimatised, and never ascend too quickly.
Even if you follow these steps however, there is no guarantee you won’t be hit.
In 2022 during my first Latin America trip, I suffered no altitude-related issues despite spending months in the likes of Bogota, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia which are all high altitude destinations.
Yet in 2024, I suffered severe nausea and headaches during a tour of the altiplano, which began to subside only after we rapidly descended, and stopped at a thermal spring where I was able to relax and warm up.
A few months later, I suffered headaches after a day trip to Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, and later required oxygen after trekking through the mountains of Ausangate.
In Peru, we had spent some time acclimatising, yet I still fell ill. During my first Peru trip, I felt fine on Rainbow Mountain, however my Peruvian friend (albeit from Lima on the coast) suffered greatly.
If you do end up with altitude sickness, the best thing you can do is get to a lower altitude immediately.
“High altitude” is categorised as being from 2,400m/7,874ft to 3,658m/12,001ft above sea level, “very high altitude” is classed as 3,658m/12,001ft to 5,500m/18,045ft above sea level, and extreme altitude covers elevations from 5,500m/18,045ft to 8,848m/29,029ft.
Try to get below 2,400m/7,874ft if possible, as this will help you recover.
Locals swear by coca leaves as an antidote for altitude sickness. Personally, I’ve never found them to be particularly effective, and they aren’t backed by science as a credible remedy, so don’t get your hopes up when a Bolivian enthusiastically offers these as a magic cure.
Drinking Tap Water
In many countries, it is dangerous to drink the tap water. In Bolivia this is especially true. You could become seriously ill if you drink the water here.
Unlike other South American countries where drinking tap water is ill-advised, you shouldn’t even use it to brush your teeth.
Use bottled water for cleaning teeth, or water that has been boiled, purified or filtered.
For years now, I have used a trusty Water-to-Go bottle which has filtered water even in the likes of India and Myanmar where it is notoriously unsafe to drink from the taps.
I’ve used one of these for six years, and never had any problems regardless of where I’ve been drinking from.
The only downside is that filters need replacing every 3 months, and the costs can add up.
But whatever you do, do not drink from the sink when you’re in Bolivia… unless you boil, filter or purify the water first.
Low Hygiene Standards
It isn’t just the tap water that’s dodgy in Bolivia. General food hygiene and safety standards are pretty awful in all honesty.
You should always be wary of the food you eat. Landlocked Bolivia is not a good place to be eating seafood.
In the Amazon, we made some sugarcane juice using a traditional wooden contraption. Our tour guides poured the juice into a container, which must have been washed using filthy river water, if it was washed at all.
All three of us who drank the juice became ill in the following few days. And in my case it was so bad that I spent the entire Easter weekend in hospital two weeks later, having picked up a nasty virus from the juice which I had initially dismissed as food poisoning.
The same guide from that tour used his machete to cut all sorts of jungle flora, before sticking it in the filthy ground. He then used that same knife to cut fruit from the trees which he offered for us to eat. Then he would wash it in the parasite-ridden river…
We weren’t just unlucky. That’s pretty standard hygiene in Bolivia. Oh, and they don’t care what bugs end up in your food or drink either.
I’d advise avoiding ice in drinks, seafood, and salad in Bolivia. Oh, and if you’re on an Amazon tour and have the chance to drink sugarcane juice, do not go near it. Chances are you may well regret it later!
Demonstrations
Bolivians love to protest. The election of Evo Morales in 2006 led to his activist-style behaviours becoming normalised as part of everyday life in Bolivia.
And this includes roadblocks. When locals are angry, they often block roads. Bolivia has a terrible network of roads, often with only one route between one city and another.
This means that if the road is blocked, there is no alternative route to take unless you fly.
We were stuck for 5 hours on the way from La Paz to Rurrenabaque thanks to one of these roadblocks.
We were lucky in some ways. There have been blocks lasting up to 17 days before. If this had happened, I would have lost my £500 flight back to the UK…
Most of the roadblocks centre around La Paz and Cochabamba. The Rurrenabaque to Santa Cruz de la Sierra route I took on my way home generally doesn’t have these issues, although you can never say never in Bolivia…
The issue is so bad that a website even exists with current information on roadblocks. You can view that website here.
Always check it before a long-distance journey in Bolivia as it will give you information on any blockages.
How to Stay Safe in Bolivia
To be honest, Bolivia is an adventure destination. There are always risks when you visit this country, but there are a few things you can do to minimise the danger.
Take Domestic Flights Where Possible
In Bolivia it costs upwards of £25 (US$33) to take a domestic flight. But more realistically it will cost over £100 (US$133) unless you’re lucky with dates, destinations and not having extra baggage.
It isn’t cheap, but it will save you from the dangers of Bolivia’s deadly roads, and also ensure you bypass any roadblocks along the way.
I love using Skyscanner to find cheap flights, and recommend using it as it gives you lots of flexibility with both dates and destinations.
Use Uber or Yango Wherever Possible
Since street taxis are notoriously dodgy, you are best off using rideshare apps. Uber is the best known, although it isn’t the most popular in Bolivia and you can easily find yourself waiting over 20 minutes for a ride.
Locals instead use Yango. I’d advise downloading this before you head to the country to save a lot of hassle when you need it.
Avoid Salad, Ice and Fresh Juice
Bolivia’s poor hygiene standards aren’t easy to avoid. But you can take some precautions to reduce risk.
Salad, ice and natural juices made using fresh fruit are often prepared using dirty water. Always say no when offered any of these. I speak from experience when I say it isn’t worth the risk…
Thoroughly Research Tours Before Booking
To be honest, even a high rating in online reviews doesn’t necessarily mean a tour is safe. But you can at least read through the comments to see if there are any easily avoidable red flags.
Search by lowest-rated to see the most critical reviews and avoid any agencies that have endangered past customers. If we had done this in the Philippines, then we would’ve avoided being stranded in the sea…
Gradually Acclimatise at High Altitude
Bolivia’s southwestern corner is at high elevation, and if you rise too quickly from low-lying areas or fly straight in from elsewhere, you increase your risk of altitude sickness.
Instead you should slowly increase your exposure to higher environments. And when you do arrive in one, take a few days of rest before doing any hiking or strenuous activities.
Take Measures to Prevent Mosquito Bites in Risky Areas
You really don’t want a nasty mosquito-borne illness to ruin your trip (or life). So take preventative measures when going into risky areas.
In Bolivia this generally means the Amazon and Chaco regions in the north and east of the country. Don’t worry about mosquitoes in La Paz or Uyuni because they aren’t a problem at higher elevations.
You should wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers instead of shorts in risk areas.
You should also use DEET repellant (either as a gel to rub into your skin, or as a spray) to keep these nasty creatures away.
Lastly, always try to sleep under a mosquito net. Hopefully you can find accommodation with nets that aren’t full of holes. You may even want to bring your own net to be on the safe side.
Do You Need Travel Insurance to Visit Bolivia?
Is having travel insurance one of Bolivia’s entry requirements? No, you won’t have any problems entering the country without it. So should you have insurance before travelling to Bolivia? Absolutely, it’s a terrible idea to go to this country without it.
Due to the lack of safety standards and the woeful health services in Bolivia, you could find yourself in a world of trouble if something goes wrong. This is NOT a country where you want to rely on substandard services with poor quality doctors to save you.
If you become seriously injured or ill, then you may even require international medical evacuation. And that’s something your insurance should cover. Sure, it’s very rare to need this. I never have done and hopefully never will. But you want to have that option just in case it comes to it.
Do not travel to Bolivia without insurance. Put travel insurance at the very top of your pre-travel shopping list.
VisitorsCoverage Insurance
Don’t risk being left with a possible $100,000+ bill if something goes wrong on your travels through Bolivia.
Click on the link below to avoid a stressful trip, protect yourself, and know that you will be covered in emergency situations.
What Travel Advisories Have to Say on Bolivia
If you’ve read any of my other travel safety guides, you will know I’m not a huge fan of government travel advisories. They exaggerate risks and make countries seem more dangerous than they really are.
But they do provide some useful information as a rough guide, so it is worth skimming through the travel advisory for Bolivia or whichever destination you’re travelling to.
Talking to locals and recent travellers is by far the best way to receive accurate on-the-ground information, and you can do this by looking through Facebook groups related to your country of choice.
Anyway, here’s what the major advisories have to say on travel to Bolivia:
United Kingdom
The UK advises against all but essential travel to the Chapare region surrounding Cochabamba. This is because it is Bolivia’s primary cocaine-producing area. It was also ground zero for the Ebola-like Chapare virus.
Fortunately, at the time of writing, there have only been 15 documented cases of Chapare virus ever recorded, but it’s something to be aware of if you do visit the region (which as tourists, you have no good reason to be doing anyway).
They also specifically advise against taking prison tours in Bolivia. San Pedro Prison in La Paz became famous when a westerner wrote the book “Marching Powder” based on his experiences within the prison. He stayed in a cell with his friend who offered tours to backpackers, and it became a popular attraction on the Gringo Trail.
Eventually, Bolivian authorities found out about the tours, uncovered a load of corruption, and put an end to them. The last thing I heard was of a recent tourist who attempted to tour the prison, and was forced to pay US$1,000 to corrupt guards for them to let him out.
I’m not saying prison tours were ever particularly safe, but they certainly aren’t now.
United States
The US has only a little to say about Bolivia.
They rank the country as a “level 2 – exercise increased caution” on their 4-level ranking system. This puts the country in the same bracket as France, the UK, Indonesia and Brazil among others.
The US warns mostly against demonstrations and roadblocks in Bolivia, which can lead to supplies being limited across the country.
Like the UK, they also advise against visiting the Chapare region.
Australia
Aside from what I’ve already covered, Australia warns tourists to be wary of fake police officers.
They say police need a warrant with your name on it in order to arrest you, and you should ask to see the warrant in the unlikely event you are caught up in such a situation.
Australia also warns tourists to use guides for treks in rural areas, including the Amazon around Rurrenabaque, as robberies have occurred against tourists who travelled without guides in the past.
They also warn against Ayahuasca tourism. Ayahuasca is some form of “spiritual cleansing” carried out by shamans in remote areas of the country, and it involves taking hallucinogenic drugs.
To be honest, taking drugs is a dumb move at the best of times, but in Bolivia it has led to several crimes committed against participants who put themselves in a vulnerable state, even killing some individuals who take part.
I’ve heard stories of people who took hallucinogenic substances in Peru or Bolivia and it permanently altered their personalities and caused lifelong mental issues. Just don’t take the risk…
Canada
Aside from what has already been covered, Canada warns tourists of ATM and credit/debit card fraud. They advise only using machines in well-lit or inside areas, and looking out for possible signs of tampering.
They also talk about drink spiking, You should be vigilant in bars and clubs, and never accept food or drinks from people you’ve recently met.
As I alluded to earlier, Canada also confirms that Bolivia has no minimum safety standards for tours.
Additionally, they say you should be wary of stray dogs as rabies is a real threat here.
Lastly, Canada mentions how coca leaves (popular in Bolivia and neighbouring Peru as percieved cures for altitude sickness) are illegal to bring back to Canada.
This is true for most countries. You should always ensure you have no coca-based products on you when you leave Bolivia, and make sure you aren’t under the influence of any when you travel abroad.
More Posts on Bolivia
- Is Bolivia Safe For Tourists To Visit?
- Best Countries In South America To Travel To: Ranked
- The 15 Most Underrated Countries To Visit In 2025
- The Ultimate 6 Month South America Itinerary On A Budget
- How To Get From Salta To Uyuni By Bus (La Quiaca/Villazon)
- When Is The Best Time To Visit Salar De Uyuni?
- What Are The Cheapest Countries In Latin America For Tourists In 2024?
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