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Bolivia (Amazon)
The Amazon in Bolivia is incredibly wild and full of thick, green jungles. You can take a slow boat down quiet rivers and see monkeys and colorful birds up in the trees. It is a great place to experience the deep rainforest without the heavy crowds.
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Summary
Did you know?
Pink River Dolphins – The local rivers are home to rare freshwater pink dolphins that can turn bright pink and bend their necks to hunt in flooded forests.
Overview
Months
April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Vacation type
Couple, Family, Mountains, Rainforest
Expenses
0-50€, <100€, <150€, <200€, Over 200€
Temperature
20-25°C, 25-30°C
Rainfall
50-100mm, 100-150mm
Safety
Medium
Continent
South America
Currency
Boliviano
Languages
Quechua, Aymara, Spanish
Currency Converter
When to visit
The optimal travel window for exploring the Bolivian Amazon and the eastern lowlands—stretching from the wildlife-rich wetlands of Rurrenabaque to the commercial hub of Santa Cruz—is the dry season, running from May to October. During these months, the dense jungle trails are actually walkable, and the lack of rain forces wildlife to congregate around shrinking rivers and waterholes, making animal spotting highly reliable. The daytime temperatures average a hot but manageable 28°C to 32°C.
The off-peak wet season (November to April) fundamentally alters the landscape. Torrential daily rain swells the Amazon basin rivers, submerging the Pampas (wetlands) and turning unpaved overland routes into impassable rivers of deep mud. While jungle boat tours can penetrate deeper into the flooded forest during this time, mosquito populations explode, humidity becomes suffocating, and wildlife scatters into the dense, inaccessible canopy.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season (May to October)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 7 to 9 hours.
Rain Frequency: 3 to 6 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 1 to 2 hours.
Intensity: Brief tropical afternoon showers, occasionally followed by a "surazo" (a sudden cold wind blowing up from Patagonia that can unexpectedly drop temperatures for a few days).
Duration: Rain passes quickly, leaving high humidity but clear skies for river navigation.
Off-Peak Season (November to April)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 4 to 6 hours.
Rain Frequency: 15 to 22 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 4 to 6 hours.
Intensity: Violent, prolonged tropical downpours and severe thunderstorms.
Duration: Rain can fall consistently for days, washing out dirt roads entirely and causing major flight delays into small jungle airstrips.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: Global Historical Climatology Network
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: May-October
1. Basic / Essential Travel ($35-50/day)
Accommodation: $10-20/night (bunk beds in Rurrenabaque backpacker hostels or basic fan-cooled rooms).
Food: $10-15/day (local market stalls serving set menus, street-side empanadas).
Activities: $10-15/day (exploring local towns, self-guided walks on the edge of the jungle).
Transportation: $5/day (local mototaxis, slow regional buses).
Other Costs: $5/day (bottled water, aggressive mosquito repellent).
2. Mid-Range Travel ($80-150/day)
Accommodation: $40-70/night (air-conditioned hotels in Santa Cruz, comfortable private eco-lodges in Trinidad).
Food: $20-40/day (sit-down restaurants, traditional regional steakhouses).
Activities: $50-80/day (standard 3-day/2-night group Pampas or Jungle tours, averaged per day).
Transportation: $20-40/day (domestic flights to avoid dangerous bus routes).
Other Costs: $10/day (national park entry fees).
3. Luxury / Premium Travel ($250 - $500+/day)
Accommodation: $150-300+/night (exclusive, community-owned deep jungle lodges like Chalalán or high-end hotels in Santa Cruz).
Food: $50-100/day (private lodge catering, premium international dining in the cities).
Activities: $100-200+/day (private bilingual biologists as guides, specialized bird-watching river expeditions).
Transportation: $50-100+/day (chartered 4WD vehicles, premium domestic airline classes).
Other Costs: $20+/day (guide gratuities).
Off-Peak Season: November-April
1. Basic / Essential Travel ($30-45/day)
Accommodation: $10-15/night.
Food: $10-15/day.
Activities: $5-10/day (limited due to flooded trails).
Transportation: $5-10/day (buses frequently get stuck in mud for days).
Other Costs: $5/day.
2. Mid-Range Travel ($70-120/day)
Accommodation: $30-60/night.
Food: $20-30/day.
Activities: $40-70/day (boat-based tours are still functional).
Transportation: $20-40/day (flights become absolutely mandatory as roads wash out).
Other Costs: $10/day.
3. Luxury / Premium Travel ($200 - $400+/day)
Accommodation: $120-250+/night.
Food: $40-80/day.
Activities: $80-150/day.
Transportation: $50-100/day.
Other Costs: $20/day.
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- Bolivia’s largest and wealthiest city, located in the tropical lowlands. It operates as the commercial engine of the country, featuring a hot climate, modern infrastructure, a vibrant nightlife, and a distinct culture completely separate from the Andean highlands.
2. Rurrenabaque
- A small, dusty, motorcycle-filled town situated on the Beni River. It is the undisputed base camp for tourism into the Bolivian Amazon, split between expeditions into the dense jungle (Madidi) and the open wetlands (the Pampas).
3. Trinidad
- The capital of the Beni department. It is a slow, humid, traditional Amazonian town heavily reliant on cattle ranching, surrounded by rivers and functioning as an alternative, less tourist-heavy access point to the Amazon basin.
4. Samaipata
- Located just a few hours from Santa Cruz, this town sits exactly on the transition zone between the Andes mountains and the Amazon lowlands. It has a mild climate and a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere.
Did you know?
Turtle Traffic – Millions of giant river turtles crawl onto sandy river beaches all at once to lay eggs during a synchronized annual nesting event.
Islands
Bolivia is landlocked and does not have any islands in the traditional sense.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
Amazon Rainforest
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. Madidi National Park
- One of the most biodiverse protected areas on the planet. Covering a massive transition zone from the Andes down to the Amazon basin, it houses jaguars, tapirs, giant otters, and over 1,000 species of birds within impenetrable primary rainforest.
2. Pampas del Yacuma
- A protected wetland area distinct from the deep jungle. Visitors navigate the flooded plains by small boat, offering almost guaranteed sightings of pink river dolphins, howler monkeys, and massive anacondas hiding in the marsh grass.
3. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
- A deeply remote, pristine UNESCO World Heritage site near the Brazilian border. It features massive, sheer-sided plateaus (huanchacas) rising out of the jungle and spectacular waterfalls. It is difficult and expensive to reach, requiring chartered flights.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
- A circuit of beautifully preserved 18th-century mission towns located east of Santa Cruz. Unlike the missions in Argentina or Paraguay which are now ruins, the Bolivian missions remain active, living settlements featuring spectacular wooden churches blending European baroque and indigenous Guarani designs.
2. El Fuerte de Samaipata
- A massive, pre-Inca sandstone rock carving situated on a hill overlooking the jungle transition zone. It features complex geometric and animal figures carved directly into the bedrock, later used by the Incas as an eastern frontier fortress.
Unique Experiences
1. Swimming with Pink River Dolphins
- Jumping into the dark, murky waters of the Yacuma River to swim alongside wild Amazonian river dolphins. The dolphins are naturally curious and often approach swimmers, though the experience requires ignoring the fact that caimans share the same water.
2. Night Jungle Walks
- Equipping headlamps and walking through the primary rainforest of Madidi after dark with a local indigenous guide. The focus is on spotting tarantulas, massive bullet ants, nocturnal snakes, and the glowing eyes of caimans on the riverbanks.
3. Searching for Anacondas
- During the dry season, guides take visitors wading into the muddy swamps of the Pampas wearing heavy rubber boots, using long sticks to probe the thick grass in search of massive, resting anacondas.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Madidi
Photo By Christian Wittmann https://wittmann-tours.de/der-bolivianische-dschungel-im-madidi-nationalpark/
Unique Accomondations/Foodspots
Accommodations
Chalalan Ecolodge
Location: Madidi National Park, Bolivia Amazon
A pioneering, indigenous community-owned eco-lodge deep within the pristine Amazon rainforest, offering traditional thatched cabins, expert local guide-led wildlife tracking, and deep immersion in one of the planet's most biologically diverse ecosystems.
Restaurants / Bars
Gusto Safrán
Location: Rurrenabaque, Beni, Bolivia
A charming riverside dining spot serving fresh regional catches from the Beni River alongside classic Bolivian dishes, providing a relaxed atmosphere after exploring the surrounding lowlands.
Tours to do
1. The Rurrenabaque Combo (Jungle & Pampas)
- A 5-to-6 day classic Amazon experience. Fly into Rurrenabaque, spend three days deep in an eco-lodge in Madidi National Park focusing on plant medicines and dense jungle trekking, then spend two days in a river camp in the Pampas focusing on high-density animal spotting via boat.
Best Time: June to September
Average Cost: $350 – $700 per person (including flights from La Paz)
2. The Jesuit Missions Circuit
- A 4-day driving loop departing from Santa Cruz. Travel through the hot, dry Chiquitania region to visit the intricate wooden churches of San Javier, Concepción, and San Ignacio de Velasco, focusing on history and indigenous woodcarving.
Best Time: May to October
Average Cost: $300 – $600 per person
How to get around
1. Domestic Aviation
- A strict necessity for this region. The overland bus route from La Paz to Rurrenabaque takes 15 to 24 hours on a terrifying, unpaved cliffside road often called the "New Death Road." A domestic flight on BoA (Boliviana de Aviación) or Amaszonas takes 40 minutes and is vastly safer.
2. Motorized Canoes
- The primary mode of transport once inside the national parks. These long, wooden boats are powered by outboard motors and are used for both transit to the lodges and daily wildlife viewing.
3. Mototaxis
- In lowland towns like Rurrenabaque and Trinidad, standard taxis are rare. Locals and tourists get around by hopping on the back of cheap, ubiquitous small motorcycles.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
Floating Jungle Lodges – Some remote jungle camps float right on top of the river water and move with the seasonal floods.
What to eat
1. Majadito
- The quintessential dish of the eastern lowlands. It is a hearty mix of rice cooked with dried meat (charque), heavily colored with achiote (giving it a yellow/orange hue), and served with a fried egg and fried plantains on top.
2. Surubí
- A massive, meaty freshwater catfish pulled from the Amazonian rivers. It is the primary protein on jungle menus, usually served grilled, fried in a light batter, or cooked in a rich coconut milk sauce.
3. Cuñapé
- A popular lowland snack found in bakeries across Santa Cruz. They are small, baked cheese balls made from cassava (yuca) flour, making them naturally gluten-free. They have a crispy outside and a dense, chewy interior.
4. Pacumutu
- Thick, heavily seasoned chunks of beef skewered on large wooden sticks, grilled over an open fire, and traditionally served with rice, yuca, and a spicy salsa.
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)
Flight Prices and Seasons:
From Europe
- Average Round-Trip Cost: €900 to €1,500 (Air Europa and BoA run direct flights from Madrid to Santa Cruz. Otherwise, connect through São Paulo or Bogota).
- Cheapest Months: February and November.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and December.
From North America
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $800 to $1,400 (American Airlines and Copa Airlines fly into VVI, usually routing through Miami or Panama City).
- Cheapest Months: September and October.
- Peak Prices: Late December, June, and July.
From Asia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,500 to $2,500 (Requires extensive transit, typically flying through the US or Europe, then connecting down to South America).
- Cheapest Months: April and October.
- Peak Prices: January and July.
From Australia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,400 to $2,200 (Routed through Santiago, Chile via LATAM, then connecting up to Santa Cruz).
- Cheapest Months: August and November.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Africa
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,200 to $1,900 (Connecting through São Paulo, Brazil via Ethiopian Airlines).
- Cheapest Months: March and September.
- Peak Prices: December.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
. Most travelers need a visa to enter Bolivia, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Australia, while some EU countries can enter visa-free.
2. Visa-Free Countries
- Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and several other South American countries can enter Bolivia without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
3. Visa Application
- Travelers from countries that require a visa can apply at a Bolivian embassy or consulate or obtain a Visa on Arrival at certain points of entry.
4. Types of Visa
- Commonly issued as tourist visas (valid for up to 90 days) or business visas.
5. Processing Time
- Visa processing can take from a few days to a few weeks, so it's best to apply well in advance.
6. Duration of Stay
- Most tourist visas allow stays of up to 90 days; extensions may be available through local immigration offices.
7. Health Requirements
- Vaccination against yellow fever is required if traveling from an endemic area. Travel insurance is also recommended.
Important things to know
1. Payments
- The local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB). Credit cards are accepted in urban areas, but cash is advisable for smaller purchases.
2. Tap Water
- Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Bottled water is recommended.
3. Electricity
- The voltage is 230V, and plug types C and A (two round pins) are used. An adapter may be needed for devices from other regions.
4. Tipping in Restaurants
- Tipping is customary, with 10% being standard for good service in restaurants.
5. SIM Cards
- Local SIM cards are available from providers like Entel, Tigo, and Viva. They can be purchased at stores, offering various prepaid data plans.
6. Driving Side
- In Bolivia, people drive on the right side of the road.
Souveniers
1. Huayruro Seed Jewelry
- In the Amazon, indigenous communities string together huayruro seeds to create necklaces and bracelets. These striking, naturally bright red and black seeds are traditionally believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.
2. Woven Palm Baskets
- Local artisans in the lowlands weave intricate, durable baskets, fans, and hats using fibers extracted from the Jipijapa palm and other native jungle plants, often dyed using natural bark and roots.
3. Chiquitano Wood Carvings
- In the Jesuit Mission towns east of Santa Cruz, the indigenous Chiquitano people maintain a world-class tradition of woodcarving. Visitors can buy incredibly detailed, hand-carved wooden angels, crosses, and musical instruments.
Huayruro Seed Jewelry
Location
Reviews
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