Bolivia Travel Risk Overview
Is Bolivia safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Bolivia scores 48/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Bolivia Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 18 Aug 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 22 Sep 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Bolivia has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 48 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); city-level files are available for 58 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Bolivia, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Bolivia assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Bolivia carries a moderate risk baseline composite score of 48 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level of 2. Recent safety concerns include a green forest fire notification, a Level 1 global dengue health notice, and a fatal road accident involving a van falling off a cliff.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 06:23 UTC
How safe is Bolivia to visit in 2026?
Bolivia currently sits at 48/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine in Bolivia with normal preparation, but a few risk categories warrant attention. The full live US State Department advisory text for Bolivia, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, Cochabamba), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: security (53/100) and health and medical access (57/100).
Bolivia's score of 48 is higher than the scores of 63% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | Editorial regional baseline 2026-05-15 (GPI + State Dept advisory + WHO health/transport + INFORM disaster) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-18 02:25:55 |
| City files | 58 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Exercise increased cautionin Bolivia due to crime, unrest, and health. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Crime Petty crime is com…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Bolivia. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Bolivia’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Bolivia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Bolivian Embassy in the UK (in Spanish). Passport validity requirements To enter Bolivia, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stol
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Sep 22, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
What Changed This Month in Bolivia
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 14, 2026 GDACS Alert Green forest fire notification in Bolivia (green).
- Oct 9, 2026 GDACS Alert Green forest fire notification in Bolivia (green).
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 8, 2026 Score Change Santa Cruz de la Sierra risk score moved from 44 to 43 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 7, 2026 Score Change Santa Cruz de la Sierra risk score moved from 46 to 44 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 7, 2026 Score Change Baures risk score moved from 51 to 52 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in Bolivia
Showing 58 destination files with city-specific safety data in Bolivia, ranked by demand and population.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Tier ASanta Cruz
El Alto
Tier BLa Paz
Cochabamba
Tier BCochabamba
La Paz
Tier BLa Paz
Tupiza
Tier BPotosí
Villa Yapacaní
Tier BSanta Cruz
Oruro
Tier BOruro
Warnes
Tier BSanta Cruz
Colcapirhua
Tier BCochabamba
Mineros
Tier BSanta Cruz
Mapiri
Tier BLa Paz
Sicasica
Tier BLa Paz
Potosí
Tier BPotosí
Sacaba
Tier BCochabamba
Tiquipaya
Tier BCochabamba
Villazón
Tier BPotosí
Rurrenabaque
Tier BEl Beni
Aiquile
Tier BCochabamba
Coroico
Tier BLa Paz
Sucre
Tier BChuquisaca
Montero
Tier BSanta Cruz
Yacuiba
Tier BTarija
Cobija
Tier BPando
Viacha
Tier BLa Paz
Mizque
Tier BCochabamba
Cotoca
Tier BSanta Cruz
Yapacani
Tier BSanta Cruz
Caranavi
Tier BLa Paz
San Julián
Tier BSanta Cruz
Ascención de Guarayos
Tier BSanta Cruz
Achacachi
Tier BLa Paz
Reyes
Tier BEl Beni
San Carlos
Tier BSanta Cruz
Samaipata
Tier BSanta Cruz
San Lorenzo
Tier BTarija
Entre Ríos
Tier BTarija
Tarija
Tier BTarija
Camiri
Tier BSanta Cruz
Ivirgarzama
Tier BCochabamba
Uyuni
Tier BPotosí
Independencia
Tier BCochabamba
Ravelo
Tier BPotosí
Achocalla
Tier BLa Paz
Vallegrande
Tier BSanta Cruz
Portachuelo
Tier BSanta Cruz
Chulumani
Tier BLa Paz
Pailón
Tier BSanta Cruz
Sorata
Tier BLa Paz
Cuevo
Tier BSanta Cruz
Piso Firme
Tier BEl Beni
Quillacollo
Tier BCochabamba
Puerto Villarroel
Tier BCochabamba
Sipe Sipe
Tier BCochabamba
San Borja
Tier BEl Beni
Huanuni
Tier BOruro
Apolo
Tier BLa Paz
Trinidad
Tier BEl Beni
Riberalta
Tier BEl Beni
All towns in Bolivia (45 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Bolivia
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Bolivia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Bolivia’s advisory
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Traveller notes from government advice
Advice for women travellers
There have been rape and sexual assault incidents at clubs and hostels. Be cautious if you’re approached by strangers. Lock your room when you return to your hotel or hostel.
See advice for women travelling abroad.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Sep 2026. Full advice
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal. However, same-sex relationships are frowned on by many Bolivians, more so in the Altiplano than in Santa Cruz, where attitudes tend to be more liberal.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Sep 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
Police and immigration officials sometimes carry out ID checks. Carry copies of the photo page from your passport and the Bolivian entry stamps. Leave the original document in a safe place.
Illegal bars
There are illegal bars in Bolivia. If the police find you at one, you may be detained for questioning, particularly if drugs are found at the premises. Legal bars close at 3am.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
Bolivia is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine. There are harsh penalties for those caught trafficking or in possession of drugs. The minimum sentence is 8 years and prison conditions are very poor. Never leave luggage unattended when departing the country and avoid any contact with illegal drugs. Under Bolivian law carrying any amount of illegal drugs or substances is considered drug trafficking.
All passengers on departing international flights from Bolivia will have their hold and hand baggage searched…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Sep 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Bolivia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Bolivia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Bolivian Embassy in the UK (in Spanish).
Passport validity requirements
To enter Bolivia, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Sep 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green forest fire notification in Bolivia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-14
On 13/10/2026, a forest fire started in Bolivia, until 14/10/2026.
-
Green forest fire notification in Bolivia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-09
On 07/10/2026, a forest fire started in Bolivia, until 15/10/2026.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 06:23:25 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Bolivia. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Bolivia
The most weather-stable two-month window for Bolivia is October–November, when typical daily temperatures run from about 5°C to 16°C and monthly rain averages 65 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; January is the wettest typical month at about 128 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 10, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 110 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 118 |
| Fire | 119 |
| General emergency | — |
Backfilled from the public international emergency-number registry. The GSM standard 112 (and 911 in the Americas) is redirected to local emergency services on mobile networks in most countries. Verify locally on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bolivia safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe with normal precautions. Bolivia has a few categories that warrant planning — read the breakdown below and check the live US State Department advisory. Composite baseline: 48/100 (Moderate risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Bolivia?
The current US State Department advisory level for Bolivia is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Bolivia in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Bolivia is 48/100 (Moderate risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Bolivia?
City-specific files for Bolivia are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Bolivia were last reviewed on May 18, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Bolivia?
October–November is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Bolivia is October–November, when typical daily temperatures run from about 5°C to 16°C and monthly rain averages 65 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Bolivia?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.