Weather in Bolivia

Bolivia experiences the entire range of climatic conditions, right from stifling heat and humidity to freezing arctic cold with sub zero temperatures. The best time to visit Bolivia is in winter when the weather remains dry and clear. This season lasts from May to October. The monsoon in Bolivia coincides with the summer and lasts from November to April. During this season, overland transportation becomes virtually impossible in many areas and extremely difficult in the rest.

Bolivia lies as close to the equator as Hawaii or Tahiti. But its altitude and unprotected expanses make the weather extreme and unpredictable. At one end there is the searing heat of Puerto Suárez and at the other lies Uyuni with icy cold winds. But the weather is so unpredictable that Puerto Suárez sometimes experiences freezing temperatures and tourists can actually sunbathe in Uyuni.

The monsoon (summer) in the lowlands can be utterly miserable. Tropical downpours are relentless, humidity levels are high, there are hundreds of biting insects and the whole region is muddy. The roads are almost washed out and most people use river transport. If you are sea worthy, this is the time to hop onto a cargo boat and explore Bolivia. Winter in Altiplano is extreme; days are extremely hot and nights experience sub zero temperatures and freezing winds.

The tourist season in Bolivia lasts from June to early September and the tourist influx is highest in August. The weather in Bolivia is relatively consistent and the period coincides with the summer holidays in North America and Europe. Since most of the major Bolivian festivals take place during this period, it is also the time when many Bolivians and South Americans also travel.

Tourists must remember that there is an altitude drop of over 3000 feet between the northern and the southern parts of the city. As a result, the temperatures between downtown and the residential areas in the south vary significantly and the southern area tends to be warmer.