Summer
Dec → Feb17 to 18°
nights 3°
- 11 rainy days · 63 mm
- 11.8 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Bolivia?
- Jan18°not recommended
- Feb17°not recommended
- Mar17°not recommended
- Apr16°fair
- May13°recommended
- Jun10°recommended
- Jul11°recommended
- Aug12°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct18°recommended
- Nov18°fair
- Dec18°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Bolivia, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 3° | 11.8 h | 67 mm | 12 d | |
| February | 17° | 3° | 11.3 h | 64 mm | 12 d | |
| March | 17° | 3° | 11.3 h | 32 mm | 8 d | |
| April | 16° | -2° | 10.9 h | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| May | 13° | -4° | 10.9 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| June | 10° | -6° | 10.7 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| July | 11° | -5° | 10.7 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| August | 12° | -4° | 11 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| September | 16° | -3° | 11.5 h | 2 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| October | 18° | -1° | 12.2 h | 1 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| November | 18° | 0° | 12.5 h | 13 mm | 3 d | |
| December | 18° | 3° | 12.3 h | 59 mm | 9 d |
The four seasons in Bolivia, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May13 to 17°
nights -4 to 3°
- 3 rainy days · 11 mm
- 11 h of sun
Winter
Jun → Aug10 to 12°
nights -6 to -4°
- 0 rainy days · 0 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Spring
Sep → Nov16 to 18°
nights -3 to 0°
- 1 rainy days · 5 mm
- 12.1 h of sun
Book early for May to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Bolivia, month by month
EventsAlasitaJanuaryUyuni salt flat mirrorJanuary to MarchOruro CarnivalFebruary to MarchFiesta del Gran PoderMay to JuneDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Bolivia, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JanuaryAlasita
In late January, the La Paz miniatures fair sells in tiny form whatever people hope to get full size during the year.
- January to MarchUyuni salt flat mirror
From January to March, a thin layer of water covers the Salar de Uyuni and turns the salt crust into a mirror stretching to the horizon.
- February to MarchOruro Carnival big crowds
In February or March, Oruro dances the diablada for several days, with a procession that climbs to the sanctuary of the Virgin.
- May to JuneFiesta del Gran Poder big crowds
In late May or early June, La Paz parades for an entire day in embroidered costumes, led by brass bands, with streets closed throughout the centre.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Bolivia, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇴 Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇧🇴 La Paz and the Yungas Road | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇧🇴 Lake Titicaca (Copacabana) | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇧🇴 Sucre and Potosí | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
Salar de Uyuni and Sur LípezBest time: May to October (dry) and January to March (mirror effect)When to visit Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez →The Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez guide
La Paz and the Yungas RoadBest time: May to October (dry season)When to visit La Paz and the Yungas Road →La Paz and the Yungas Road guide
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended18°3° at night
- 67 mm · 12 d
- 11.8 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended17°3° at night
- 64 mm · 12 d
- 11.3 h
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended17°3° at night
- 32 mm · 8 d
- 11.3 h
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair16°-2° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.9 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended13°-4° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.9 h
High season, book early
June
Recommended10°-6° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
High season, book early
July
Recommended11°-5° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended12°-4° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 11 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°-3° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
- 11.5 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended18°-1° at night
- 1 mm · 1 d
- 12.2 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair18°0° at night
- 13 mm · 3 d
- 12.5 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended18°3° at night
- 59 mm · 9 d
- 12.3 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 3 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 17 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (32 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 16 °C at best, -2 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 13 °C at best, -4 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. High season: book early.
June. Cool: 10 °C at best, -6 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. High season: book early.
July. Cool: 11 °C at best, -5 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 12 °C at best, -4 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, -3 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and -1 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 0 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.5 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 3 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Bolivia?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 10 to 18 °C, with almost no rainy days a month on average (2015-2024 records, Salar de Uyuni).
Which month should you avoid in Bolivia?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 67 mm over 12 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the hottest month in Bolivia?
January, with 18 °C on average in the afternoon and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the coldest month in Bolivia?
June, with 10 °C at best during the day and -6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the driest month in Bolivia?
April: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 67 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Bolivia?
November, with 12.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Bolivia?
The gap between day and night reaches 19 °C in September: 16 °C in the afternoon, -3 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Bolivia?
March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Bolivia guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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