Is It Safe to Travel to Bolivia in 2026?
Bolivia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. Its geography primarily consists of an Andean region to the west and tropical lowlands to the east and north.
Is It Safe to Travel to Bolivia in 2026?
Bolivia is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Bolivia due to crime, unrest, and health. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist spots. Stay aware of your surroundings. Large demonstrations can happen with little warning and may block transportation and other essential services.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
- health
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist spots., Large demonstrations can happen with little warning and may block transportation and other essential services..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of petty crime, particularly in tourist areas like La Paz and Santa Cruz, where thefts are common and vigilance is essential.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and should be prepared for potential delays in transportation and services during demonstrations.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access outside major cities and the risk of waterborne diseases, necessitating careful planning for health and safety.
Remote workers can find decent connectivity in urban centers, but should avoid rural areas where internet access is unreliable and health risks are higher.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Bolivia.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Chapare Province
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Chapare Province
Do Not Travel to Chapare Province due to crime.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶El Alto
U.S. government employees are encouraged to pay extra attention to their surroundings due to petty crime.
Bolivia has 2 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Bolivia
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Mobile data in Bolivia
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Bolivia has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 66/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Boliviano (BOB)
Language
Spanish
Notable restrictions:
- Do not travel to Chapare Province due to crime.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old. Country entry requirements are subject to change. Check with the embassies or consulates on your itinerary to confirm entry requirements before departure.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Dengue: 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.
- alertGlobal Measles: 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.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Bolivia
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Bolivia?
▶Is it safe to travel to Bolivia right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Bolivia?
▶What vaccines do I need for Bolivia?
▶Is Bolivia safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Bolivia?
More Bolivia Data
Partly Free — 66/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.