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. In simple terms, the country's geography consists of a western Andean region 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 civil unrest. Do not travel to the Chapare region due to a high level of violent crime.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
- crime
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest, Demonstrations can result in violence, Roadblocks and strikes may cut off traffic.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of street crime, particularly in urban areas where petty theft and violent crime are prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest, including strikes and roadblocks that can affect transportation and logistics.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access and the risk of diseases like malaria and dengue, particularly in rural areas.
Remote workers may find reliable internet in urban centers but should avoid rural areas where connectivity is inconsistent.
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 region
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Chapare region
Do Not Travel due to a high level of violent crime.
Bolivia has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶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:
- The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Chapare region.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300 m (7,550 ft) elevation and any areas not listed above, including the cities of La Paz and Sucre. Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertChikungunya in Bolivia: There is an outbreak of chikungunya in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba Departments, Bolivia. You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites.
- 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.
- infoGlobal 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.