Bolivia in January

Rainy season: Uyuni mirror starts; lowland floods; Alasitas fair in La Paz (24 Jan).

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatDry season starts; Gran Poder festival in La Paz (May or June, check).
• JuneGreatClear skies, very cold nights; Aymara New Year (21 Jun) at Tiwanaku.
• JulyGreatPeak season; freezing lagoon nights on the Uyuni tour.
• AugustGreatDry and busy; Independence Day (6 Aug); windy.

• Altiplano and La Paz · La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Orurorainy

  Dry, sunny and freezing at night May–Sep; afternoon rain and hail Dec–Mar.

• Uyuni and the southwest · Salar de Uyuni, Eduardo Avaroa reserverainy

  Mirror effect in the rains (roughly Jan–Mar) but some routes flood; Jun–Aug nights reach −20 °C (−4 °F) at the lagoons.Mirror effect in the rains (roughly Jan–Mar) but some routes flood; Jun–Aug nights reach −4 °F (−20 °C) at the lagoons.

• Valleys · Sucre, Cochabamba, Tarija, Samaipatarainy

  Mild all year (Sucre about 2,800 m); summer rains Dec–Feb.

• Lowlands and Amazon · Santa Cruz, Rurrenabaque, Madidirainy

  Hot and humid; floods Dec–Mar; smoke from forest burning in Aug–Sep some years.

• Altiplano: Altiplano (La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Uyuni) · High plateau above about 3,500 mrainy

  Dry season roughly May–October: clear skies, cold nights, strong sun. Rain falls December–March, when the salt flat floods and gives the mirror effect. Whether rain closes lagoon roads — check locally.

• Beni: Rurrenabaque and the Andean foothills · south-west Benirainy

  Hot and humid year-round; May–September is drier and the usual tour season. Rainy months can close roads and raise rivers.

• Beni: Trinidad and the Llanos de Moxos · central and eastern Benirainy

  Flood season December–March; dry-season travel May–September is easier. Expect 30 °C (86 °F)+ most days.Flood season December–March; dry-season travel May–September is easier. Expect 86 °F (30 °C)+ most days.

• Chuquisaca: Sucre and the valleys · Central Chuquisaca, 2,500–3,000 mrainy

  Temperate and dry most of the year: warm days, cool nights, strong sun. Rain concentrates December–March. Pack a layer for evenings year-round.

• Chuquisaca: Eastern Chaco lowlands · East of the cordillerahot

  Hot and humid in the southern summer, mild and dry in winter; few services.

• Cochabamba: Cochabamba valley · City and the main valley (Tarata, Quillacollo)rainy

  Mild year-round; rainy season roughly December–March. Days are warm, nights cool.

• Cochabamba: Chapare lowlands · Villa Tunari, Chimoré, Carrascorainy

  Hot and humid; rain most of the year. Mosquito net and repellent matter.

• Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz lowlands · City and Chiquitos plainsrainy

  Hot and humid most of the year; the wettest stretch is roughly December to March — check current conditions before relying on dirt roads.

• Santa Cruz: Samaipata valley · Andean foothillsrainy

  Cooler than the city; the drier months around May–October are the comfortable window — check.

• Tarija: Tarija city and the wine valleys · Sub-Andean valleys, 1,600–2,400 mrainy

  Mild year-round; the dry winter and spring months May–November are the prime travel season. April brings the grape harvest festival. Rain concentrates in the southern summer, December–March.

• Tarija: Cordillera de Sama · High reserve above the cityrainy

  Cold and exposed at altitude; the wet months make the access tracks worse.

• La Paz17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 17 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 17 rain days
• Atocha18 °C (64 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 18 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 18 rain days
• Challapata18 °C (64 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
• Chochís30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
• Chulumani20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 12 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 12 rain days
• Cochabamba25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Concepción31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Copacabana15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 18 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 18 rain days
• Coroico26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 18 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 18 rain days
• Guayaramerín32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
• Llallagua20 °C (68 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 18 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 18 rain days
• Oruro19 °C (66 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 14 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 14 rain days
• Potosí15 °C (59 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 15 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 15 rain days
• Puerto Quijarro30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto Suárez32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Quillacollo24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 16 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 16 rain days
• Quime22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 18 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 18 rain days
• Riberalta32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Rurrenabaque31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 18 rain days
• Samaipata24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 15 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 15 rain days
• San Borja30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• San Ignacio de Moxos30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• San Ignacio de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• San Javier32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• San Joaquín32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
• San José de Chiquitos31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• San Juan20 °C (68 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 15 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 15 rain days
• San Miguel de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 12 rain days
• San Miguel del Bala30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• San Pedro de Quemes18 °C (64 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
• San Rafael de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 12 rain days
• Santa Ana de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Santa Cruz31.2 °C (88 °F) / 21.4 °C (71 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31.2 °C) / 71 °F (21.4 °C), 12 rain days
• Santiago de Chiquitos30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Sorata21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 18 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 18 rain days
• Sucre22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 17 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 17 rain days
• Tarabuco20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 15 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 15 rain days
• Tarata22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Tarija27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 13 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 13 rain days
• Trinidad31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Tupiza14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
• Uyuni20 °C (68 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 14 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 14 rain days
• Villa Tunari30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 16 rain days
• Villazón and La Quiaca22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 13 rain days
• Yampupata15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 18 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 18 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year

  1 Jan

  Public holiday.

• Plurinational State Day

  22 Jan

  Public holiday.

• Alasitas fair, La Paz

  24 Jan

  Miniature-goods fair for wishes; runs weeks.

• Alasitas check

  from 24 January · La Paz

  A fair of miniature goods for luck.

Crowds · Bolivia

Medium

Prices · Bolivia

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bolivia, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Santiago de Chiquitos

  Best months: Dec–Mar (most water in waterfalls)