When to go · Bolivia
Bolivia in March
Mixed month. Mirror on the Salar; some island-hotel routes closed by water.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Medium
- Bolivia
- Prices
- Medium
- Bolivia
Verdict
Mirror on the Salar; some island-hotel routes closed by water.
Is another month better than March?
March is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in March
- 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, Samaipatafine
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 mfine
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 Paz18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 14 rain days
- Atocha18 °C (64 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 12 rain days
- Challapata18 °C (64 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Chochís32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Chulumani22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 10 rain days
- Cochabamba26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 8 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) / 4 °C (39 °F), 13 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 13 rain days
- Coroico26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 15 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 15 rain days
- Guayaramerín32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
- Llallagua21 °C (70 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 14 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 14 rain days
- Oruro19 °C (66 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 10 rain days
- Potosí16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 11 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 11 rain days
- Puerto Quijarro32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
- Puerto Suárez31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- Quillacollo24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
- Quime22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 14 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 14 rain days
- Riberalta34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 9 rain days
- Rurrenabaque31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
- Samaipata24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 12 rain days
- San Borja32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 10 rain days
- San Ignacio de Moxos30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
- San Ignacio de Velasco31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- San Javier34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
- San Joaquín32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
- San José de Chiquitos30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 10 rain days
- San Juan20 °C (68 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 11 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 11 rain days
- San Miguel de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- San Miguel del Bala31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
- San Pedro de Quemes18 °C (64 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- San Rafael de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- Santa Ana de Velasco30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
- Santa Cruz30.8 °C (87 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days87 °F (30.8 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- Santiago de Chiquitos32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- Sorata21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 15 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 15 rain days
- Sucre22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 14 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 14 rain days
- Tarabuco21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 12 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 12 rain days
- Tarata23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 9 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 9 rain days
- Tarija27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 10 rain days
- Trinidad31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
- Tupiza18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 9 rain days
- Uyuni20 °C (68 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
- Villa Tunari30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 14 rain days
- Villazón and La Quiaca22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 10 rain days
- Yampupata15 °C (59 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 13 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 13 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
Carnival (Oruro) big impact
Feb or Mar (check)
UNESCO-listed parade; Oruro rooms and buses sell out; water fights nationwide.
Good Friday
Mar or Apr (check)
Pilgrims walk to Copacabana.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Bolivia
- Medium
- Prices · Bolivia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bolivia, side by side.
Verdict
Mar: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Mar: Medium
May: Medium
Prices
Mar: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Mar: 2
May: 4
March: Mirror on the Salar; some island-hotel routes closed by water.
May: Dry season starts; Gran Poder festival in La Paz (May or June, check).
Bolivia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
Where to go in March
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Dec–Mar (most water in waterfalls)
Best months: Mar (fiesta), Apr–Oct (dry)