Travelers eyeing a bucket-list trip to South America’s high Andes may want to read the fine print before booking. The U.S. Department of State has reissued its travel advisory for Bolivia, keeping the country at a Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution rating. On the surface, that sounds mild compared to the do-not-travel warnings issued for other countries. A closer look at what is actually driving the advisory tells a more complicated story.
The advisory, last updated August 18, cites crime and civil unrest as the primary concerns, and a related update earlier this year added health as a third risk factor. For a destination known for its salt flats, colonial architecture and towering mountain scenery, the details behind those three words are worth understanding before packing a bag.
One Entire Province Is Off Limits Completely
Buried within the broader Level 2 rating is a far more serious warning. Chapare Province has been given a Level 4, Do Not Travel designation, the State Department’s most severe classification, reserved for places considered too dangerous for any American to visit. The region is a center of illegal coca production, and violent crime tied to narcotrafficking is common there. Local police presence is described as limited, and the U.S. government says its own ability to provide emergency assistance to citizens in the area is restricted. Government employees working in the country need special authorization just to enter it.
Petty Crime Is Common Even in the Places Tourists Actually Visit
Outside the restricted province, the advisory paints a picture of crime that is less dramatic but far more likely to affect the average traveler. Pickpocketing and theft are described as common, particularly on buses, in bus terminals, and in popular tourist areas. Thieves often work in pairs, using distraction techniques while a partner lifts a wallet or phone.
More unsettling is a warning about criminals posing as police officers to rob visitors. The advisory specifically instructs travelers never to enter an unmarked police vehicle. A rarer but more frightening scheme, known as express kidnapping, involves tourists being held and forced to withdraw cash from ATMs. It happens infrequently and is concentrated mostly in Santa Cruz, but the advisory addresses it directly enough to suggest it is a real enough risk to plan around.
Travelers are also warned to avoid Coronilla Hill in Cochabamba near the main bus terminal, and the 16 de Julio market in El Alto, both flagged specifically for elevated crime.
Protests Can Shut Down Roads With Almost No Warning
Civil unrest is the second major concern named in the advisory, and it comes with a practical complication that catches many visitors off guard. Demonstrations in Bolivia can occur with little notice, and roadblocks are described as a common and effective form of protest nationwide. These blockades do not just inconvenience traffic. They can disrupt the delivery of food, fuel and essential goods, and the advisory specifically recommends that residents keep several days of supplies on hand in case a blockade cuts off normal deliveries.
For a traveler with a tightly scheduled itinerary, a sudden roadblock between cities can mean missed flights, canceled tours or being stranded far from a hotel with little recourse.
Altitude Is a Bigger Danger Than Most Travelers Expect
The health concerns woven into the advisory center heavily on Bolivia’s extreme elevation. Cities like La Paz, El Alto, Oruro, Potosi and Uyuni sit between 10,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level, high enough that altitude sickness is a real risk regardless of age or fitness level. Severe headache, shortness of breath at rest, confusion or lack of coordination are listed as signs that require immediate descent to lower elevation and, potentially, emergency medical care.
Medical care itself carries its own risks once altitude sickness or any other emergency strikes. Public ambulance services are described as unreliable, and in remote locations such as the Uyuni salt flats, the nearest adequate medical care can be a three to four hour drive away. Hospitals require upfront payment in most cases, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid provide no coverage abroad, and most facilities accept only cash. The State Department goes as far as recommending supplemental medical evacuation insurance for anyone planning to visit.
Road Travel Carries Its Own Hazards
Getting between destinations poses additional risk. Most Bolivian highways lack shoulders, barriers or consistent lane markings, and many secondary roads are unpaved entirely. During the rainy season, which runs from November through March, some roads become impassable and bridges have been known to collapse. Bus accidents between cities are described as common and a leading cause of serious injury and death for travelers relying on public transportation.
What This Means for Anyone Still Planning a Trip
None of this means Bolivia is off the table entirely. The advisory sits at Level 2, the same tier assigned to many popular international destinations, not the more severe reconsider-travel or do-not-travel classifications. But the specifics behind that rating, an entire no-go province, common pickpocketing schemes, unpredictable road-blocking protests, and serious altitude and medical care limitations, are the kind of details that matter far more than a single risk level number.
Travelers who still want to experience Bolivia’s salt flats, colonial cities and Andean landscapes are strongly encouraged to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, purchase travel insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage, avoid Chapare Province entirely, and build extra flexibility into any itinerary in case protests or road closures interfere with travel plans.
This article draws on the U.S. Department of State’s official Bolivia travel advisory.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.