When I told my family I was going on a solo trip to Bolivia, their reaction wasn’t exactly positive. Sadly, Bolivia seems to have a reputation for being a dangerous place. To be fair, it doesn’t exactly have a perfect record when it comes to its political past, drugs and overall safety. And as one of South America’s poorest countries, it’s not the easiest of countries to navigate.
Despite all this, I’m here to convince you that solo female travel in Bolivia is absolutely doable. I had the best month travelling solo and never once felt unsafe.
In this post, I’ve shared my solo travel experience in Bolivia. I’ve also included some helpful tips to help you plan your trip.
Is Bolivia safe for solo female travellers?
I don’t think you can ever say that a country is 100% safe, and it would be irresponsible of me to say Bolivia is absolutely safe. What I will say, however, is that Bolivia is a fantastic destination for solo female travellers and I had no issues at all. While crimes against tourists can occur, they aren’t common by any means.
I personally felt much safer in Bolivia than in other countries such as Ecuador and Guatemala. The locals are very welcoming, the overnight buses are nowhere near as bad as the internet makes out, and I found it so easy to meet other people. In fact, I barely travelled solo in Bolivia as I was constantly finding new friends. I also never felt like I was getting any unwanted attention for being alone.
It would be ignorant of me to ignore the safety concerns in Bolivia. People do get mugged, harassed, and scammed, but this does feel less common than in other countries I’ve been to in the same area. The country’s political landscape can also be very unstable, and it’s not uncommon for large-scale protests to happen.
You do need to follow some basic tips, which I’ve discussed more below. It’s not the type of place to go off the beaten path. Plus, I wouldn’t walk alone at night (mainly due to the dogs), and the public transportation system is questionable.
Despite this, Bolivia is a fantastic destination for a solo trip. It’s an incredibly beautiful country filled with diverse landscapes, and there is so much to see. Even with just a few days in Bolivia, it’s possible to experience both the World’s largest salt flat AND the World’s highest capital city.
While I think Bolivia is a great destination for solo travellers, it’s not a good option for first-time solo travellers or those who are nervous. It’s not the easiest country to navigate, and it can sometimes feel challenging and isolating.
If you’re looking for a good destination for a first-time solo trip, consider Costa Rica, Mexico or Argentina. Alternatively, Southeast Asia is always a good choice.
My biggest safety concerns in Bolivia
I’d be naive to say Bolivia is an entirely safe country. It’s one of the poorest countries in South America and has a significant lack of infrastructure. The country also has relatively poor safety records regarding tourists and activities, with many road traffic accidents.
While I personally found Bolivia to be an overall safe country (at least safer than some other countries in Latin America, such as Ecuador and Guatemala), there are a few things to be aware of.
Stray dogs
My biggest safety concern in Bolivia was the stray dogs. In fact, I changed my itinerary to avoid arriving in Samaipata late at night after hearing a story about a backpacker who had been bitten. A visitor had also been bitten by stray dogs when hiking in Tupiza right before I visited, so I opted to do a horseback riding tour instead.
I’ve visited many developing countries with a stray dog issue, but Bolivia was on another level. The streets were filled with roaming dogs, some with owners and some stray. While they are generally friendly during the day, they can become very territorial at night. I heard countless stories from backpackers who had encountered issues with the dogs, and this was my biggest safety concern while in Bolivia.
You cannot do much to avoid encountering stray dogs; they’re everywhere. The locals advise carrying some rocks to throw at them in case they become aggressive. I personally did my best to avoid situations where I encountered dogs alone at night altogether. This generally meant avoiding quieter streets in the dark (something I would do anyway).
However, this isn’t always possible. When walking back to my hostel at around 7 p.m., I encountered a barking group of dogs. They started to come towards me but, thankfully, were scared off by a local.
It’s important to be aware of the issues with dangerous dogs in Bolivia. Some destinations felt worse than others, but it’s not the place to take a chance. If you find yourself walking alone at night, stick to the busier roads and walk as far away from the dogs as possible.
I was also told that even pretending to throw rocks at the dogs sometimes works, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Overnight buses / Transport
Unfortunately, Bolivia doesn’t have the best safety record regarding its overnight buses and general transport options. And you’ll no doubt need to take at least one long bus journey while in Bolivia.
If I’m being honest, one of my biggest solo travel fears about Bolivia was managing this alone. I had heard stories of drunk and dangerous bus drivers, buses kicking passengers off in the middle of nowhere and belongings being stolen.
However, it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. Many Bolivian bus companies have massively improved their safety standards in recent years, and I never once felt unsafe. In fact, I had some of my best night’s sleep on those buses.
When speaking to other backpackers, it seems that everyone was surprised by the quality of buses available for tourists, and it’s nowhere near as bad as the internet makes out (Bolivia & Peru Hop: I’m looking at you…)
However, it’s important to choose the right company. There are still operators out there who don’t look after their buses or drivers, and accidents happen regularly.
I’m working on an article dedicated to overnight buses in Bolivia, so check it out here soon.
Petty crimes and scams
Petty theft is common worldwide and can happen anywhere. Phone snatching, pick-pocketing, and scams occur in every country, and Bolivia is no exception.
Compared to other countries, I didn’t think Bolivia was that bad. I met several backpackers who had come from Chile and had their phones snatched in Santiago, and I heard similar stories from Peru. However, this didn’t seem to be common in Bolivia, and I felt much less at risk than in other Latin American countries I’ve visited. In Ecuador, there was a new story everyday about someone having their phone snatched.
However, it would be silly to say it never happens in Bolivia because it does. La Paz, in particular, is certainly somewhere to keep an eye on your belongings and not flaunt anything expensive.
The only person I met in Bolivia who had their phone stolen had been tricked at a market. Someone threw mud at her back, and before she knew what was happening, she was surrounded by people trying to clean the dirt off her back and apologising. With her guard down, they took her phone.
This is a very common scam to be aware of in major cities. I heard of it happening in Buenos Aires, too.
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness in Bolivia can be a very real health concern. With many popular tourist destinations in Bolivia sitting well above 3,000 metres, it was certainly something constantly on the back of my mind.
Of course, anyone can suffer from altitude sickness, and being a solo traveller doesn’t exactly increase your risk. However, if you get altitude sickness, going through it alone won’t be fun.
I’ve spoken more about altitude sickness in my helpful tips section below.
Protests and political issues
Right before I visited Bolivia there was an attempted coup on their government. While nothing came of it, it’s fair to say that Bolivia is hardly the most stable country when it comes to politics.
Protests are also common in Bolivia. During my last few days there, a huge strike closed the land borders, stopped all bus companies from operating, and blocked the roads. This lasted for three days and meant we were all stuck. While this didn’t become violent, there have been violent protests in the past.
It’s sensible to check your government’s travel advice before visiting Bolivia and monitor it while you’re there. This way, you can change or adapt your plans if necessary.
Tips for solo travel in Bolivia
Planning your solo trip to Bolivia? Yay! It’s one of my favourite countries in Latin America. However, it can be a little trickier to navigate than other countries. With this in mind, I’ve put together some tips to help you plan.
Choose a good bus company
As I mentioned in the section above, Bolivia doesn’t exactly have the best record when it comes to bus safety. Fatal accidents are common, and road conditions can be poor.
However, companies are working hard to improve this and make it safer. Bolivia also now has a Driver’s Union which has implemented many changes, including safer working hours and better bus maintenance.
Based on my experience, the buses in Bolivia are a useful and safe way of getting around the country. The buses I used were well-maintained, and I never felt that a bus driver was driving recklessly. Taking an overnight bus will never be glamorous, but it’s part of the backpacking adventure.
It’s important to note that this is purely based on my experience and the experience of those I spoke to on my travels. I’m sure there are people who’ve had bad experiences, and accidents still occur in the country. I know a few people who opted for local buses instead, and they didn’t have the same positive experience.
One of the best ways to stay safe on the buses in Bolivia is to choose a reputable company. As a backpacker on a budget, it’s easy to cut costs by taking cheaper transport, but this isn’t always the safest option.
Some of Bolivia’s best and safest bus companies include Trans Copacabana, 6 De Octubre, and Todo Turismo. Although I didn’t use it, I also heard good things about Boliviar.
Tickets Bolivia is a great website for booking your bus ticket in advance.
Carry rocks and avoid stray dogs
Stray dogs were by far my biggest safety concern in Bolivia. They were generally okay during the daytime, but the dogs could become very aggressive and territorial at night.
I encountered a group of stray dogs when walking back to my hostel at 7 pm when it was dark. They started barking and coming towards me, but thankfully a local scared them off.
If you are walking alone once the sun has set, it is a good idea to carry a rock or two with you. This way, you can hopefully scare off any dogs that come towards you.
I didn’t have any issues when I was walking with other people or on busier streets in the cities. It was only the smaller towns such as Tupiza, Isla del Sol (Lake Titicaca), and Samaipata where the dogs seemed to be a threat.
Do some research first
This might seem like an obvious one, but it’s a sensible idea to do some research before travelling solo to Bolivia. While I think it’s a great destination for solo female travellers, it’s not necessarily the easiest place to travel. Doing some research in advance will help you get the most out of your trip.
As getting around Bolivia typically involves some long bus rides, researching your route in advance will also allow you to get the most out of your time in the country.
I messed up my route a bit and ended up having to come back on myself to take a flight, something I was trying to avoid.
Be aware of the altitude
Altitude sickness is a very real possibility in Bolivia. Most tourist destinations sit at over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). If you opt to do a multi-day tour of Salar de Uyuni, you may even find yourself going up to 5,000 metres (16,400 feet).
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to completely avoid altitude sickness. But there are ways to try and reduce the effects. This includes:
- Taking time to acclimate to the altitude, and not going up in altitude too quickly
- Drink plenty of water
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink coca tea (a local remedy)
For me, the best way to combat the effects was to take time to get used to the high altitude. For example, I spent a few days in a location before going up even higher. This allowed my body to adjust.
The NHS has a great guide on altitude sickness.
Don’t walk alone at night
This might sound obvious for those who solo travel (especially women), but don’t walk alone at night unless you feel 100% safe.
When I was in Bolivia, the sun set at around 6:30 pm, so it was sometimes difficult to completely avoid walking in the dark. However, I always stuck to the busier streets and did my best to avoid walking alone too late at night.
While Bolivia is overall relatively safe, crimes against tourists can occur, especially at night. There is also the issue of aggressive dogs, which I’ve discussed above.
Be careful of taxis
Taxi scams are common in Bolivia. Drivers can overcharge tourists or, on very rare occasions, set them up to be mugged.
While I never personally heard of this happening, I didn’t take any risks and booked all of my taxis through my accommodation. Uber is also available in La Paz, which is very helpful.
If booking your taxi in advance isn’t possible, make sure the one you flag down is registered and looks official. I like to ask how much in advance, but most taxis I used had a taxi meter meaning they couldn’t overcharge me. If you use official taxis, you shouldn’t encounter too many issues.
Choose the right time of year
Bolivia is a great year-round destination, and there’s no time to avoid as such. However, different times of year have their benefits.
If you want to see the famous reflections at Salar de Uyuni, you need to visit Bolivia during the rainy season (December to April). However, the rainy season can be a poor time to see other parts of the country. With heavy rains, many roads can become dangerous, and hikes such as Pico Austria and Huayna Potosi are much more challenging (if not impossible).
If you’re planning to explore Bolivia beyond the Salt Flats, I think the best time of year to visit is the winter months (May-October), which is also the dry season. No, you won’t get the famous reflections on the Salt Flats, but you’ll be able to make the most of everywhere else in the country.
During the winter in Bolivia, there is very little rain, meaning clear skies are almost guaranteed. It didn’t rain once during my entire month in Bolivia (during July), not even in the Amazon Rainforest. Of course, this is never guaranteed, but there’s a good chance of perfect weather.
It does get freezing during the winter, especially at higher altitudes. But this is easily managed by packing plenty of layers. Otherwise, winter is a great time to visit Bolivia.
Avoid the tap water
Be very careful with the wap water in Bolivia. Despite much of their water coming straight from the mountains, it’s often contaminated.
Tap water in Bolivia is certainly not safe to drink, but I also recommend avoiding it when cleaning your teeth. I got very sick in La Paz. All I had eaten that day was a cereal bar and boiling vegetable soup. Obviously, I’ll never know for sure what it was, but it was the day after I used tap water to brush my teeth.
Annoyingly, not many hostels in Bolivia seem to offer water refills. This means buying bottled water or investing in something like a LifeStraw.
Be aware of scams
Tourists are a target for scams all around the world, and Bolivia is no exception. In my experience, Bolivia is nowhere near as bad for scams as some countries I’ve visited, but it’s still important to be aware.
Here are a few ways to avoid scams in Bolivia:
- Don’t give money to anyone unless you’re 100% sure it’s genuine
- Research the tour operator in advance
- Book transport and tours through your hotel or hostel
- Be careful in busy markets
- Research the cost of things in advance
The only scam I heard of in Bolivia occurred at a market in El Alto. A backpacker had mud thrown at them. Locals ran over to brush it off and took their phone in the process. I’ve also heard of this happening in Peru and Buenos Aires.
Verify the tour agency
There are endless tour operators in Bolivia, and you’ll no doubt find yourself joining an organised tour at least once on your trip. However, not all of these tour operators are created equally. Some operators are known for their poor safety record, poor service and even for scamming tourists.
This is why verifying your tour operator in advance is so important. The $100 last-minute deal for a 3-day tour across the Salt Flats might sound amazing, but I heard stories of dangerous driving, limited food and ‘guides’ who were simply drivers.
It’s always worth checking recent reviews of the tour operators on Google. If you’re buying through a third-party seller, don’t be afraid to ask who the operator is.
Checking the tour operator is especially true for activities such as the Salt Flats, cycling Death Road and hiking Huayna Potosi. All of these activities come with risks, and accidents are common (sadly, even deaths have occurred).
In my opinion, saving a few extra dollars is never worth your safety.
Stick to the tourist route
Bolivia is a great country to explore as a solo traveller. As I’ve previously said, it felt safer for solo travellers than some other countries in Latin America. However, I’m not sure it’s somewhere I would go too far off the beaten path (at least not solo).
The tourist route is well-established, and the buses and roads between the destinations are well-maintained. Everywhere I visited, people were welcoming to tourists, and no one seemed to bat an eyelid that I was alone. However, it can be a very different story once you leave the tourist route.
A guy I met was doing a solo road trip around Bolivia. He said he had passed through several towns with signs telling tourists to stay away. One night, he also had rocks thrown at the van when parked in the middle of the town. For what it’s worth, he was going really off the beaten path, I met plenty of people doing road trips with no issues whatsoever.
With this in mind, sticking to the main tourist route is the better idea. Thankfully, most people visiting Bolivia only see La Paz and the Salt Flats, which means many of the popular places are actually not touristy at all. This was especially true for areas such as Trinidad and Cochabamba.
I’ve written a whole post about the best places to visit in Bolivia, but my favourites include Salar de Uyuni, Sucre, Tupiza, Potosi (A UNESCO World Heritage Site), Samaipata, the Amazon Rainforest and La Paz. If you want to see the famous dinosaur footprints, this can be done near Sucre or in Torotoro National Park.
Buy a local SIM card
E-Sims are all the rave these days, but I highly recommend buying a local SIM card in Bolivia. They’re cheaper, more reliable and much better value.
As I was travelling from San Pedro de Atacama via the Salt Flats, I opted to get an E-Sim for when I first arrived in Bolivia. It was expensive and barely worked. No, Bolivia doesn’t have the best phone coverage network, but the local SIMs are way more reliable.
Entel is said to have the best phone network. Most of the bigger towns have dedicated Entel shops where they can quickly set up your SIM. Just remember your passport!
I paid 100 Bolivianos ($14.50 USD) for 15GB of data over 30 days. For comparison, my E-SIM was half the cost but only gave me 1GB (and barely had any coverage).
Learn some basic Spanish
You’ll struggle to get around Bolivia without knowing at least some basic Spanish. Not many locals speak English, and even tour guides primarily only speak Spanish (unless you’re prepared to pay more money for an English-speaking one).
Learning some basic Spanish phrases will help you navigate Bolivia. Apps like Duo Lingo are great, but they tend to focus on specific topics rather than anything useful for travelling.
I’d personally recommend learning some travel-specific sentences that might come in use. This website is a great place to start.
Join walking tours
Arriving in a new city or country as a solo traveller can be an overwhelming experience, especially when the culture differs from what you are used to.
A great way to get to grips with a new city is to join walking or city tours. These tours are often free (but tip-based) and take you to the most popular places in the city. They teach you about the history and help you get your bearings. Walking tours are also an easy way to meet people.
I love using Guru Walk to find a walking tour.
Carry cash
Bolivia is a cash-first country, and most restaurants, tour agencies, and accommodations prefer cash payments. Hotels that accept credit cards often charge a hefty 5% fee, so carrying cash is the best option.
Annoyingly, most ATMs in Bolivia charge a withdrawal fee (although not as high as in Peru). Many ATMs also only accept Visa cards, so it’s a good idea to carry a Visa card with you.
I found using my Revolut Visa card at Banco Union was the only way to avoid the ATM fees.
Trust your gut
My final tip for solo travel in Bolivia is to trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right or 100% safe, don’t risk it.
Solo travel comes with extra challenges, and it’s so important to look after yourself — physically and mentally. Yes, solo travel is a great time to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but it’s not the time to take dangerous risks.
Trust your gut, and make the safer decision if something doesn’t feel right.
Hostels in Bolivia
Hostels are a great way to meet people when solo travelling. They are much more affordable than a regular hotel room. In fact, the dorm rooms in Bolivia are the cheapest I’ve ever encountered.
Bolivia is still a developing country, and it’s only been in recent years that some of the lesser-known spots to visit have appeared on the tourist map. This means that hostels in Bolivia may not be as common as other countries, and where they are, they’re not always the nicest standard.
A few places I visited, including Tupiza, Cochabamba, and Trinidad (for the Amazon), did not have dorm-room-style hostels available. This meant staying in private rooms, but thankfully, they were still cheap.
Where hostels were available, they were very basic. The only exception to this (in my personal experience) is La Paz. There were a range of nice hostels in La Paz, including the notorious Wild Rover and even Selina.
Sucre also had a few options, but I can’t say they were of the highest standard. If you’re struggling to find accommodation, check out my post on the best places to visit in Bolivia, where I’ve shared some recommendations.
Summary: My solo travel experience in Bolivia
Overall, I had a great experience in Bolivia. As a solo female traveller, I never once felt unsafe (other than the dogs) or received any unwanted attention.
You do need to have your wits about you in Bolivia. Do some research beforehand, don’t walk alone at night and don’t flaunt your belongings. Otherwise, I found Bolivia to be a great place for solo travel, at least for those who have solo travelled before.
