Climate and Average Weather in Bolivia
Bolivia is a country located in South America along the Andes Mountains. The country is best known for its history, lively biodiversity, and ethereal 'cloud forests' in the salt plateau Salar de Uyuni that travellers love. This is a phenomenon where cloud formations in the higher altitudes of the Andes Mountains give the illusion of people walking on clouds.
Bolivia's location on the eastern side of the Andes mountains is the most determining factor for the climate in Bolivia. During summer, it has contrasting cold nights and warm days. Winter nights see temperatures fall below freezing point for as low as -10°C (15°F) in Uyuni during June, the coldest month of the year in Bolivia. Rainfall occurs mainly during the summer months, between November and March, with January as the wettest month at 318mm (13inch) of rainfall in Riberalta.
Does Bolivia experience hurricanes?
There is no recorded hurricane to have ever hit Bolivia. As a matter of fact, South America is least affected by hurricanes in the world because of different wind directions in the continent that are not ideal for forming cyclones. Although very rare, Bolivia has experienced local thunderstorms in the past, particularly during the country’s rainy season falling from November to March.
When is the best time to visit Bolivia?
In general, we would suggest the months June, July or August, especially if you want to travel around the country and visit as many places as you’d like. This is considered the driest period in Bolivia. You can freely travel around the capital Sucre at 8.7°C (47.66°F) and see breathtaking architecture, food, and museums at this time of the year. Oruro also has natural parks and archaeological sites that you can visit at a temperature of 15°C (59°F) in June.
The best time to visit Bolivia still largely depends on the destinations you would travel and explore. Although it is overwhelmingly tropical in most parts of Bolivia, temperatures can vary depending on elevation. Because you're dealing with different climate areas, it’s a little more difficult to designate one specific period as the best travel time for Bolivia.
Interested in more detailed Weather and Climate information?
Please select the city below you wish to travel to, or the one closest to your destination. Each selected city will show you the following graphs:
1. Average minimum and maximum temperatures over the year
2. Average monthly precipitation over the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Average monthly hours of sunshine over the year
On certain pages we also offer other historical weather data like humidity, wind speed and water temperature.
