South America
Is Bolivia safe?
L2Exercise increased caution
Is Bolivia safe?
Mostly petty crime, but express kidnappings via street taxis and fake police target tourists. Protests and road blockades, behind a June 2026 state of emergency, can strand travelers for days.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-04-27.
- Homicide rate: 4.4 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 21.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119.
- Solo women: Harassment is common but rarely violent. Assaults have happened in hostels and clubs; lock the room, watch drinks and use radio taxis at night.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Road blockades and protests that halt buses and cut airport roads
- Fuel shortages delaying buses and stranding drivers for days
- Express kidnapping after hailing street taxis, especially at border towns
- Altitude sickness in La Paz, Potosí and on Uyuni tours
Common scams
- Fake police asking to search bags or check documents
- Helpers at bus terminals distracting while partners steal bags
- Taxis carrying planted 'passengers' who rob the real one
Laws visitors break by accident
- Any amount of illegal drugs counts as trafficking; the minimum sentence is eight years
- Prison tours are illegal and unsafe
- Coca leaves are legal in Bolivia but illegal to carry into most other countries
Safety by place in Bolivia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Uyuni | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sucre | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Copacabana | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rurrenabaque | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Potosí | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Paz | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Santa Cruz | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Bolivia safe for tourists?
Mostly petty crime, but express kidnappings via street taxis and fake police target tourists. Protests and road blockades, behind a June 2026 state of emergency, can strand travelers for days.
Is Bolivia safe for solo female travelers?
Harassment is common but rarely violent. Assaults have happened in hostels and clubs; lock the room, watch drinks and use radio taxis at night.
What is the emergency number in Bolivia?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: Bolivia
- Banco Central de Bolivia
- Dirección General de Migración
- Speedtest Global Index: Bolivia
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.