Last Updated on June 28, 2026 by Maggie McKneely
Planning a trip to La Paz, or to the world’s largest salt flats? Here’s the ultimate list of what to pack for Bolivia!
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What to Pack for Bolivia
Bolivia is a beautiful, rugged, somewhat chaotic gem in South America’s Andes. Home to high-altitude landscapes, dense rainforests, the accompanying wide range of temperatures and weather, figuring out what to pack for Bolivia can be a challenge. It can be tempting to pack 40 outfits just in case you actually encounter all of those situations.
First: No, you don’t need 40 outfits. Most tourists (including me) only visit the high-elevation area west of the Andes, meaning you’ll only need to prepare for the climate there. Second, Bolivia is VERY casual. No need to try too hard to look chic or trendy. Leave the little black dress at home.
To help you prepare for your own trip, here’s my suggested packing list based on my own trip there during the dry season in November.
Table of Contents
Bolivia Packing List
Clothes and Shoes
As I said, the rule of thumb is that Bolivia is very casual. Do not plan on bringing anything fancy. The only time we thought we might need something nicer was the evening that we went to the best restaurant in La Paz, and even there, most people were wearing sweaters and leggings. The upside of this is that you don’t have to worry about bringing a ton of cute clothes. On my 10-day trip to Bolivia, I wore a grand total of three different outfits.
Tops
When choosing what to pack for Bolivia, I recommend 3-5 shirts for a 10-day trip.
- Lightweight long-sleeve tops: In the high altitude areas of Bolivia, which is where you’ll most likely be spending time most of your time, it rarely gets hot. It’s often pretty mild with chilly mornings and evenings. I spent most of the time wearing a variety of long-sleeve tops that weren’t so heavy that I got hot in the middle of the day, but were enough to keep me warm. I travel everywhere with this long-sleeve zip top. I also recommend something basic like this top.
- Basic t-shirt: Because these are always good to pack, especially if you’re doing a lot of walking and hiking. Amazon has them in affordable packs. Or, you can get some with sweat-wicking and breathable features here.
- Poncho: I don’t suggest bringing one, but I absolutely suggest buying one. They are in every single store in Bolivia and while it may be a touristy thing to do, they do make for awesome pictures!
Our matching ponchos that we bought for our salt flat pictures!
Pants
Like I said, when deciding what to pack for Bolivia, especially in the dry season, you don’t need a lot of clothes. You just need these three pairs of pants:
- Joggers – Any trip to Bolivia requires a lot of walking and hiking uphill, so you’ll want to wear comfortable pants (NOT jeans). These are my absolute favorite joggers. I have multiple pairs in multiple colors and wore them almost every day in Bolivia.
- Hiking pants – Again, there’s lots of walking around dusty trails and roads when in Bolivia, so having a durable pair of hiking pants is great. These Columbia pants have gone with me all over the world, including Bolivia. They’re comfortable and waterproof.
- Leggings – The third pair of pants I recommend are a pair of leggings, because they’re multipurpose and comfy!
Jackets
You’ll likely spend most of your time in Bolivia’s high altitude areas, which means you’ll need a jacket no matter what time of year you go. June-August is the coldest time of year, but even in November, when I was there, I wore a jacket almost every day. I love this down jacket because it’s warm, waterproof, and it rolls up small, making it easy to pack.
Me and my favorite packable down on the Isla del Sol
If you’re there during the rainy season, you’ll also want to make sure you have a raincoat.
Shoes
I brought two pairs of shoes with me to Bolivia, and that worked out perfectly. I never once wished I’d brought a third pair, but I wore both of these enough to justify bringing them. So here’s what I suggest shoe-wise when deciding what to pack for Bolivia:
- Waterproof hiking shoes: Bolivia is a VERY hilly and outdoorsy destination, so hiking shoes are a good idea even if you don’t plan on doing any serious hiking. And if you’ll be there in the rainy season, having waterproof hiking shoes is ideal. These Merrells are my go-to.
- Allbirds: Because no one wants to wear hiking shoes every single day, my second pair of shoes were my Allbirds Tree Runners. Any comfortable sneaker will work here, but I can’t recommend Allbirds enough. They are lightweight, washable, and comfortable for walking all day long.
Featuring my joggers and Merrell hiking boots
Accessories
Scarves
I always travel with a scarf because they’re a great multipurpose item. They can dress up an outfit, cover your head when visiting religious sites, and add some warmth (especially in the high altitude areas). For Bolivia, I specifically packed one because I had read that the salt flats can be really dusty/salty when you fly over them in a jeep. We didn’t have that experience on our trip to Salar de Uyuni, but maybe it depends on what time of year you go. Regardless, I’d throw a scarf into your suitcase because it’s easy to pack and you’ll probably use it for something!
Purse
If I’m spending most of the day away from my hotel room, my favorite bag is this anti-theft backpack purse. It’s big enough to carry my water and snacks and anything else I’d want throughout the day, but small enough not to be a full backpack. Plus, I love that it has security features since it is on my back most of the time.
Hiking with my backpack purse
Sunglasses
The sun is very bright on the salt flats!! Do not forget to bring these on your trip to Bolivia!
Filtered Water Bottle
An important consideration when deciding what to pack for Bolivia is that you CANNOT drink the water in Bolivia. That means do not order iced drinks, do not eat uncooked vegetables, and absolutely do not drink the tap water. I have numerous friends (including my mom) who have gotten sick in South America from the water, so this is not something to take lightly. But it’s really easy to get dehydrated at a high altitude, so you’ll need to drink even more water than you normally do. Having your own supply is important when you aren’t somewhere with water to purchase.
There are plenty of precautions you can take to avoid accidentally ingesting bad bacteria. Aside from avoiding the things above, bring a really good filtered water bottle. Clearly Filtered is excellent and slightly less expensive than the top-tier options.
Toiletries
Altitude sickness medication: My Bolivia itinerary has a deep dive on how to prevent altitude sickness when visiting the very high altitude areas like La Paz and Uyuni. The brief version of that is that one way to prevent the worst effects of altitude sickness is to get a prescription for Acetazolamide. It’s not for everyone, and I’m not a doctor (so take my advice with a grain of salt). But it worked great for my mom and me.
Ibuprofen: Even without full-blown altitude sickness, you may get headaches from the reduced oxygen and dehydration. I suggest bringing something to manage that so that you aren’t miserable on your trip.
Toilet Paper: Not every bathroom in Bolivia has toilet paper, so it’s useful to bring a small stash of your own just in case.
Sunscreen: I got absolutely FRIED the day we went to the salt flats (granted, I am also the color of paper, but still). Between the high altitude and relative closeness to the equator, you will not want to forget your sunscreen when deciding what to pack for Bolivia.
Immodium: In the event of developing traveler’s diarrhea or just eating something unusual that upsets your stomach, it’s good to have some Immodium on hand.
Umcka: My favorite remedy for when I feel a cold or other respiratory illness coming on is Umcka. It’s an all-natural homeopathic remedy that works far better for me than any Sudafed or DayQuil.
Electrolytes: High elevation dehydrates you very quickly, so be sure to drink lots of water and replenish your minerals with daily electrolytes. My favorite brand is LMNT because it’s sugar-free and all-natural.
Electronics
Power bank: Between bus rides, flights, and long days away from your hotel room, it’s not always easy to charge your phone. That’s why I recommend having a good power bank in your purse when figuring out what to pack for Bolivia. I LOVE this one because it comes with several cord attachments that work for all of your various devices.
Plug adaptor: In Bolivia, plugs are a combination of Type A (standard in the US) and Type C. My favorite adaptor is something like this one because it works in every country, so I don’t need a bunch of different adaptors for each of my trips.
Travel Documents
When deciding what to pack for Bolivia, your travel documents are essential. Obviously. Aside from your passport, you may need a few more things in order to get into the country.
While some parts of Bolivia require that you have a yellow fever vaccine certificate, that is not the case for the high-altitude areas. So be sure to check your itinerary and see if you are going to any area where Yellow Fever is an issue (mostly the jungle areas east of the mountains).
You will also need to provide your hotel location and proof of onward travel (your return plane ticket, bus ticket, etc.). The guys at passport control just want proof that you have plans to leave the country.
Other Miscellaneous Items
Cash: While some restaurants and stores in the cities take credit cards, cash is definitely king in Bolivia. I recommend bringing US dollars or Euros and then exchanging them for Bolivianos once you arrive.
Travel Wallet: You always need a wallet. When I’m traveling, I always use my favorite RFID-blocking wallet. It keeps my passport and credit cards safe from digital thieves, but also has enough room for any cash I have on hand (and you’ll need a lot for Bolivia!)
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Buying a poncho locally, not just for photos, but also to bring home as a souvenir, sounds great!
You really nailed it. I was very happy to have electrolytes and anti diarrheal meds. I expected it to be colder than it was when we were there and did not expect it to be so dry. Bring a good lotion. Our time in Bolivia was one of the most memorable of all the places we have been around the world. Such a unique and beautiful culture and geography
I am so glad that you wrote this post as I struggled with this problem in Mexico. I needed multiple clothing options because the weather varied greatly in the Mexican states I visited. Layers are critical.
Did you love Bolivia?
Packing can be so hard!! Yes, it was amazing!!
Bolivia is still on my list to visit! Great list, have saved it for when I go, thank you!
Great packing guide! Your tips about comfortable clothes, good shoes, and a filtered water bottle are super helpful for planning a trip.
This is a great packing list! You covered each area of things to pack. I usually keep some of the items you mentioned on my travels as well.
Very useful post and a comprehensive list of items to take. I found it especially useful to see the recommendation regarding altitude sickness medication. Good to know for the future.