Travel to Bolivia

Flying to Bolivia

Bolivia's principal international gateway is Viru Viru International Airport (VVI), serving Santa Cruz de la Sierra. El Alto International Airport (LPB), serving La Paz, also handles international flights, while Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (CBB) in Cochabamba has fewer international services.

Boliviana de Aviación (BoA), the national airline, operates international services to destinations elsewhere in South America as well as Madrid and Miami. Other airlines connect Bolivia with regional hubs including Lima, Santiago, São Paulo and Panama City, providing onward connections to North America, Europe and other parts of the world.

There are no direct flights from the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand. Travellers from the UK generally connect through Madrid or another Latin American hub, while journeys from Australia and New Zealand usually require connections through North America, South America or both.

Flight times:

From London to Santa Cruz de la Sierra: 14 hours or more, including stopovers.

Airport guides

Airport Code: LPB. Location: El Alto International Airport is situated in El Alto, a rapidly expanding city adjacent to La Paz.... Money: ATMs and money exchange services are available in the Arrivals area. Read more

Other airports in Bolivia

Santa Cruz Viru Viru International Airport

Airport Code: VVI. Location: The airport (Viru Viru International) is 16km (10 miles) from the centre of Santa Cruz and is the... Website: N/A. Public transport description: Regular minibus services to the city depart after scheduled flight arrivals (journey time - 30 minutes), heading for the terminus at the statue of Christ the Redeemer.

Travel by rail

There are no regular international passenger rail services into Bolivia.

Driving to Bolivia

Bolivia shares land borders with Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile, with road crossings connecting the country with all five neighbours. Frequently used routes include crossings between Peru and the Lake Titicaca region, Chile and the western Altiplano, and Argentina and southern Bolivia.

International coaches connect La Paz and other Bolivian cities with destinations in neighbouring countries, including Peru, Chile and Argentina. Journey times can be long and roadblocks, strikes or severe weather may disrupt services, so travellers should check conditions before departure.

Getting to Bolivia by boat

There are no regular international passenger ferry services to Bolivia.




Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.