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CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN BOLIVIAGovernment • Economy • Population • Holidays • Wildlife • Bolivia for Kids • Site Map Climate and weather in Bolivia vary as greatly as the country’s many regions, although when speaking of weather, Bolivians typically refer only to two seasons (the rainy season and dry season) as usually there is no gradual entry into either winter or summer. Changes in temperature and weather are typically as brusque as the changes in topography from one region to the next. Temperatures depend primarily on elevation. Tropical Lowlands: To the East (from Pando, down through Beni and Santa Cruz to parts of northern Tarija) the climate is usually very hot, humid and often rainy between late August and May. December and January are the hottest months of the year. Summer days are humid and sticky. Nights are warm and musky, often filled with a moist fruity aroma as winds carry the scent of the tropical jungle into the cities. To see today's weather and/or forecasts in each of Bolivia's nine departments click here: For a brief description of the weather and seasons you can expect in each department:
More than any other month, August tends to be specially windy. Because this is also the month for “chaqueos” (“slash and burn”) land clearing techniques used in northern Bolivia to clear forested areas), the August winds blowing in a southerly direction often fill the city of Santa Cruz with smoke. At times it is so thick that visibility is near zero and driving becomes very difficult. Many people suffer from respiratory problems. (Photo: Burning the Amazon). Between May and July strong, intensely cold winds blow North from Argentina bringing bracingly cold weather to otherwise tropical Bolivia. Called “sures” or “surazos” southerlies) by locals, these southern winds cause sudden temperature drops of anywhere from 10-40ºF overnight. These are often accompanied by rain, making for very chilly weather. Because in this region the climate is typically humid, it may feel colder than it actually is and people complain of feeling “chilled to the bone” although temps don’t dip below freezing (32ºF) Central Valleys: The central valleys - Cochabamba, parts of Chuquisaca and western Tarija - are temperate to cool. Temperatures are pleasant during the day, varying between 60-80ºF but it can get very cold at night, dropping to 30-40ºF. This region, although high (averaging 1200-1500 meters above sea level, or about as high as Denver, Colorado) is also rather humid. Bolivia’s valleys are very fertile and covered in dense forest. The rainy season is long and sustained. It is always a good idea to dress in layers in this region as the climate changes quickly. During the day one can feel quite warm, but by the late afternoon a sweater or jacket are often necessary. During the winter a heavy coat, gloves and a hat are advisable, although it doesn’t get as cold as the winters in North America and Northern Europe. It rarely snows here. On the shores of Lake Titicaca), and higher (Potosí), temperatures can reach a balmy 80ºF at midday, but normally by early afternoon a sweater is necessary and the nights are cold. Because of the altitude, the sun feels especially strong here and sunscreen should be worn throughout the entire day. On the Altiplano the winds are cold and harsh and moisturizer or sunscreen (and chapstick) are important to prevent both sunburn and windburn. (Note: In Uyuni visitors frequently get sunburned. The sun reflects very strongly off the stark whiteness of the expansive salt beds, not unlike the type of sunburn people get in very cold, snowy regions). Again, it is advisable to dress in layers. Special Note on La Paz: Visitors should be aware that the altitude drops more than 3000 feet between the northern and southern parts of the city and temperatures downtown can vary greatly from the southern residential areas because of this. The southern area of the city is usually quite a bit warmer. Road Conditions: Travelers should be aware and keep informed of road conditions throughout the year, especially during the rainy season when some roads become intransitable, landslides are more frequent, and rivers swell, sometimes flowing over bridges, making crossing impossible. Reversed Seasons: Travelers arriving from the Northern Hemisphere should keep in mind that in the Southern Hemisphere seasons (and climate) are reversed, or the “opposite” of those in the North, with the hottest months (our summer) being November to February and the coldest months (our winter) being April to July. View this video on the effects of global warming on the Amazon region. Not only is our climate changing, global warming is causing drought, increasing the spread of fires (already a problem due to land clearing), and the loss of irreplaceable primary forests. Although this is filmed in Brazil, the same is happening in
Bolivia
at alarming rates.
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