Travel advisory · BoliviaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Bolivia.The warnings cover only these areas: Chapare Region.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Chapare Region · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
Also named by one government: Brazil border region, Santa Cruz Department (Germany), Brazil border zone (France), Highway routes 4 and 24 (UK), Villa Tunari (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise Increased Caution (regional advisories) | Aug 18, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen (exercise special caution) (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution in the rest of Bolivia (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | vigilance renforcée (reste du pays) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia known for its mild climate, its food markets and the Cristo de la Concordia statue on the hill above town. It suits a slow trip built around good food.
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Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, in the Cochabamba department, set in an Andean valley at about 2,550 meters (8,400 feet). Locals call it the City of Eternal Spring because its temperatures stay mild for much of the year. It is one of the country's largest cities.
Travelers come for the food and the markets. La Cancha is a large open-air market where you can eat simple local meals and buy fruit, grains and snacks. Cerro San Pedro holds the Cristo de la Concordia, a large statue of Christ with views over the valley. Cochabamba suits travelers who want good food, a few day trips and an unhurried pace. Plan two to three days. The dry months, May to September, are the easiest time to visit, and the rains run roughly from December to March.
Cochabamba in five
- Get a local SIM or eSIM before you leave the airportEntel, Tigo and Viva are Bolivia's main mobile networks. Buy a line at the airport or in a phone shop in the centre, so maps and bus times work from the first day.Phones and eSIM
- Carry small boliviano notesMarket stalls, minibuses and street vendors usually take cash only, and change for large notes is often hard to get. Keep 10 and 20 boliviano notes in your pocket.Money and costs
- Ride trufis and micros for city routesShared minibuses called trufis and buses called micros cover most city routes for a few boliviano. Ask the driver whether the route passes your stop before you board.Getting around
- Take the first day slowly at altitudeCochabamba sits at about 2,550 m, lower than La Paz but high enough to tire you on the first climb. Walk slowly, drink water and eat light meals on your first day.
- Check that your insurance covers mountain trailsAsk your insurer whether the policy covers hiking and evacuation in the Tunari park, which rises well above the city. Get the answer in writing before you go.Travel insurance
Things to do in Cochabamba
See all attractions in Cochabamba
Need to know
- Currency
- Boliviano (BOB)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check your nationality before you fly
- Emergency
- 110 police, 118 ambulance, 119 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up is common
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain22 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Rainy seasonJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 207 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- FebruaryRain23 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Rainy, heavyFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 229 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, heavy
- MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Rainy, greenMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 184 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Rains endingAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains ending
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low10°Dry, mildMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low8°Dry, cool nightsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool nights
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh22°Low8°Dry, sunnyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low9°Dry, warmAugustClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- SeptemberPartly cloudy5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low10°Warm, drySeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, dry
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh23°Low12°Hot, rains nearOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Hot, rains near
- NovemberRain14 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh23°Low12°Rainy seasonNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Rainy season
- DecemberRain22 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh21°Low12°Rainy seasonDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Rainy season
Average daily high and low in Cochabamba, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cochabamba
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 27%
- Wind
- 27 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 18%
Cochabamba
06:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°13°18%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Tue30°13°18%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Wed33°14°2%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu27°14°47%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Fri30°16°25%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sat29°15°63%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sun24°13°51%Sunday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 51%.
Updated 04:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 12.1 BOB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Quillacolloabout 30 to 40 min by roadA town west of the city that hosts the large Urkupiña festival each August.Read the guide
- Tunari National Parkabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA mountain park above the city, with trails and wide views over the valley.Read the guide
- Torotoroabout 4 to 5 hours by roadA canyon park with dinosaur footprints and caves, best as an overnight stay.Read the guide
Before you go to Cochabamba
Rules for Cochabamba, checked
- Coca leaves are sold legally in Bolivia, but do not carry them across a border; check the rules for the country you enter.
- Check your entry status with the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book, since it depends on your passport.
- Ask before you photograph people at markets, especially vendors and elders.
- Road blockades (bloqueos) can close routes at short notice; check local news before a long bus trip.
Plan around Cochabamba
Regions, entry, transport and money for a Bolivia trip
Read the guideGetting aroundTrufis, micros and long-distance buses from the city
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, card and typical prices for a day in the city
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayNeighborhoods and types of stay in the city
Read the guideTours and ticketsGuided day trips and tickets for the region
Read the guideCochabamba FAQ
Is Cochabamba worth visiting?
Yes for markets, food and a mild city at about 2,550 m between the Andes and the lowlands. It has fewer headline sights than La Paz or Potosí, so it suits a slower trip.
How do you get to Cochabamba?
By air to Jorge Wilstermann airport, or by bus from La Paz, Santa Cruz or Oruro. Check bus times and any road blockades before you book.
What is the Cristo de la Concordia?
A large statue of Christ on the hill above the city, reached by road or on foot. Go in the morning for clearer views and cooler walking.
How many days do you need in Cochabamba?
Two days cover the centre, the markets and the Cristo. Add a day for the Tunari park if you want to walk in the hills.
When is the best time to visit Cochabamba?
May to September for dry, sunny days. The rains from about December to March make roads and trails muddy.
Can you visit Torotoro from Cochabamba?
Yes, but the road is several hours each way, so it works better as an overnight stop than a day trip.