Climate - Bolivia

In Bolivia, there are different types of climate depending on area and altitude. In plains and lowlands, the climate is almost equatorial (i.e. hot all year round and with a short dry season) in the far north and tropical (i.e. with a longer dry season, which is also cooler) in the center-south. In the plateau and the Andean mountain peaks, the climate is instead colder and generally quite arid.
Bolivia lies in the Southern Hemisphere, albeit at tropical latitudes, so its seasons are reversed in comparison with the Northern Hemisphere.

Contents

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• The forest
• The savanna - Gran Chaco, Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• The Andes - La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Sucre, Cochabamba, Salar de Uyuni
• Best Time
• What to pack in the suitcase

The forest

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The northernmost area of Bolivia (see the Pando department and the northern parts of Beni and La Paz departments) is covered by rainforests, and has a nearly equatorial climate. In fact, it is hot and humid all year round, with little variation in temperature, just a few of degrees, from 24 °C (75 °F) in the coldest months to 27 °C (81 °F) in the warmest months. In addition, there is abundant rainfall, higher than 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year, and a short dry season from June to August, when less than 50 mm (2 in) of rain fall per month. The rains are most abundant from November to March.
Here is the average precipitation in Cobija, in the far north, near the border with Brazil.

The best time to visit this area runs from June to mid-August, which is not only the driest, but also the least hot: it's hot in the daytime, around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F), but at night, the temperature usually drops slightly below 20 °C (68 °F), in addition, moisture is a bit lower, so the heat is more bearable. It must be said that sometimes, from April to September, cool air masses from the Argentine pampas can lower the night temperature to around 10 °C (50 °F). Instead, from mid-August to mid-October, before the rainy season, the temperature increases and the hottest time of the year occurs.
Here are the average temperatures in Cobija.

In Cobija, the sun frequently shines in the dry season, while it is a bit lower in the rainy season. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The savanna

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Gran Chaco

In the rest of the plains and lowlands of Bolivia, we find the Gran Chaco, a region which also includes southwestern Mato Grosso in Brazil, western Paraguay and northern Argentina. Here, the climate is tropical, with a dry season in winter and a wet season in summer, and the vegetation is savannah-type. During winter, the temperature drops by a few degrees, especially in the center and south: the average temperature in June and July is 23 °C (73 °F) in Trinidad, 20 °C (68 °F) in Puerto Suarez, and it drops to 16/17 °C in the extreme south, also because of the altitude, which in this area is higher, around 600/700 meters (2,000/2,300 feet) on average. As typically happens in the tropics, this area is hottest in spring, before the rainy season; in fact, heat spikes, from 37 to 40 °C (99 to 104 °F), are recorded from September to November. Summer is sultry, so the heat in this season is still uncomfortable.
Rainfall is more abundant in the western part, near the eastern range (Cordillera Oriental) of the Andes: along the northeast-facing slopes at the foot of the Andes, there is no real dry season because even in winter some showers are possible (see Rurrenabaque).

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, located in the central part, at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, temperatures are high for most of the year, but they drop by a few degrees from May to mid-August. Here are the average temperatures.

In Santa Cruz, rainfall amounts to 1,300 mm (50 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation.

In Santa Cruz, the sun frequently shines all year round, with a peak in August, that is, in the driest month and at the end of winter.

In the southern part, south of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the climate is more arid: the annual rainfall is lower than 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, in addition, the dry season is longer, since it goes from May to September (instead of June to August, as happens in the north-central). In this southern area, which is further away from the Equator, thermal variations also increase: from September to November, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F), while between May and August, at night, it can drop to as low as the freezing point (0 °C or 32 °F).
In fact, during winter, from May to August, the central and southern part of the region are affected by sudden drops in temperature due to cold winds blowing from the Argentinian Pampas, called Surazos. In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the night temperature may fall between 5 °C and 10 °C (41 °F and 50 °F), but sometimes even below 5 °C (41 °F), especially in June and July. In the south, night minima can drop at times to as low as a few degrees below freezing. These cold winter outbreaks are short, but they are significant for the latitude (we are still north of the Tropic of Capricorn).

The Andes

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The Andean area is delimited by two cordilleras, between which there is a plateau where you will find the two capitals and other major cities of Bolivia. The western cordillera is much drier than the eastern one. The plateau is fairly dry, and in the south-west, near the border with Chile, it is even desert. In the Andean region, there are high mountains, such as Sajama volcano, 6,542 meters (21,463 feet) high, Janq'u Uma, 6,427 meters (21,086 ft), Nevado Illampu, 6,368 meters (20,892 ft), and Illimani, 6,402 meters (21,004 ft).
Winter in the high mountains is dry, however, in winter and early spring, short snowfalls are possible above 4,000 meters (13,000 ft). Owing to the scarcity of snowfall in the coldest season, the snowline is very high, above 5,000 meters (16,400 ft).
In general, in the plateau, the diurnal temperature range is high, and after the sunset, the air cools quickly. Being that the air is dry, the cold is more bearable, except when the wind blows.

La Paz

The capital La Paz is the highest capital in the world: it is located at an average altitude of 3,600 meters (11,800 ft), but the various districts are located at an altitude between 3,200 and 4,200 meters (10,500 and 13,800 ft), so there are different temperatures from area to area.
The airport is located in the highest area (El Alto), at 4,050 meters (13,300 ft) above sea level. In this part of the city, the climate is cold all year round: the average daily temperature ranges from a low of 5 °C (41 °F) in July to a high of 10 °C (50 °F) in November (which is, albeit slightly, the warmest month because rain and clouds are able to lower the summer temperature a little). At the airport, night temperatures easily drop below freezing in the coldest months, from May to September, with peaks of -10 °C (14 °F), while during the day, the temperature becomes fairly mild, from 14 °C to 16 °C (57 °F to 61 °F). In the summer months, the night temperature rises by several degrees.
Here are the average temperatures recorded at the airport.

Total annual rainfall is around 560 mm (22 in), but since the average temperature is never warm enough for trees to grow, the vegetation is tundra, like in sub-polar areas. The rains mostly fall from September to April, with a peak from December to March, when they are more frequent (up to 20 days per month) and can sometimes be heavy, causing landslides. Here is the average precipitation.

The sun frequently shines from May to August, while it shines more rarely in the rainy season, when there can be morning mists as well.

At lower elevations, in the central area of the city, the temperature is higher by a few degrees, and that's something, since daytime temperatures fluctuate between 17.5 and 20 °C (63 and 68 °F), and winter frosts are quite rare.
Here are the average temperatures of the central part of the city, at 3,650 meters (11,975 ft) above sea level.

The best time to visit La Paz is from May to August, since it is the driest and sunniest, although it is also the coldest.

Lake Titicaca

West of La Paz, at no great distance from the city, we find Lake Titicaca, which is located at 3,800 meters (12,500 ft) above sea level and is the highest navigable lake in the world. To the south, we find the archeological site of Tiwanaku, located at the same altitude. In this area, the climate is similar to that of the highest part of La Paz, but there is often a higher temperature range; in fact, while during the day the air is mild, the temperature rapidly falls after sunset, especially in winter, when at night, it drops below freezing.
Here are the average temperatures of Tiahuanaco (or Tiwanaku).

Sucre

The other capital, Sucre, is located further south, at an altitude of 2,800 meters (9,200 ft). Here, compared with La Paz, the temperatures are higher, and they are spring-like all year round, but at night, it is often cold in winter, since lows hover around 5/6 °C (41/43 °F) in the June-August period and around 11 °C (52 °F) from December to March, while the daytime temperatures hover around 20/22 °C (68/72 °F) throughout the year. Here are the average temperatures.

In an average year, 680 mm (26.5 in) of rain fall. Summer is the rainiest season here as well; consequently, the best time is winter, from May to August. Here is the average precipitation.

In Sucre too, the amount of sunshine is better in the dry winter season than in the rainy summer season.

Cochabamba

In Cochabamba, located at 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) above sea level, the average temperatures are slightly higher. During the day, they are between 26 °C and 30 °C (79 °F and 86 °F) throughout the year, but the diurnal temperature range is high, and nights are cold from May to August.

In Cochabamba, rainfall amounts to only 550 mm (21.5 in) per year, and the dry season is very long; the rains are substantial only from December to March. Here is the average rainfall.

In Cochabamba too, the sun shines more often in the dry season than in the rainy season.

Salar de Uyuni

As mentioned, in the southwest, near the border with Chile, the plateau is definitely desert. Here, we find Salar de Uyuni, a huge expanse of salt, located at 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) of altitude, where the tropical mountain sun, already strong, increases its effects because of its reflection on the white surface: it's better to bring sunglasses and sunscreen. Being arid, this area doesn't cause particular problems as regards to the weather, though it's preferable in summer, that is, when the temperature is higher.
Here are the average temperatures of Uyuni, located at 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) above sea level; as you can see, from May to September, the temperature falls at night, and normally drops below freezing. Here, just 145 mm (5.5 in) of rain fall per year, concentrated from November to March.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Bolivia in its entirety runs from June to mid-August: even though it's the coldest period at high altitudes, it's also the least hot at low altitudes, and above all, it's the driest and sunniest throughout the country.

What to pack

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In winter (June to August): in the forest, bring lightweight clothing of natural fibers, maybe with long sleeves for mosquitoes, and a sweatshirt for the evening. In the savannah, light clothing, a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket for the evening, especially in the south. In the Andes (see La Paz, Lake Titicaca), bring clothes for spring and autumn for the day and warm clothes for the evening such as a warm jacket and a warm windproof hat; sunglasses and sunscreen. In high mountains, warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a scarf, gloves, and hiking boots.

In summer (December to February): in the forest and the savannah, bring lightweight clothing, a sun hat, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms. In the Andes (La Paz, Lake Titicaca), clothes for spring and autumn, a raincoat or umbrella, a jacket, a sweater, sunglasses and sunscreen. In high mountains, warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a scarf, gloves, and hiking boots.