Bolivia climate

World Climates covers 7 places in Bolivia. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Santa Cruz de la Sierra (25 °C77 °F) and the coolest is Potosí (7 °C45 °F). The wettest is Santa Cruz de la Sierra with 1,139 mm45 in of precipitation per year, the driest Oruro with 481 mm19 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are tundra (ET, 2 places), subtropical highland (dry winter) (Cwb, 2 places), tropical savanna (dry winter) (Aw, 1 place) and cold semi-arid (BSk, 1 place).

The highest monthly average high is in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (33 °C92 °F in October); the lowest monthly average low is in Potosí (−5 °C23 °F in July).

Across the places in Bolivia, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, October and November (4, 5 and 6 of 7 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across Bolivia

Annual mean temperatures in Bolivia range from 7 °C45 °F to 25 °C77 °F. The typical place (the median of all 7) has a year average of 14 °C57 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 481 mm19 in to 1,139 mm45 in. The median place receives about 562 mm22 in in an average year.

In 3 places of 7, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 1 place, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 7 places, November is the warmest month, with a mean of 16 °C62 °F. July is the coldest, with 11 °C51 °F. The wettest month on average is January (123 mm4.8 in). The driest is July (11 mm0.4 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in Bolivia

La Paz has a tundra climate (Köppen ET). Its year average is 8 °C47 °F. The warmest month is November, with an average high of 16 °C62 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of −2 °C29 °F. About 647 mm25 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and June the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are October and November.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a tropical savanna (dry winter) climate (Köppen Aw). Its year average is 25 °C77 °F. The warmest month is October, with an average high of 33 °C92 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of 16 °C60 °F. About 1,139 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May–August.

Cochabamba has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). Its year average is 17 °C63 °F. The warmest month is November, with an average high of 27 °C80 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of 5 °C41 °F. About 498 mm20 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are February–December.

Sucre has a subtropical highland (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwb). Its year average is 14 °C57 °F. The warmest month is December, with an average high of 22 °C72 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of 2 °C36 °F. About 572 mm23 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are March–May and August–December.

Oruro has a subtropical highland (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwb). Its year average is 8 °C47 °F. The warmest month is November, with an average high of 19 °C66 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of −4 °C25 °F. About 481 mm19 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and May the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are November.

Tarija has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Its year average is 19 °C66 °F. The warmest month is December, with an average high of 29 °C84 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of 4 °C40 °F. About 562 mm22 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are March–November.

Potosí has a tundra climate (Köppen ET). Its year average is 7 °C45 °F. The warmest month is November, with an average high of 18 °C64 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of −5 °C23 °F. About 488 mm19 in of precipitation falls in a year. January is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are October and November.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in Bolivia?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Bolivia is Santa Cruz de la Sierra at 25 °C77 °F. The coolest is Potosí at 7 °C45 °F.

Where does it rain the most in Bolivia?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra gets the most precipitation, 1,139 mm45 in in an average year. The driest place is Oruro with 481 mm19 in.

How many places in Bolivia does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 7 places in Bolivia. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit Bolivia?

It depends on the place. Across Bolivia, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, October and November. Check the page of each city for its own best months.