Bolivia has two main international airports. Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) in Santa Cruz handles the most international traffic, with direct connections to Lima, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, São Paulo, and Miami. El Alto International Airport (LPB), perched at 4,061 metres above sea level just outside La Paz, is the highest commercial airport in the world and serves flights from the same regional hubs plus Madrid. Flying into La Paz is spectacular but the altitude hits hard — give yourself time to acclimatise before rushing anywhere.
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) is the national carrier and operates international routes alongside LATAM, Avianca, and American Airlines. Prices can be steep compared to neighbouring countries; if you're combining Bolivia with Peru or Ecuador, check whether routing through Lima saves money.
Overland from Peru is the classic approach. Buses run from Puno along Lake Titicaca to Copacabana, where you cross the border by ferry at the Straits of Tiquina and continue to La Paz — the whole journey takes around six to seven hours. The catamaran service from Puno to La Paz via the lake is more comfortable but considerably more expensive.
From Chile, the main overland crossing is at Tambo Quemado/Chungará on the Arica–La Paz route. Buses make the run from Arica (Chile) to La Paz in around ten hours. A second crossing at Ollague connects Calama (Chile) to Uyuni, useful if you're heading straight for the salt flats from San Pedro de Atacama.
From Argentina, buses from Villazón (on the Argentine border) to Potosí or La Paz are well-travelled. Tupiza, a beautiful little town near the border, is worth a night or two in itself.
From Brazil, the crossing at Quijarro/Puerto Suárez connects to Santa Cruz by train or bus.
All visitors must register with the SIGEMIG migration system before or on arrival. US citizens no longer need a tourist visa as of December 2025; most European, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders have been visa-free for years. Check your country's current status before you go, as requirements change. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you've recently been in certain neighbouring countries, and is strongly recommended regardless if you plan to visit the lowland jungle areas.