Climate in Bolivia

Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, therefore its seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. The astronomic summer covers the period from December to March, and winter from June to September. However, the astronomical summer corresponds to the rainy season, and winter to the dry season. For this reason, there is often better weather in winter than in the summer, and the summer period (from December to March) is often called “Bolivian winter”.  Besides, the Bolivian climate is very diversified and closely linked to the country’s altitude.

In the Andes, it rains very rarely during the dry season. In the rainy season (December to March), it rains regularly, but not overly so. Even in January, it rains no more in La Paz than in Paris! The climate is drier in the South (Uyuni and Sud Lipez) than in the North (La Paz and Lake Titicaca). The maximum daytime temperatures fluctuate between 15 and 20ºC (60 and 68ºF) throughout most of the year.

The minimum nighttime temperatures generally drop down to 0ºC (32ºF) in winter, sometimes down to -15ºC (5ºF) on the highest part of the Andean plateau. In summer (December to March), the nighttime temperatures are often well above 32ºF.

The climate in the Amazon is definitely tropical, without a real dry season. It rains all year, but distinctly more during the rainy season. The daytime temperatures can reach 35ºC (95ºF). Minimum nighttime temperatures are generally 20ºC (68ºF) and rarely dip below 15ºC (60ºF) in the winter.

The valleys of the sub-Andean region have a transitional climate between the Amazon and the Andes, as much for the temperatures as for the rainfall.