Bolivia Activities: Cable Cars and Caves

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. A nationwide state of exception was decreed in June 2026. Protests and road blockades can cut routes, including roads to airports, at short notice, and fuel shortages are regular. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Chapare Province, including Villa Tunari, and the US warns against travel there. Read the UK FCDO advice for Bolivia and travel.state.gov before you book.

Things to do in Bolivia

Bolivia runs from glaciated peaks above 6,000 m down to Amazon lowlands, and the activities change with every step of that drop. The classic list is an aerial city ride, a downhill bike descent, a glacier climb and a cave crawl, plus some theatre. Nearly all of it happens at altitude, so the first two days belong to rest.

Altitude comes first

La Paz and El Alto sit at roughly 3,600 to 4,000 m, and most trips above start there. Walk slowly, drink water, skip alcohol for the first days and talk to a doctor or travel clinic before you fly in. Locals drink coca tea as a custom, but it is not a proven treatment for altitude sickness, and no pill or tea reliably prevents it. If symptoms worsen, go down.

Mi Teleférico in La Paz

The cable car network links La Paz and El Alto with 10 or more lines, and it doubles as cheap sightseeing. A ride on the first line costs about Bs 3, with about Bs 2 more for each transfer, so one change comes to about Bs 5. Reduced fares are roughly half. A secondary guide gives hours of about 06:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 21:00 on Sundays and holidays, so check at the station. The cars often keep running when roads are blocked, which makes the network a useful way to cross the city on a protest day.

Cholita wrestling in El Alto

Lucha libre de cholitas is staged theatre in which Aymara women in layered skirts and bowler hats wrestle. Reports disagree on the venue and the schedule, with Thursday and Sunday matches the most common claim, so ask your hotel for the current show. Expect about US$13 for a seat alone and about US$18 to 25 with transport from La Paz.

Death Road cycling

The North Yungas Road drops about 3,500 m over 64 km, from near 4,650 m at La Cumbre to the warm lowlands near Yolosa. Traffic keeps to the left on this road. Ride only with a guided operator. Gravity Bolivia, running descents since 1998, is quoted at about US$123 to 142, and Vertigo Biking at about US$90 to 120. Tours at US$35 to 65 tend to cut corners on bikes and support. Several cyclists have died here. Check the brakes, helmet and that the guide carries first aid. Departures are cancelled at short notice for landslides and blockades, especially in the wet months from November to March, and a community fee of about Bs 50 may be charged.

Huayna Potosí

At 6,088 m, this peak in the Cordillera Real is climbed on guided three-day trips with a certified mountain guide, crampons and an ice axe. It is a serious climb, not a first-week activity. Spend several days above 3,500 m before you go, and compare quotes from licensed operators.

Caves at Torotoro

Torotoro National Park, reached from Cochabamba, offers a guided cave visit at Umajalanta, with headlamps, crawling and a look at stalactites. A guide is mandatory. The park ticket is about Bs 100 for four days, and community guides charge about Bs 120 to 160 per circuit for a group of up to six, so confirm both on arrival.

Money and entry

The boliviano floated in mid-2026 and traded at about 12 to the US dollar in late October, moving week to week. Tour packages are quoted in dollars, while small fees are in bolivianos. Cash dominates: ATMs in Uyuni and small towns are often empty, and cards usually carry a surcharge of 5 to 10 percent at larger businesses. Bring US dollar cash in good condition. UK passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa. US travellers should check with the Bolivian embassy. Carry a yellow fever certificate for lowland trips.

Compare operators on Viator Bolivia tours , and look at Gravity Bolivia for the Death Road descent.