Bolivia Attraction Tours: Museums and Mints

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Bolivia has been under a nationwide state of exception since June 2026. Blockades and protests can close roads, including those to airports, with little warning, and petrol and diesel are often short. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Chapare Province, including Villa Tunari, and the US also warns against travel there. Check the FCDO travel advice and the US State Department advisory before booking.

Attractions worth a guided visit

Bolivia’s best indoor attractions are colonial and cultural: a Spanish royal mint, a cloistered convent, a baroque basilica and a textile museum. Most are small, run on set tour times and charge modest entry in bolivianos. Prices below are rough and rates move, since the boliviano floated in 2026 to about 12 per US dollar, so carry small notes and check each fee at the door.

Casa Nacional de la Moneda, Potosí

This block-sized 18th-century mint in Potosí is the headline museum. Visitors see wooden coin-pressing machinery driven by mule power, colonial paintings and the grinning stone mask known as El Mascarón. Entry is by guided tour. The foreigner ticket was quoted at about Bs 40, and the museum has opened Tuesday to Saturday with shorter hours on Sunday, but confirm both. A restoration programme began in September 2026, starting with the roofs. The museum is reported to stay open during that phase, so ask about closed rooms before you go.

Potosí sits at about 4,000 m and the city is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage in Danger. Arrive acclimatised, and walk slowly between sites. Coca tea is a local habit, not a proven cure for altitude sickness.

Convento de Santa Teresa, Potosí

A 17th-century Carmelite convent where daughters of wealthy families lived in seclusion. Tours of about two hours cover courtyards, cells and religious art. Entry was listed at about Bs 30, with a separate photo permit, and the convent usually opens Monday to Saturday. Keep voices low, because it is a place of quiet history.

San Francisco Basilica, La Paz

The Andean baroque church on Plaza San Francisco offers tours that climb the bell tower, cross the roof and visit the crypts below. Reported entry is about Bs 20, Monday to Saturday. The carved stone facade includes native animals and fruit.

Museo de Arte Indigena, Sucre

Run by ASUR, this museum shows Jalq’a and Yampara weaving, including red and black designs of mythic creatures. Weavers sometimes demonstrate in the workshop. Expect an entry fee around Bs 25, with Monday to Saturday opening, and check locally because small Sucre venues change hours.

La Senda Verde, Yolosa

This animal sanctuary near the end of the Yungas road cares for rescued animals, including spectacled bears and monkeys, under a strict no-contact rule. Guided visits were quoted at roughly Bs 120 to 150 in older listings. The sanctuary has its own site at sendaverde.org for current rates and overnight stays. Roads to Yolosa can close for landslides and blockades.

Booking tips

Cash is the norm at these sites, and card machines are rare. Join the tour times posted at the entrance, and bring your passport as ID. If you prefer a guide with transport from La Paz or Sucre, you can compare Bolivia attraction tours on GetYourGuide .