tRaVeLiNg with KiDs in Bolivia

1. Plan for a mix of activities: Bolivia is such a diverse country, it offers a wide range of activities and landscapes to explore: from the snow-capped Andes mountains to the tropical Amazon rainforest. Plan out a trip including the right mix of adventurous activities, culture and relaxation! Activities that will appeal to both adults and children, such as hiking, visiting local markets, museums and taking boat trips.

There are many tours for kids in Bolivia that offer a fun and educational experience. Here are some ideas:

♦ La Paz City Tour: La Paz is Bolivia’s largest city, and there is plenty to see and do. A city tour can take you to the Witches’ Market, the San Francisco Church, and the Coca Museum. Kids will love riding on the cable cars (the subway in the sky!) that offer stunning views of the city. You can also include a visit to the Valle de la Luna and/or valle de las Animas.

♦ Tiwanaku Archaeological Site Tour: Tiwanaku is a UNESCO World Heritage site located near La Paz that was once a pre-Columbian civilization. Kids can learn about the fascinating history of this ancient civilization and see some of the impressive ruins, including the Gate of the Sun and the Akapana Pyramid.

♦ Get onboard a catamaran cruise across Lake Titicaca to the mysterious Isla del Sol, and walk with a local Aymara guide and the gentle llamas.

♦ City tour in Sucre, quiet and lovely city. Make sure to include museo de Casa de la Moneda (great for older kids interested in history) and Parque Cretácico (Cretaceus Park), a park with giant sculptures of dinosaurs and limestone walls containing more than 5000 authentic dinosaur tracks.

♦ Uyuni salt flats tours. Salar de Uyuni is a large salt flat located in southwest Bolivia and it’s one of Bolivia’s most famous attractions and a must when visiting south America.

Fun fact! If your children (and yourself) are Star Wars fans, they will love the idea of stepping into one of the Star Wars planets. Salar de Uyuni is the real-life location chosen to become one of the new worlds in Star Wars: the frozen planet “Crait” in “The Last Jedi”. Check out other movies filmed at Salar de Uyuni.

If you are planning to visit the salt flats, we recommend flying to Uyuni and book a private tour with all the transfers organized before arrival, 1, 2 or 3 day tours are possible. The shorter 1 or 2 days trips are more suitable when traveling with young children.

The Uyuni salt flats tours include an overnight stay at a hotel entirely made of salt and visits to otherworldly rock formations, geysers, and hot springs. Kids will love the surreal landscape of salt flats and colorful lagoons with flamingoes (just to name a few of the many attractions).

We can’t emphasize enough how amazingly diverse Bolivia is, so don’t forget other destinations in the tropical lowlands of the country.

♦ When in Santa Cruz, we recommend a visit to Biocentro Guembé and parque La Rinconada. More inspo? Check out our 30+ things to do in Santa Cruz.

♦ Reina de Enin boat trip in the Bolivian Amazon rivers, with plenty of wildlife spotting: monkeys, toucans, macaws, pink river dolphins, sloths and capybaras, mud baths, hammocks and sunset dinners on a catamaran are just some of the attractions. Your kids will enjoy the contact with the lush green nature while spotting the abundant wildlife simply lounging on the riverbanks.

♦ Head to the jungle for a Pampas and Madidi Jungle Tour: This jungle tour takes you to the Pampas and the Madidi Park, a region of Bolivia known for its diverse wildlife. Kids can spot pink river dolphins, alligators, monkeys, and more. Stay at a community-run lodge with traditional Amazon cultures housing style cabins.

♦ Swimming in waterfalls and snorkeling in a hot spring river and lagoons during a trip to picturesque old Jesuit mission towns.

♦ Guided walks through the trails of Refugio Los Volcanes, at the borders with the Amazon rainforest.

These are just a few ideas for tours for kids in Bolivia. There are many more options available depending on your interests and the age of your children.

2. Consider the altitude: We recommend starting your trip in Santa Cruz (in the Amazon basin)! Later, you can gradually continue towards higher places to allow your body to get used to the altitude.

If you are rather short of time and you fly directly into La Paz, make sure you plan some adequate extra time for a gentle adjustment to the altitude of the higher regions and take it easy during the first few days of the trip. Kids often take it better than adults, so don’t let the altitude put you off.

We also recommend consulting your pediatrician before the trip and take a small basic medicine kit for your little one(s).

3. Choose kid-friendly accommodations when available: Look for hotels or that have amenities specifically for children, such as swimming pools or play areas.

The older kids will love staying at one of the lodges in the jungle. And what about an entire hotel made of salt when you visit the salt flats?…all the walls, tables, beds, chairs, everything. It is difficult to stop kids from licking the walls.

4. Drink enough water every day. We’ve got you covered: we include enough water per day per person on board the vehicle. Drinking enough water is very important for you and your children. And did you know that giving a child a cup of water is also a trick that help some parents in reducing tantrums? Kids have to be calm enough to even be able to drink the water, and it gives them a chance to collect themselves a bit more. TIP: bring along their favorite spill-proof water bottle, they will be happy to have something they recognize as their own.

5. Take safety precautions: Bolivia is a safe country, cities are among the safest in South America, and the people is friendly. But as with any travel, make sure that your children know what to do in case of an emergency and keep important documents such as passports and travel/health insurance information in a secure place.

6. Don’t forget to bring your favorite sunscreen and adequate clothing for all the climate regions you are planning to visit.

Consider the time of year. When visiting Salar de Uyuni, the temperatures can be quite low, especially in the winter months (from June to September). Make sure to bring warm clothing or plan your visit during the summer months when temperatures are milder. Read more about the climate and the best time to visit Salar de Uyuni.

7. Make sure to inform the tour operator about your special needs, diets (vegan, vegetarian, soy-free, gluten-free, etc.) and/or food allergies.

Bring plenty of snacks so you can keep everyone happy until you can refuel. This is especially important during tours including long car rides. There are healthy and cheap snacks everywhere, if you buy the local seasonal fruits and vegetables (juicy and sweet!).

8. Bring some games, books and other distractions for the kids, it will be useful when traveling by bus or waiting before a flight.

Give your kid a simple small camera or one of your old phones, it will help them appreciate the beauty of the landscapes even more.

Let their creativity flow! It is so much FUN to play with perspective photography at the Uyuni salt flats! Kids will love it! Because this place is so flat, white, and nothing to see for miles, you can take funny pictures. Bring stuffed animals or action figures to recreate scenes. Let them use their imagination and… click….click! Tadaaa: Epic shots! Read our photography tips at salar de Uyuni.

9. Make sure to explain to your children the importance of preserving the environment and educate them on the unique ecosystem of the region you are visiting.

10. Last but not least: Be flexible and relax, this way you can adapt to the rhythm of the children and make adjustments as needed. Keeping your family happy is the most important part of your holiday trip.

When possible, book not only your flights and lodging but also the tours. Outsource the arrangements and you will have more time to relax and enjoy your destination when you get there.

Remember that when you travel you are exposed to new experiences and nothing opens children’s minds like new experiences, so stop putting it off and start planning your next trip! We are confident your family will love Bolivia! It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime!

Check out this travel blog of one of our clients who visited the Uyuni salt flats with his daughter Sofia.

Travel moms (and dads) bloggers, check this out: Ana Maria Media, Colombian actress, writer, travel lover and Ruta Verde´s client gives us the best advice 🙂

(♥)Happy family travels!