This Underrated Latin American Country Is Breaking All Time Tourism Records

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Not Mexico and its world-class beaches and UNESCO-listed Mayan pyramids.

Not Argentina, with the Old World charm of Buenos Aires and its distinguished tango houses.

Oh, and definitely not Brazil, especially now that Rio's frail reputation as a moderately-safe destination has been smashed to smithereens.

The “next big thing” out of Latin America is a wildly overlooked landlocked country, boxed in by five neighbors—but let’s be real, missing the tropical beaches hasn’t stopped it from smashing tourism records this year.

Bolivia Is Latin America's Next Tourism Hotspot

According to Ahora El Pueblo, a Bolivia-based news source, the country has registered over 3.6 million trips between January and September 2025, including 750,000 foreigners.

That's already a 9% increase over 2024, as reported by Deputy Minister of Tourism Hiver Flores. In his own words, from 2021 to date, there has been ‘constant growth' in the tourism sector, particularly regarding the arrival of international visitors.

So far, 2019 remains Bolivia's top-performing year, with 1.2 million foreign arrivals. Considering there's still two months left this year, and only 450,000 tourists short of matching the record, it might as well just surpass it.

Still, the question remains: what is it about Bolivia that is so irresistible, and where are travelers going?

Why Are Tourists Headed For Bolivia In 2025?

For starters, Bolivia is incredibly rich and vast as far as nature goes. No, it does not have beaches, but it encompasses a diverse territory, from towering Andean peaks, all the way down to the Amazon basin.

It's also home to one of the best-preserved indigenous cultures in Latin America:

Unlike Brazil and Argentina, where the native population was either confined to small nature preserves, or decimated as a result of warfare and diseases brought by European settlers, the ethnic makeup of Bolivia is still 60% indigenous.

Their culture is expressed through a myriad of languages, which coexist alongside Spanish, the country's lingua franca, and their traditional clothing and customs remain a big part of day-to-day life.

Unique Culture

If it's Bolivian culture that piques your interest, you can't miss Tiwanaku, a UNESCO-protected ancient archaeological site in the vicinity of the world-famous Lake Titicaca.

Formerly the capital of a mighty Incan civilization, between 500 and 1000 CE, it has the kind of unspoiled ancient charm you might find harder to tap into in other heavily-touristed pre-Columbian sites, like Machu Picchu in Peru.

A high-altitude town sitting a vertiginous 12,200 feet above sea level, Oruro is yet another one of Bolivia's underrated gems. With colonial churches and lively street markets, the snow-capped Andes for backdrop, it proudly hosts the colorful Oruro Carnival.

Mixing Catholic and indigenous traidtions, and featuring thousands of dancers in folkloric attire, it takes place every February, and it's a must-see for visitors.

Can't get enough of Bolivia's UNESCO World Heritage zones yet? Try Potosí next: every bit as beautiful as its namesake Mexican counterpart, it has a typical Spanish-colonial urban layout, with opulent churches, signorial mansions, and vein-like streets that feed into a main, grand plaza.

A Tale Of Two Capitals

Something that may surprise tourists, as well as intrigue them, is the fact that Bolivia has not one, but two capital cities.

Sucre is the constitutional capital, and it's Bolivia's main cultural and intellectual center. The high-altitude La Paz, on the other hand, is the administrative hub, where the Government convenes in practice.

Sucre is best known for its whitewashed townscape, plethora of museums, and relaxed atmosphere. As for La Paz, it's a contrasting metropolis stretching as far as the eyes can see, with handicraft markets galore, including the landmark Witches' Market, and an unrivaled fast-paced energy.

Looking for historical sights and pretty-looking buildings? Sucre's for you.

Now, if you like your city breaks a little rough around the edges, or just rough in general, and you think you can get acclimatized easily at 11,975 feet above sea level, choose La Paz.

Natural Wonders Galore

Other than its vibrant cities, Bolivia's greatest attraction is Salar de Uyuni: the world's largest salt falt, stretching over 3,861 square miles, its mirror-like surface reflecting the blue skies is one of the most surreal landscapes on planet Earth.

Worth the long-haul flight as it may be, Salar de Uyuni is far from being the country's only natural wonder.

To all our fellow outdoorsy people, make sure you combine a trip to the salt falts with a stopover in Eduardo Avaroa Park, an Andean fauna reserve home to geysers, flamingos, and other rare desert life you'd only seen otherwise in a NatGeo special.

Needless to say, no visit to Bolivia is complete without a boat tour around the aforementioned Titicaca, an island-dotted lake marked by its Incan history, and boasting stunning views.

Traveling Abroad As An American Is No Longer As Easy

This year, the U.S. passport has taken quite a hit after a number of countries decided to impose stricter entry requirements on American tourists.

First it was the United Kingdom, where a mandatory digital entry permit started being required. Then it was Brazil, which revoked Americans' visa-free travel privilege in a tit-for-tat move that has left many scrambling for last-minute visa approvals.

When it comes to Bolivia, it's no different:

As of 2025, U.S. passport holders also need a visa to enter Bolivia. You may apply either for a Visa on Arrival (VoA), the minute you arrive to the country, or if you'd prefer to speed up the process, through a Bolivian consulate in avdance.

The visa is valid for 30 days, and it can be extended up to 90 days per calendar year.

The fee is around US$160 for U.S. citizens, and there is a whole list of documents you must be prepared to submit. Check all entry rules traveling to Bolivia as an American using our free Entry Requirement Checker.