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Last Updated on February 15, 2025

Bolivia has many very cold places, but the coldest ones can vary depending on specific characteristics, such as whether the location is well-known, visited for specific purposes, or holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the country. Some large cities can also be remarkably cold.

The coldest places in Bolivia include: 1) the scalable mountains of the Andes, such as Huayna Potosí and Illimani, with temperatures dropping below -22°F (-30°C) or lower; 2) the town of Charaña, which holds Bolivia’s record for the lowest temperature ever recorded, -10.8°F (-23.8°C); and 3) the Uyuni Salt Flat, with a record low of -7.6°F (-22°C).

In this extensive overview of Bolivia’s coldest places, we’ll present the locations we consider truly cold in our country, based on historical data, our experiences, and observations from living and traveling throughout Bolivia. You’ll discover the seven coldest places in Bolivia.

Which is the Coldest Place in Bolivia?

Based on factual data, the coldest place in Bolivia is undoubtedly the town of Charaña, which recorded the country’s lowest temperature of -10.8°F (-23.8°C) in 2010. A close second is the Uyuni Salt Flat, with a record low of -7.6°F (-22°C) in 1946. However, there are certainly other places *even colder* within the country.

One way to categorize this is by differentiating the coldest places based on their unique features:

1. The coldest place ever recorded: Charaña town, -10.8°F (-23.8°C) (Senamhi, 2010).
2. The coldest tourist destination: Uyuni Salt Flat, -7.6°F (-22°C) (Senamhi, 1946). Usually below 15°F (-10°C) at night from May to August.
3. The coldest Bolivian city: El Alto City, averaging 23°F (-5°C) at night from May to August, with some nights dropping to 10°F (-12°C).
4. The coldest unconfirmed locations: Bolivian mountains in the Andes mountain range, such as Huayna Potosí and Illimani, which can reach temperatures of -22°F (-30°C) or lower.
5. The coldest region of Bolivia: The Bolivian Altiplano, where almost all the aforementioned places are located, with near-freezing temperatures from May to August, situated on the eastern side of Bolivia.

As you can see, many very cold places in Bolivia might be of interest. In general, *whenever you’re in the Bolivian Altiplano, whether in its tourist destinations, mountains, or cities, you’ll experience very cold temperatures*, particularly from April to August.

The Top 7 Coldest Places in Bolivia

Now, let’s examine in detail, based on our experiences, observations, and the official data from Senamhi (Bolivia’s weather agency), which locations are the coldest in the country.

You’ll notice that almost all these places are situated in the Bolivian Altiplano, a vast, high-altitude plateau in the western part of Bolivia.

1) Notable Mountains (Very Risky, for Alpinism)

Bolivia is traversed by several large mountain ranges, where you can find numerous mountains and peaks exceeding *20,000 ft above sea level* (6,000m). Consequently, individuals engaged in activities like mountaineering, trekking, or climbing will find these locations extremely cold, with temperatures ranging from 15°F to -22°F (-10°C to -30°C).

Some of the more familiar and frequently climbed mountains and peaks include:

• Huayna Potosí (relatively easy)
• Mururata (relatively easy)
• Illimani (difficult, dangerous)
• Condoriri (difficult, dangerous)
• Sajama (difficult)
• Chacaltaya (easy, accessible by car)
• Many others

These peaks are located within the Bolivian Altiplano, in the western part of the country.

You absolutely must know what you’re doing if you intend to climb these mountains. Beyond the extreme cold, it’s crucial to take all necessary precautions, *engage a reputable tour guide and climbing agency in Bolivia, and ensure you are adequately prepared for these activities in these mountains*.

2) Charaña Town

Charaña is a small town situated in one of Bolivia’s most arid and cold regions, in the southwestern part of the country. This area is characterized by the vast, flat Altiplano landscapes, colder temperatures, and numerous mountains and volcanoes. It’s also located at an elevation of approximately 13,000 ft above sea level (4,000m).

This town is located in the La Paz department, on the border between Bolivia and Chile. It’s very rustic and not tourist-friendly, lacking the infrastructure to support tourism. *It’s rarely visited by tourists.*

Temperatures there typically range from 10°F to 5°F (-12°C to -15°C), *but these cold temperatures occur only between May and October* of the year, during Bolivia’s cold season. From November to April, temperatures range from 32°F to 50°F (0°C to 10°C).

This town holds the second position on this list because it holds the distinction of having recorded Bolivia’s lowest ever temperature, -10.8°F (-23.8°C), in 2010.

3) Uyuni Salt Flat

The Uyuni Salt Flat is one of Bolivia’s most well-known and visited tourist destinations, *but it experiences extremely cold temperatures, particularly between May and September* (Bolivia’s cold season). During this period, nighttime temperatures can range from 15°F to -5°F (-10°C to -20°C), averaging around freezing, though it’s warmer during the day.

The lowest temperature ever recorded at the Uyuni Salt Flat was -7.6°F (-22°C) in 1946, *very close* to the lowest temperature ever recorded in all of Bolivia, which occurred in the town of Charaña, as mentioned earlier.

Therefore, this location becomes very cold at the end of fall, throughout winter, and at the beginning of spring in Bolivia, *which corresponds to the period between May and September*. Remember to take necessary precautions when visiting, as it can get extremely cold, and *always use a reputable tourist agency*.

On the other hand, *between October and April*, the Uyuni Salt Flat is much warmer, with average temperatures of 65°F (18°C) during the day and 35°F (2°C) at night.

4) All the Towns and Locations in Southwestern Bolivia

This region is part of the Bolivian Altiplano, which is the coldest area in the country. It’s located on the border between Bolivia and Chile, in the Potosí department and parts of the Oruro and La Paz departments. *This is where you’ll find Bolivia’s coldest region*.

In this region, *several towns and tourist destinations are* frequently visited by people from overseas. However, many towns are never visited by tourists (like the town of Charaña) because they don’t offer much to these visitors.

Common characteristics throughout this region and all its towns, both rural and urban areas, include:

• An altitude of approximately 15,000 ft above sea level (4,500m).
• Freezing temperatures year-round at night.
• Very cold temperatures during the Bolivian cold season, from May to September, with temperatures ranging from 40°F to 5°F (5°C to -15°C).
• During the Bolivian warm season, from September to April, temperatures can range from 60°F to 30°F (15°C to 0°C).
• Low annual precipitation of approximately 50mm to 250mm.

In this area of Bolivia, you’ll find the following notable locations:

• The Uyuni Salt Flat.
• The town of Charaña.
• The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve.
• The Coipasa Salt Flat.
• The Siloli and Dalí Deserts.
• The Red and Green Lagoons.
• Sajama National Park.
• Numerous volcanoes and mountains exceeding 18,000 ft above sea level (5,500m).
• Many small surrounding towns.

5) El Alto City

We’ve been discussing places that aren’t major cities in Bolivia, *but large cities can also experience very cold temperatures*, particularly during the country’s cold season, which runs from May to August each year.

El Alto is the coldest city in Bolivia and the fifth coldest place on this list. It’s an important and very large city, with a population of around 1,089,000. Its high altitude of 13,615 ft above sea level (4,150m) is the primary reason for its cold temperatures, along with its location within the Bolivian Altiplano.

During the cold season, primarily between June and July, temperatures here can drop to 23°F (-5°C) at night, with some nights reaching as low as 5°F (-15°C). During the day, temperatures can reach around 60°F (15°C), rarely exceeding 65°F (18°C). In the warmer season, this city experiences significantly higher temperatures.

Therefore, whenever you’re in El Alto city (which, by the way, is a dangerous city for tourists) between May and September, you’ll typically encounter freezing temperatures at night and still feel cold during the day. You’ll need to wear appropriate clothing to handle these conditions.

6) Oruro City

Very close to El Alto City is Oruro City, *with nearly identical cold temperatures during the same season*. Both cities share very similar climatic and geographical characteristics, which explains their similar weather patterns. Oruro is at an elevation of 12,254 ft above sea level (3,735m) and is also located within the Bolivian Altiplano.

Oruro City is the second coldest city in Bolivia and the sixth coldest place on this list. From May to September, this city typically experiences temperatures of around 25°F (-4°C) at night, but on some nights, it can drop to 10°F (-12°C). During the day, the city warms up to about 63°F (17°C) but rarely exceeds 68°F (20°C).

You don’t need to worry about extremely cold days during the Oruro Carnival, *as this festival takes place in February*, which is within the country’s warmer season (September to April). However, between May and September, be sure to wear appropriate clothing to handle the quite cold temperatures in the city, especially at night.

7) Potosí City

Also very similar to El Alto and Oruro cities is Potosí, a well-known tourist city in Bolivia, at an elevation of 13,418 ft above sea level (4,090m), with a population of 200,000. *Potosí shares very similar geographical features with the other two cities* mentioned earlier on this list, except that it’s surrounded by large hills. This is why it’s also so cold during the country’s cold season.

From May to August, Potosí experiences temperatures of around 27°F (-3°C) at night, but some nights can drop to 15°F (-10°C). During the day, this city warms up considerably, with an average temperature of 64°F (18°C), almost never exceeding 68°F (20°C). From September to April, Potosí will be warmer, but still cold at night.

Whenever you’re in Potosí between May and August, remember that you’ll experience below-freezing temperatures at night, and during the day, you’ll still feel very cold and need to wear appropriate warm clothing.

Which are the Coldest Cities in Bolivia?

You’ve seen in this article that some of Bolivia’s very large cities are also the coldest places in the country. However, there are other quite cold, though slightly warmer, cities, including La Paz and sometimes Cochabamba.

In fact, the coldest cities in Bolivia are, from coldest to warmest:

1. El Alto
2. Oruro
3. Potosí
4. La Paz
5. Cochabamba
6. Sucre
7. Tarija

The first four cities on the list are very cold, while the last three are temperate but can become quite cold from May to September, with some nights reaching temperatures of around 35°F (2°C).

We have a comprehensive guide to Bolivia’s coldest cities, with detailed information about these cities during their coldest months, as well as the coldest city overall, available here: The coldest cities of Bolivia: A complete overview.

Conclusions:

In this article about Bolivia’s coldest places, you’ve seen that both the town of Charaña, followed closely by the Uyuni Salt Flat, are the officially coldest places in the country, with the lowest ever recorded temperatures of -22°C to -23.8°C (-7.6°F to -10.8°F) and average minimum temperatures of 15°F to -5°F (-10°C to -20°C) from May to August.

But also, for climbers, trekkers, and alpinists, the high-altitude mountains of the Andes mountain range, such as Huayna Potosí, Illimani, Sajama, Mururata, and others, will be significantly colder, as their peaks can exceed 20,000 ft above sea level (6,000m) and their temperatures can drop to -22°F (-30°C) or lower. *These locations are very dangerous and potentially deadly*; only attempt to visit them if you are well-prepared and know what you’re doing.

You’ve also realized that the entire Bolivian Altiplano is a very cold region, where all the coldest places on this list are located, including the cities of El Alto, Oruro, and Potosí, as well as the town of Charaña, the Uyuni Salt Flat, Eduardo Avaroa National Park, Sajama National Park, the Green and Red Lagoons, and numerous surrounding towns.

Finally, you’ve learned that this flat, high-altitude land, called the Altiplano, located on the eastern side of the country, becomes very cold between May and September, Bolivia’s cold season, but it warms up considerably between October and December.

We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn every detail about the climate in Bolivia, including more information on the coldest locations, please visit our definitive guide here: How is the climate in Bolivia? A complete overview.

CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.