Sports and leisure activities Bolivia

Budget & Tips

Most of the treks can be completed without a guide, but we strongly recommend that you enlist the services of a qualified guide. It would be a shame to get lost in the mountains at around 4,500 m altitude... Nights are polar cold!

A few examples of prices: a local guide will charge you around 200 Bs a day, count around 400 Bs all-inclusive for a mountain bike descent of the Death Road, 40 US$ for zip-line descents, 250 US$ for a 3-day trek all-inclusive (guide, meals, overnight stays, etc.), around 200 US$ for a 4-day, 3-night tour of Southern Lípez and 700 US$ to climb Illimani alongside IVBV-UIAGM-IFMGA-certified guides.

What's very local

The national game is cacho, a dice game. In most of the country's bars, you'll see people seated with beers and dice, tossed into a leather glass.

Cholitas escaladoras. In recent years, a group of Aymara women, known as cholitas, have climbed Bolivia's main peaks, before overcoming their ultimate challenge in early 2019, the ascent of Aconcagua, the highest peak on the American continent. For more than 25 years, these women had been confined to the role of logistical support during climbs of Huayna Potosí, one of the most popular and accessible peaks for tourists, despite its 6,088 m height. They accompanied the trekkers to the Campo Alto camp at 5,100m. From there, they waited for the Andinists to return, preparing meals and coca mate for them. Curiosity about going further gradually won them over, and in 2017 they formed a group of cholitas escaladoras and set out to climb various Bolivian peaks. Ranging in age from 24 to 50, these women have gradually come to symbolize the fight for gender equality and indigenous visibility. Their actions highlight the predominant role of women in mountain activities, and encourage younger women to get involved in training to become qualified guides.

Your documents please

No papers are required for mountain activities, but you must be in good health and aware of your limits, as the effort required at altitude can surprise many a seasoned hiker...

To be booked

For all sporting activities (Andinism, climbing, hiking, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, etc.), bookings should be made the day before at the latest, with the exception of night-time activities (soccer matches, cholitas wrestling, etc.). It's best to enlist the services of a serious agency and a qualified guide, especially for mountain outings and the descent of the Death Road by mountain bike.

The www.eventrid.bo website lets you book tickets for various national sporting events (marathons, bike races, etc.).

AGMTB, the association of professional mountain guides in Bolivia, is made up of official members of the Union Internationale des Associations de Guides de Montagne IFMGA / UIAGM / IVBV, an international organization founded in 1960 in the European Alps, bringing together all professional mountain guides who meet demanding technical standards. Before setting off into the high mountains, contact the travel agency of your choice and ask for a professional UIAGM-certified guide(www.agmtb.org), who has received high-mountain rescue training from the Socorro Andino Boliviano (www.socorroandinoboliviano.org).

Main events

Every year, the National Sports Day (Día del Deporte Nacional ) is celebrated on July 7, to encourage the country's citizens to engage in physical activity.

Tourist traps

Beware: many operators in La Paz offer mountain biking down the Death Road; some offer unbeatable prices, but you should be aware that the most expensive agencies are generally those that offer top-quality equipment and supervision, both of which are essential for your safety.