May marks the start of the dry season in the highlands with clearer skies and cooler nights - ideal for visiting La Paz and the Altiplano. Trails and roads to attractions such as Salar de Uyuni become more reliable. This is a favored time for high-altitude trekking and salt-flat visits.
Average daily low and high (°C) and monthly rainfall. The badge shows how it feels, allowing for humidity.
Average temperature across Bolivia in May.
La Paz, El Alto, Uyuni, Potosí
May ushers in crisp, dry days and big swings between warm afternoons and freezing nights across the Altiplano. Uyuni’s salt crust becomes walkable and vehicle travel over the flats is reliable-this is the start of the main season for salt-flat photography and stargazing. Travelers should still carry a warm down jacket for nights and be mindful of altitude: even sunny afternoons can feel exhausting at 3,500-4,500 m.
Cochabamba, Sucre, Tarija
May sees consistently dry, sunny days across the valleys and noticeably cooler nights-Cochabamba remains comfortable for city wandering while Sucre can feel crisp after sunset. Tarija’s vineyards are in a restful phase, and rural roads firm up for easy exploration of nearby canyons and wineries. Visitors should carry a warmer layer for evenings and sunscreen for cloudless afternoons.
Coroico, La Cumbre, Caranavi
May brings a much drier and pleasantly warm spell ideal for walking the Yungas trails and visiting local farms-days are humid but far less oppressive than in the wet months. Sky views open up from the higher lookouts and birding improves because trails are passable, while nights are cooler and more comfortable in guesthouses. Travelers will find easier access from La Paz and fewer cancellations of jungle excursions.
Rurrenabaque, Trinidad, Guayaramerín
May is definitive dry‑season start for the Amazon fringe: river travel is still possible but many secondary channels shrink, opening trails and easier access to forest paths. Wildlife is easier to find on fixed trails and game concentrations on remaining water holes provide dramatic sightings. For travelers, this month gives a balance between reliable access and abundant wildlife; pack sun protection and light long sleeves for sun and insects.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sama Valley, Yacuíba
May is comfortably warm and noticeably drier: Santa Cruz’s city life is easy to enjoy on foot and rural drives across the bolsones open up for estancia visits. The Chaco starts to show dryer grasslands, good for 4x4 exploration and wildlife spotting around shrinking waterholes. Bring sun protection for long days outdoors and a light jacket for cooler nights in sheltered valleys like Sama.
Fiesta del Gran Poder in La Paz is a major religious and folkloric procession typically held in May.
See how May compares with the rest of the year, then read the full guide.