Puerto Suárez Travel Guide

City City in Bolivia with a strategic port location

On the Pantanal’s edge, Puerto Suárez offers boat safaris, birdwatching and border markets that mix Bolivian and Brazilian goods. Anglers and wildlife guides use it as a gateway to flooded plains and caiman‑rich marshes.

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Costs
Budget: $30-55/day
Budget-friendly local prices; cross-border shopping can alter costs.
Safety
Border town caution advised
Low petty crime but smuggling and irregular border issues occur.
Best Time
May-September (dry season)
Drier months best for overland and wetland excursions.
In This Guide
Local Time
4:46 PM
GMT-4
Weather
Clear 86°F
Clear
Population
12,546
Infrastructure & Convenience
Roads and a small airport; customs facilities, limited tourist services.
Popularity
Visits from traders, border-crossers, and Pantanal tour operators.
Known For
Border crossing to Brazil, Pantanal access, river port, cattle trade, Bolivian wetlands, cross-border commerce, timber industry, local markets
Puerto Suárez functions as a vital cross-border port and staging point for excursions into the southern Pantanal wetlands.

Why Visit Puerto Suárez? #

Located near Bolivia’s eastern wetlands and the Brazilian border, Puerto Suárez attracts birdwatchers and safari-minded travelers bound for the Pantanal and nearby ranchlands. It functions as a launch point for wildlife excursions into seasonally flooded plains, and local guides lead boat trips where capybara and diverse waterfowl appear. Cross-border markets and churrasco-style restaurants add cultural flavor, reflecting the town’s frontier trading history.

Best Things to Do in Puerto Suárez

All Attractions ›
Cáceres Lake
1
Cáceres Lake
Bolivian freshwater lake in Santa Cruz Department
Lake

Puerto Suárez Bucket List

Don't Miss
  • Plaza Principal - Central plaza with shaded benches, municipal buildings and community gatherings.
  • Laguna Cáceres - Nearby wetland lake popular for fishing, boat trips and abundant birdlife.
  • Local cattle ranch visits - Visits to nearby estancias to see traditional ranching and livestock practices.
Hidden Gems
  • Fishing cooperatives - Small cooperatives offering guided fishing trips and fresh local catches.
  • Pantanal interpretive trails - Short guided walks introducing Pantanal flora, fauna and seasonal flooding cycles.
  • Artisan leather shops - Family workshops crafting saddles, belts and other leather goods for sale.
Day Trips
  • Laguna Cáceres boat tours - Short boat trips into the wetland for birdwatching and local fishing demonstrations.
  • Border crossing to Corumbá, Brazil - Day visit across the border to Corumbá for markets and riverside promenades.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Suárez #

Puerto Suárez lies in tropical eastern Bolivia with a pronounced wet season and a drier winter. Visit in the dry months (April-October) for easier wildlife viewing and reliable travel access.

Wet Season
November - March · 24 to 32 °C (75 to 90 °F)
November-March rains flood lowlands and attract abundant wildlife; travel may be slow but birding and jungle encounters are at their peak here.
Dry Season
April - October · 18 to 30 °C (64 to 86 °F)
April-October dryness lowers rivers and opens roads; ideal for boat trips, wildlife spotting, and visiting ranches without heavy rain interruptions or floods.
Hot Season
September - October · 28 to 36 °C (82 to 97 °F)
September-October heat spikes make afternoons stifling; best for dramatic late-season photography, but carry water and sunburn risk too.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Suárez #

Climate

Puerto Suárez's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in December) and warm winters (coldest in June). Temperatures range from 17°C to 34°C. Moderate rainfall (998 mm/year).

Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
45°
Warmest Month
4°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is hot, feeling like 31°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (171 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

31°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
24° – 33°
68%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

171 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
13.0h daylight

February

February is hot, feeling like 31°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (126 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

31°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
23° – 33°
71%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

126 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.4
UV Index
Extreme
12.6h daylight

March

March is hot, feeling like 30°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

30°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
23° – 33°
69%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

116 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.1h daylight

April

April is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm).

83 Excellent

Comfort

27°
Feels Like Warm
27°C
Temperature
22° – 32°
64%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

75 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
11.6h daylight

May

May is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

85 Excellent

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
20° – 29°
63%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.4
UV Index
High
11.1h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. Light rainfall.

91 Ideal

Comfort

23°
Feels Like Mild
23°C
Temperature
18° – 28°
60%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

29 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
10.9h daylight

July

July is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 20 mm and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

23°
Feels Like Mild
23°C
Temperature
17° – 28°
50%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

20 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
11.0h daylight

August

August is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° – 30°
41%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

22 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.4
UV Index
High
11.4h daylight

September

September is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm).

89 Excellent

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
20° – 32°
42%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

39 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
High
11.9h daylight

October

October is hot, feeling like 29°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

77 Very Good

Comfort

29°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
23° – 34°
52%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

83 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.0
UV Index
Very High
12.4h daylight

November

November is hot, feeling like 30°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

67 Good

Comfort

30°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
23° – 34°
57%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

109 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.9h daylight

December

December is the hottest month, feeling like 31°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

31°
Feels Like Hot
29°C
Temperature
24° – 33°
65%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

154 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
13.1h daylight

How to Get to Puerto Suárez

By Air
By Train & Bus

How to Get Around Puerto Suárez #

Puerto Suárez is a border town where short distances are easily walked. Local taxis and moto-taxis handle most in-town trips; buses provide connections to nearby towns and the Bolivian road network. Because it’s a border crossing point, expect some transport geared toward freight and cross-border passengers; plan for customs procedures and variable timetables.

Where to Stay in Puerto Suárez #

Budget
Near border checkpoint / Town centre - BOB 50-200/night
Border town with basic, functional hotels catering to travelers and truckers. Expect straightforward rooms and practical services near the border crossing.
Mid-Range
Town centre - BOB 150-350/night
Mid-range comfort is scarce; a few locally-run hotels offer better bedding and private bathrooms but amenities remain limited.
Luxury
Not applicable locally - luxury unavailable
Luxury accommodation is effectively unavailable in Puerto Suárez; travelers should plan to stay in larger cities for upscale options.

Where to Eat in Puerto Suárez #

Nightlife in Puerto Suárez #

Nightlife is limited and local in Puerto Suárez, with a few bars and restaurants that serve residents and travellers. There are no major nightlife venues; evenings are low-key and functional. If you want more nightlife options, plan to travel to larger urban centres.

Shopping in Puerto Suárez #

Shopping is practical and local: small markets and shops sell groceries, basic goods and some cross-border merchandise. Expect limited choice for specialty items. For a larger retail scene or wider selection of goods, head to larger Bolivian cities such as Santa Cruz.