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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Puerto Suárez
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Puerto Suárez: see Motacusito caves, a local balneario, and browse Bolivianite shops; longer stays not needed.
Puerto Suárez is a small border town serving as a gateway to the Bolivian Pantanal and nearby caves. Most attractions are close to town, so a single day (or a half‑day if on a tight schedule) covers the highlights.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season, easier border crossing)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy season, possible road/flood delays)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BOB
- Money
- Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bs 120–200 excl. bed · Mid Bs 250–400 excl. bed · High Bs 500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | Bs 5–8 |
| Taxi within town (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi within town (3.1 mi (5 km)) | Bs 15–20 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | Bs 3–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VVI · Viru Viru International (Santa Cruz)
- BoA flights from Santa Cruz to Puerto Suárez; about 1 h flight, then taxi to town.
Typical fares
- Taxi to Corumbá border
- about Bs 30, 30 min (check)
- Bus Rio de Janeiro (long‑distance)
- ≈28 h, price varies (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis are the main local transport; they can take you to the Brazilian border (Corumbá) in about 30 min. No regular public bus within town.
See and do
Known for
- Motacusito caves
- Balneario swimming holes
- Bolivianite gem market
- Gateway to the Pantanal
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pantanal (via Corumbá) | Taxi to border (≈30 min), then bus to Corumbá (≈1 h). Tours depart from Corumbá. | ≈2 h total to reach tour start |
| Motacusito caves | Local taxi or organized minibus, ~7 km (4.3 mi) west of town.Local taxi or organized minibus, ~4.3 mi (7 km) west of town. | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Beby (budget)
- Rooms from Bs 50; air‑conditioned rooms Bs 80. Central Avda. Bolívar.
- Ejecutivo (mid‑range)
- Standard hotel on Avda. Bolívar, moderate rates.
- Resort El Pantanal (splurge)
- Outskirts, pool, transport via phone; higher price.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgraˈθjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the border? | ¿Dónde está la frontera?ˈdonde esˈta la feˈrenta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
- Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
- Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
- Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters
Scams and watch-outs
- Border crossing may close early on Sundays; verify opening hours.
- Train service to Puerto Suárez has been suspended since early 2020; offers claiming tickets are likely scams.
- Avoid paying taxi fare all the way to the Mutún mine (≈25 km); it is not a tourist site.
Generally safe for daytime visits; stay alert at border crossings and use registered taxis.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Puerto Suárez yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Motacusito caves
- Balneario swimming holes
- Bolivianite gem market
- Gateway to the Pantanal
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Puerto Suárez: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Puerto Suárez, revision 5156549 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5156549
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/puerto-suarez). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.