Can I Drink Tap Water in Bolivia?

Tap water in Bolivia is unsafe to drink as a country-level traveler recommendation. Use sealed bottled water or properly boiled/disinfected water for drinking and brushing teeth. World Bank data shows about 93.4% basic drinking water access (2024), while the same series does not currently return a recent safely managed drinking water value. Bolivia has broad basic access in many areas, but countrywide tap-water conditions are variable enough that travelers are better served treating tap water as unsafe by default. Travelers should use bottled or properly treated water for drinking and dental hygiene.

The World Bank series used here does not return a recent safely managed value for Bolivia, and regional differences in treatment and distribution make national assumptions risky. World Bank data shows about 93.4% basic drinking water access (2024), while the same series does not currently return a recent safely managed drinking water value. Urban hotels may have better-managed water than smaller towns or rural areas, but traveler risk remains significant without filtration/boiling or bottled water. Travelers should use bottled or properly treated water for drinking and dental hygiene.

Tap water in Bolivia is unsafe to drink as a country-level traveler recommendation. Use sealed bottled water or properly boiled/disinfected water for drinking and brushing teeth. Travelers should use bottled or properly treated water for drinking and dental hygiene. Urban hotels may have better-managed water than smaller towns or rural areas, but traveler risk remains significant without filtration/boiling or bottled water. When in doubt, bottled or properly treated water is the safer choice for drinking and dental hygiene.