Travel
How to Get to Bolivia
Bolivia isn't around the corner — but getting there is easier than you'd think. We recommend flying into Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where our trip begins on March 15. Santa Cruz has Bolivia's most connected international airport and sits at just 400m altitude — so you can arrive, rest, and acclimatize gradually as you head west. Avoid flying directly into La Paz (3,640m) if you can — the altitude hit on arrival is rough.
What we're flying
Düsseldorf → Madrid → Santa Cruz
We're taking Air Europa via Madrid — one stop, ~16–20h total. It's not always the cheapest, but it's the most direct route from Germany with no South American stopover, which makes transit much simpler (especially with a baby). The Madrid–Santa Cruz leg is a comfortable ~11h nonstop on a Dreamliner.
UX1448 · DUS → MAD
Departs 18:50, arrives 21:35
UX25 · MAD → VVI
Departs 23:35, arrives 05:55+1 (Boeing 787-9)
March 15, 2027
UX26 · VVI → MAD
Departs 12:15, arrives 05:05+1
UX1445 · MAD → DUS
Departs 07:05, arrives 09:45
May 29, 2027
What to Expect Price-Wise
Round-trip from Germany, economy class.
Very lucky
Rare, but possible if you book early and stay flexible with dates.
Possible to get
With some patience and flexibility — a good deal.
Realistic
What most people will end up paying. A fair price for the route.
Routes from Europe
Via Madrid
Our routeThe most direct European route. Air Europa and BoA fly Madrid–Santa Cruz nonstop (~11h) several times a week on a 787 Dreamliner.
Airlines: Air Europa, BoA, Iberia, Lufthansa
Via Bogotá
Avianca flies Bogotá–Santa Cruz nonstop (~3.5h). Good option if you find a cheap transatlantic fare to Colombia.
Airlines: Avianca, Lufthansa
Via São Paulo
LATAM and BoA connect São Paulo to Santa Cruz (~3h). Often good fares available.
Airlines: LATAM, Lufthansa, BoA
Via Buenos Aires
A longer routing, but can be competitive on price.
Airlines: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Lufthansa, BoA
Flying Home
You don't have to fly back from where you arrived. Depending on your plans, these are your options for the return trip.
Santa Cruz (VVI)
EasiestSame routes as arrival — nonstop to Madrid or Miami.
La Paz (LPB)
LimitedFew international flights due to the extreme altitude of El Alto airport (4,061m). Most routes require a domestic hop to Santa Cruz first (~1h, very frequent).
Lima (LIM)
Great optionsNonstop to Madrid, Amsterdam, and more. A great return option if you extend your trip to Peru.
Cusco (CUZ)
Via LimaNo international flights — take a short domestic flight to Lima (~1.5h, very frequent), then connect to Europe or the US.
