Bolivia: The Blockades Are Lifting in La Paz — Don’t Unpack the Road-Trip Yet

Bolivia · Travel

La Paz is breathing again — fuel is flowing and roads are reopening — but the rest of Bolivia is still tied in knots. If you are heading there, fly between cities and don’t plan a road trip just yet.

After more than six weeks of road blockades, fuel queues and shortages, there is finally some good news out of the Bolivian capital. The blockades around La Paz are starting to lift, and the city is edging back to normal.

But the relief is local and early. Across the rest of the country the roads are still cut in their dozens, so the practical advice for now is simple: treat La Paz as cautiously reopening and reach everywhere else by air.

What’s easing in La Paz

The governor of La Paz said on Thursday that 12 of the department’s provinces had decided to lift their blockades and resume normal activity, sharply cutting the number of conflict points there. He attributed the shift to protesters standing down and to the economic toll the blockades had taken on ordinary families.

Crucially for daily life, fuel has begun reaching La Paz and El Alto again, and the Río Abajo route has reopened so farm produce can flow back into the cities. The governor expects activity to normalise over the weekend, though he noted the protesters’ core political demand, the president’s resignation, is not part of the dialogue.

Why the rest of the country isn’t clear yet

Nationally the picture is still tough. Bolivia’s road authority counted around 101 blockade points across six departments on Thursday, with Cochabamba now the most affected at about 30, ahead of La Paz on roughly 22, and more in Oruro, Chuquisaca, Potosí and Santa Cruz.

The crisis has run more than 40 days since May, triggering shortages of fuel, food and medical oxygen. A 90-day humanitarian and health state of emergency was declared in the La Paz department on June 2, and there have been violent clashes as police and soldiers tried to clear key routes.

Fly, don’t drive — for now

With main roads cut, overland travel to and between the highlands is unreliable, so domestic flights are the sensible way to move between La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Sucre and Uyuni. Even then, check with your airline before heading out, because the roads leading to the terminals — including El Alto — can themselves be blocked.

Foreign governments, including Canada’s, warn that overland routes to La Paz, Lake Titicaca and Copacabana, Uyuni, Potosí, Tiwanaku, Coroico, Oruro and Rurrenabaque are likely to be severely disrupted, and advise against crossing any roadblock, even one that looks unattended.

Practical tips if you go

Book flexible, refundable flights and accommodation, because conditions are changing by the day. Carry extra fuel, water, food, cash and any medication you need, since once a blockade goes up, supplies cannot get in.

Avoid protests and roadblocks, especially around government buildings and central La Paz, where situations can escalate quickly. Register your trip with your embassy or a service such as the US State Department’s STEP so you receive alerts, and keep your documents and a charged phone to hand throughout.

The bottom line

La Paz is the brightest spot in a country still largely blockaded. The easing is real and welcome, but it is early and partial, and the national road network is far from clear.

Treat the city as cautiously reopening and the rest of Bolivia as best reached by air, and keep checking the latest advisories — this is moving day by day. Conditions can change quickly, so confirm the current situation with your airline, your embassy and official Bolivian sources before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the blockades over in La Paz?

Not entirely, but they are easing fast. The governor says 12 provinces have lifted their blockades, fuel is returning, and he expects normality over the weekend, though the situation is not fully resolved.

Is the rest of Bolivia clear?

No. The road authority counted about 101 blockade points across six departments on Thursday, with Cochabamba now the most affected. Intercity road travel remains unreliable.

Can I still fly within Bolivia?

Generally yes, and flights are the practical way to move between cities right now — but confirm with your airline, because the roads to airports can be blocked.

Is it safe to visit?

La Paz is cautiously reopening, but the wider country is still disrupted and tense. Avoid roadblocks and protests, keep bookings flexible, and follow the latest advisories.