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Capitan Nicolas Rojas Airport

Potosí, Bolivia
Routes out
2
Destinations
1
ICAO
SLPO
Elevation
12922 ft
The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Capitan Nicolas Rojas Airport

POI
Location
Potosí · P · Bolivia
Connectivity
2 routes · 1 destinations
Position
-19.543°, -65.724° · 12922 ft elev.
Visa & Entry
Official visa, passport and entry information for Bolivia is published by its government,
AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Capitan Nicolas Rojas Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

Language
Highland flavors, small airport, genuine warmth.

Capitan Nicolas Rojas Airport is a small regional facility, and its dining scene reflects that honest, unhurried character. There's no sprawling food court here, but the modest café near the main waiting area does the job with warmth and surprising charm. Expect freshly brewed api — a thick, warming purple corn drink beloved across the Bolivian highlands — alongside empanadas stuffed with spiced beef or cheese, perfect for steadying yourself before or after the altitude-tested flight.

The airport's single café-style counter leans into Potosí's culinary identity in small but meaningful ways. You might find a simple bowl of fricasé, the city's beloved pork and chuño stew, available during morning hours, or at least a hearty sandwich built on marraqueta bread. Staff tend to be locals who know what travelers from the altiplano actually need: something filling, something hot, and ideally something that tastes like home or close enough to it.

Because the airport is compact and the food options are limited, savvy travelers often grab a proper meal in Potosí's historic center before heading out. That said, don't overlook the terminal's snack offerings — locally made salteñas sometimes appear in the morning, and the coffee, while straightforward, is reliably good. Think of the airport dining experience less as a destination meal and more as a final, affectionate handshake with Bolivian highland food culture before you depart.

Highlights
Api Purple Corn Drink
A warming highland staple, this thick sweet drink is perfect at altitude before any flight.
Morning Salteñas Available
Juicy baked pastries sometimes appear early — grab one fast before they sell out.
Fricasé on the Menu
Potosí's classic pork and chuño stew occasionally shows up for hungry early-morning travelers.
Marraqueta Bread Sandwiches
Simple but satisfying, these crusty-roll sandwiches offer a quick and genuinely local bite.
Single Café, Big Heart
The terminal's lone counter delivers honest service and food that feels refreshingly unfussy.
Eat in Town First
The historic center's restaurants reward those with time to spare before heading airside.
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TravelerPulse profile

High-altitude gateway to Bolivia's historic silver city.

Location
Potosí, Bolivia
Capitan Nicolas Rojas Airport (IATA: POI, ICAO: SLPO) serves Potosí, Bolivia, one of the highest cities in the world at approximately 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) above sea level. The airport is named in honor of Capitan Nicolas Rojas, a Bolivian aviation figure. It provides essential air connectivity to a city renowned for its colonial heritage and the historic Cerro Rico silver mine. The airport handles limited domestic traffic, primarily connecting Potosí with other Bolivian cities such as La Paz and Santa Cruz. Due to the extreme altitude and mountainous terrain surrounding Potosí, flight operations present significant challenges for aircraft performance and require experienced pilots familiar with high-altitude conditions. Potosí is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the airport plays a modest but important role in supporting tourism and commerce in this remote region of southwestern Bolivia.
Terminals
The airport operates a single small terminal building suited to its regional domestic traffic volume.
Getting to & from
Ground transport between the airport and central Potosí is primarily served by taxis and private vehicles, with the city center located a short distance from the airfield.
Airlines here
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) and smaller regional carriers have operated services at Potosí, though scheduled service has historically been limited and intermittent.
Notable facts
  • ›The airport sits at approximately 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest commercial airports in the world.
  • ›Potosí itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the Cerro Rico silver mountain that fueled the Spanish colonial economy.
  • ›High altitude significantly affects aircraft performance, requiring special operational procedures.
  • ›Scheduled commercial service at the airport has historically been sparse and subject to suspension.
  • ›The airport is named after Bolivian aviation figure Capitan Nicolas Rojas.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (1 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Routes

POI → LPBA4 · SWM
POI → LPBZ8 · SWM

Aircraft operating here

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via POI? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Bolivia from official government sources.

Captain Nicolas Rojas Airport
Encyclopaedia

Capitán Nicolas Rojas Airport is an extremely high elevation airport serving the city of Potosí, the capital of the Potosí Department in Bolivia.

Read full article on Wikipedia
About on Wikipedia

Captain Nicolas Rojas Airport

Airport in Bolivia

Capitán Nicolas Rojas Airport is an extremely high elevation airport serving the city of Potosí, the capital of the Potosí Department in Bolivia.

Read on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA. May be out of date — verify important details.

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