Bolivia's river connections to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are not reliable or efficient:
- The Paraguay-Paraná River system, which flows through Bolivia and connects to the Atlantic Ocean, is prone to seasonal fluctuations in water levels, making it difficult to navigate.
- The Amazon River system, which flows through northern Bolivia and connects to the Atlantic Ocean, is too far from the country's main population and economic centers to be of significant use for trade.
- The Pacific Ocean is accessible from Bolivia only through Chile, which has historically had strained relations with Bolivia and has not always allowed free access to the ocean.