La Paz occupies a canyon cut into the Altiplano at 3,640 metres (11,942 feet) above sea level, which makes it one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city of around 900,000 descends steeply from the plateau edge — where the airport and the adjacent city of El Alto sit at 4,070m — down to the warmer, lower districts of Sopocachi and Miraflores at around 3,200m. The cable car system (Mi Teleférico) spans the city’s vertical geography with 11 lines and is one of the most extraordinary pieces of urban transit infrastructure in South America. The altitude will affect you. Everything else will reward the effort.
Arriving and acclimatizing
The altitude at El Alto Airport (4,070m) is the first thing that will register. If you arrive from sea level, you will feel it — headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite. These symptoms are common and usually ease within 24–48 hours as your body adjusts.
Do on arrival: Drink water steadily. Move slowly. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours. Eat light. Take the first day at minimal pace — a short walk from your hotel at most.
Coca leaves and tea: Coca leaf tea (mate de coca) is the traditional Andean altitude remedy. It does have mild stimulant properties and is widely available in La Paz. Coca leaves are legal in Bolivia (though illegal in many other countries, and should not be carried home). The tea is available at most hotels.
Diamox (acetazolamide): A prescription medication that can help with altitude acclimatization. Talk to your doctor before travel if you’re concerned; it can be helpful for people who have had altitude sickness before.
The shift from the airport to lower districts of the city helps — the La Paz proper (3,640m) versus El Alto (4,070m) difference is meaningful.
What to see and do
Mi Teleférico (cable car system) is simultaneously the city’s mass transit and its greatest tourism asset. The 11 lines span across the canyon and connect La Paz to El Alto on the plateau. From the cable cars, you have 360-degree views of the Andean skyline, the canyon depths, and the city spreading below. Buy a rechargeable card at any terminal. Line Yellow (Línea Amarilla) between El Alto and La Paz offers the most dramatic transit experience. Budget an afternoon just for riding the system.
Mercado de las Brujas (Witches Market) on Calle Linares in the old city sells ritual items for Andean spiritual practice — dried llama fetuses, herbs, incense, amulets for good fortune. It’s a functioning market, not a tourist construction. The surrounding streets in the old city (Jaén, Murillo, Sucre) have the densest concentration of colonial architecture.
Calle Jaén is a well-preserved colonial cobblestone street with four small museums in converted colonial mansions — the Museo del Oro (pre-Columbian goldwork), Museo de Metales Preciosos, Museo de Instrumentos Musicales, and the Museo de la Coca. Each is small; a morning covers them all.
Valle de la Luna — 12km south of the city centre — is a landscape of eroded clay and sandstone formations that resembles, loosely, a lunar surface. Labyrinthine paths through the formations; 2–3 hours including the taxi ride. Best in the afternoon light.
Tiwanaku (also spelled Tiahuanaco) — 70km west — is the pre-Inca archaeological site of the Tiwanaku civilization, which flourished from around 300 CE to 1000 CE. The Gateway of the Sun (Puerta del Sol), the monolithic statues, and the Akapana pyramid platform are the main features. The altitude here is 3,850m. Allow a full day; most tours depart early.
El Alto markets — Sunday and Thursday are the main market days in El Alto (the city on the plateau above La Paz). The Feria 16 de Julio is one of the largest open-air markets in South America — hundreds of stalls selling everything from electronics to vegetables to used car parts. An overwhelming and fascinating half-day with a cable car ride built in.
Death Road (Camino de la Muerte / Yungas Road) — 65km northeast of the city — was once dubbed the “world’s most dangerous road” and descends 3,500 metres from the Andean heights to the subtropical Yungas valley. It’s now mostly visited as a downhill mountain bike tour — a dramatic descent on a road carved into cliff faces, with waterfalls, cloud forest, and views of enormous vertical drops. The road was replaced by a safer highway for vehicles in 2006; the old road is now used almost exclusively for tourism. Tours run daily from La Paz.
Getting around
Mi Teleférico is the best way to see the city and move across its vertical geography. Fares are very low; the views are exceptional.
Taxis (radio taxis and trufi shared taxis) are the other main option. Negotiate fares beforehand; most rides within the city centre are inexpensive.
Walking within individual neighbourhoods is possible; the steep gradients and altitude mean that walks take more out of you than the distance suggests. What feels like a short walk on a map is genuinely more effort at 3,640m.
When to go
May to October is the dry season — the best time for clear skies, the salt flats (Uyuni is particularly striking in the dry season), and outdoor activities including Death Road. Temperatures in La Paz proper are cool: around 5–15°C (41–59°F) during the day. Nights can drop below freezing.
November to March is the wet season. Rain is common in the afternoons. The salt flats at Uyuni flood in this period, creating a mirror effect that is extraordinary for photography. Temperatures are slightly warmer.
June is a particularly active month: the Festival of the Virgin of Urkupiña (Oruro, 3 hours south) and the Gran Poder festival in La Paz itself are the two biggest celebrations. Gran Poder (usually June) involves over 60 fraternities dancing through the streets in elaborate costumes.
Day trips and onward travel
Uyuni Salt Flats — the Salar de Uyuni is 3.5 hours south of La Paz by bus or accessible via a short flight to Uyuni airport. At 10,582 km², it’s the largest salt flat in the world and sits at 3,656m. The dry season (May–October) gives clear geometric views; the wet season gives the mirror-lake reflections. Most visitors do a 3-day 4WD tour from Uyuni town through the salt flats, colored lagoons, and geysers to the Atacama desert in Chile.
Lake Titicaca and Copacabana — 155km west, about 3.5 hours by bus. The world’s highest navigable lake at 3,812m. Copacabana is the main Bolivian town on the shore; boats go to the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun, the Inca creation site). Worth an overnight.
Tiwanaku has been mentioned above — 70km west, feasible as a day tour.
Practical information
Altitude: At 3,640m in central La Paz (and up to 4,070m at El Alto and the airport), this is serious altitude. Give yourself a full day to acclimatize before any strenuous activity. Altitude sickness can be severe; if symptoms worsen rather than ease after 24 hours, seek medical attention. Descending to a lower altitude is the fastest relief.
Currency: Bolivian boliviano (BOB). Cards accepted at larger hotels and some restaurants; cash essential for markets, taxis, street food, and smaller establishments. ATMs are available in the centre.
Language: Spanish is the primary language. Aymara and Quechua are also widely spoken in La Paz and El Alto — you may hear them in markets and among vendors.
Safety: La Paz is generally safe in the main tourist areas (Sopocachi, Miraflores, the old city around Calle Jaén). The main risks are petty theft and scams targeting tourists (particularly fake police — anyone claiming to be a plainclothes officer and asking to see your wallet should be treated with suspicion). Use official radio taxis.
Climate: Dress in layers. Daytime in the dry season can be pleasantly warm in the sun; evenings are cold. Rain gear is useful year-round.
Frequently asked questions
How bad is altitude sickness in La Paz? At 3,640m it’s significant. Expect headache, fatigue, and shortness of breath on arrival, particularly in the first 24 hours. Most people adjust within 48 hours. The symptoms are rarely dangerous for otherwise healthy adults but are uncomfortable. Drink water, move slowly, skip alcohol on day one. If symptoms worsen significantly — severe headache, vomiting, confusion — descend to a lower altitude and see a doctor.
What is the best way to see the cable cars? Buy a Teleférico card at any terminal and ride the lines. Line Yellow (Amarilla) between El Alto and La Paz offers the most dramatic views. A full circuit of several lines takes a morning. The view of the city from the cables at dusk is one of the best urban panoramas in South America.
Is La Paz the capital of Bolivia? Constitutionally, Bolivia has two capitals: Sucre (the constitutional capital) and La Paz (the seat of government and de facto administrative capital). Sucre is also a UNESCO-listed city worth visiting if you’re spending more time in Bolivia.
How do I get to the Uyuni salt flats from La Paz? Bus from La Paz to Uyuni is about 10 hours overnight (inexpensive; book in advance). A flight takes about 40 minutes to Uyuni airport. Most visitors do a 3-day 4WD tour from Uyuni covering the salt flats, Isla Incahuasi, flamingo lagoons, geysers, and the Atacama border crossing into Chile.
What is Death Road? The Yungas Road — 65km northeast of La Paz — descends 3,500m from the mountains to the subtropical valley in about 65km of road carved into cliff faces. In the 1990s it was considered the world’s most dangerous road; it’s now used mainly for downhill mountain biking tours. The full day tour from La Paz includes van transport up and bike ride down.
How many days do you need in La Paz? Two days covers the main city attractions: cable cars, old city (Calle Jaén, Witches Market), Valle de la Luna, and a restaurant evening in Sopocachi. Three days adds Tiwanaku and time for acclimatization. Four or more days if you’re doing Death Road and organising the Uyuni trip from here.
What is the Witches Market? The Mercado de las Brujas on Calle Linares sells ritual items for Andean spiritual practice — dried llama fetuses (offered in construction foundations for good luck), herbs, potions, and amulets. It’s a functioning market used by local Aymara people for genuine spiritual purposes, not primarily a tourist attraction. Worth walking through with respect.
What currency is used in Bolivia? Bolivian boliviano (BOB). Cash is essential for most transactions — ATMs exist in the centre but availability varies. Cards work at larger hotels and some restaurants in Sopocachi. Plan to have enough bolivianos for daily spending.
If you’re planning your La Paz visit and working out which activities are worth booking in advance — including Death Road tours and Tiwanaku excursions — Cityraze helps you structure your time so you don’t lose days to altitude or logistics.