La Paz sits in a canyon at 3,600 m, with El Alto stacked above it and Illimani watching over the south. It's loud, steep, and far more layered than most travelers expect — markets, cable cars, cholita wrestling, and the best street food in the country.
Give it three nights, not one. The city rewards slow days: a morning in the Witches' Market, a teleférico ride up to El Alto for the view, an afternoon walking the colonial streets around Calle Jaén, and a night out in Sopocachi where the locals actually eat.
the vibe
Thin air, brass bands rehearsing on side streets, and the smell of salteñas at 10 a.m. La Paz doesn't try to charm you — it just is what it is, and after three days you stop noticing the altitude and start noticing how much you like it.
don't miss
- Ride the Mi Teleférico — especially the red and yellow lines for canyon-wide views.
- Walk through the Mercado de las Brujas and old Calle Jaén.
- Day trip to Tiwanaku, the pre-Inca site an hour out of town.
- Bike the old Yungas (Death) Road down into the cloud forest.
- Sunday lunch in Sopocachi, then a pisco sour in a hidden bar.
May–October (dry season). Cold nights, blue-sky days.
Fly into El Alto (LPB) — the highest international airport in the world.
recommended trips
Tours we'd actually do in La Paz.
Hand-picked itineraries. Booking links arrive soon — we'll plug in vetted GetYourGuide tours so you can book in one click.
Death Road downhill biking
3,600 m of descent from snowline to cloud forest. The classic La Paz day out.
Booking link coming soonTiwanaku ruins half-day
Pre-Inca civilization with a guide who can read the iconography.
Booking link coming soonLa Paz city + cable car tour
Best way to read a city you can't navigate on foot.
Booking link coming soon