First time · La Paz
First time in La PazLa Paz
La Paz is a slow-start city: land at 4,050 m, rest on day 1, keep walks short and downhill, use radio taxis and cable cars for the slopes, and carry cash in small notes.
The honest verdict
La Paz sits in a canyon at about 3,600 m, and its airport in El Alto is higher, at about 4,050 m. Altitude, steep streets and cold nights decide the trip more than distance does. Trips break on a hard first day, on unofficial taxis, and on road blockades and strikes that can close the airport road for hours or days. Four clusters cover a first visit; the cable cars link the slopes; Lake Titicaca and Uyuni are trips from a kept bed.
You will like
- Cable cars and canyon views
- Markets and street food
- Dry, sunny days in the dry season
What wears you down
- Altitude sickness
- Steep hills
- Blockades and strikes
Five things not to miss
- 1Plaza MurilloThe cathedral and the government palaces on a flat plaza.Best Morning · Free
- 2Witches' MarketHerbs, charms and offerings.Best Late morning · Free
- 3San Francisco BasilicaColonial art and a roof view.Best Morning · Bs20–40
- 4MUSEFTextiles, masks and festival dress.Best Mid-morning · Bs10–30
- 5Mi Teleférico rideThe canyon from above.Best Clear morning · Bs3 or more
Where to stay on a first visit
- Plaza San Francisco hotelsFor: First visit, 2–4 nights, toursSights and tour desks are close; accept the noise.
From the airport
El Alto International Airport (LPB)
- Fastest and cheapest
- Radio taxi or hotel car to the door · about 35 min · about BOB 70
Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.
How long to stay
- 1 day
- A stopover before a flight to Uyuni or Sucre
- 2 days
- A usual stay before Titicaca
- 3 days
- A relaxed pace with time to adjust
Show 5 more blocksHideThree mistakes to avoid, Money and SIM, Etiquette, The best time to go, A first day
Three mistakes to avoid
- Fake police who stop tourists, ask for their passport and cash: real police do not check money on the street; ask to go to a station.(Scams)
- Ask before photographing people, especially cholitas at markets.(Survive · red lines)
- Altitude: headache, breathlessness and poor sleep are common for 1–3 days; severe symptoms mean go down.(Survive · safety)
Money and SIM
- Budget day
- Bs150–300 excl. bed
- Paying
- Cash for markets, taxis, cafés and street food; cards in hotels and larger restaurants, sometimes with a fee. Carry Bs10, 20 and 50 notes: small shops cannot change Bs200.
- Cash
- Keep Bs200 in small notes and coins; withdraw at bank ATMs inside banks or malls, not on dark streets. Bring some clean US dollars as backup: exchange access has been unstable, so check the current situation before you fly.
- SIM
- Prepaid SIM from Entel, Tigo or Viva: Passport needed; coverage in the city is good.
Etiquette: the top three
- Altitude
- Move slowly, drink water and skip alcohol for the first day.
- Greetings
- Say buenos días or buenas tardes when you enter a shop or taxi.
- Photography
- Ask before photographing people, especially women in traditional dress and market sellers.
The best time to go
Apr: Drier; clear days.
Dry season (May–Oct): Clear blue skies and the best mountain views; cold nights.
A first day
Day 1 — A slow start: Plaza Murillo and the Witches' Market
Start about 09:30
- 1Mercado Lanza: api and pastel breakfast
- 2Plaza Murillo
- 3MUSEF: National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore
- 4Mercado de las Brujas (Witches' Market)
- 5San Francisco Basilica and museum
Fixed point: Lunch table 12:30 (El Prado)
Rest at the hotel 13:30–16:00; water and small meals; no alcohol on day 1.Rest at the hotel 1:30 PM–4:00 PM; water and small meals; no alcohol on day 1.
Timed version: La Paz in 3 daysYour La Paz checklist
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