Is La Paz, Bolivia, Worth Visiting? All you Need to Know

When we visited, we knew little about this city, but I’m so glad we went!

I’ll be really honest. I never considered whether La Paz, Bolivia, was worth visiting. It was just a very obvious stop on our way to Chile. I didn’t know much about the city and went in completely blank. But oh, am I glad we went!

At nearly 12,000 feet (3650m), La Paz is one of the highest cities in the world—in fact, it’s the highest capital city. Neighbouring El Alto (13,615ft/4150m) is the highest major city in the world, a city that’s easy to get to from La Paz. All you have to do is take the cable car.

La Paz (and Bolivia in general) was one of the most unique places we visited on our 10-month backpacking trip through Latin America. The whole country is stunning, and the culture is nothing short of fascinating.

The city of La Paz is a great place to learn all about this culture. Visit the Witch’s Market or the cemetery and indulge yourself in their customs and culture. Or get your future told by an indigenous shaman. I’m not kidding.

So La Paz is great. There are some great things to do and see, and it is the highest capital city in the world, which is definitely worth something. But is it worth going?


Is La Paz Bolivia Worth Visiting?

In short, yes, La Paz is worth visiting. But there are some things to consider. I loved it, and I thought the city was amazing. It has a very distinctive and unique atmosphere, and the sightseeing in the city was great.

It’s a great stop when you’re coming from Cusco or Puno in Peru to spend a few days and experience Bolivian culture. I’d add it to a Bolivia itinerary if it’s not yet there.

La Paz and neighbouring El Alto are the highest capital city and the highest city in the world. How cool is it to be able to say you’ve been there? But don’t worry, that’s not the only reason to go. More on that later.


Getting to La Paz

La Paz is located in the western part of Bolivia. To get there, there are generally two options:

By Air

La Paz technically doesn’t have an airport, but El Alto does. And it’s only a 25-minute taxi ride from the airport to the centre of La Paz. El Alto is (you could’ve guessed) the highest international airport in the world. This means not every aircraft can use this airport with full payload.

There are no direct flights from Europe or North America. If you’d like to start your Bolivia itinerary in La Paz, you’d have to transfer in Bogota in Colombia, Lima in Peru, or Bolivia’s biggest international airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

You can fly directly to La Paz from the following airports:

Bolivia

  • Cobija
  • Cochabamba
  • Santa Cruz de la Sierra
  • Sucre
  • Tarija
  • Trinidad
  • Uyuni

Peru

  • Lima
  • Cusco

Chile

  • Santiago de Chile

Colombia

  • Bogota

By Bus

It’s possible to get to La Paz by bus. South American buses are known to be uncomfortable and very long, although they are not considered dangerous in general. There are bus routes from Puno in Peru, Copacabana, Uyuni, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Oruro, and possibly even more.

We took an overnight bus from La Paz to Uyuni, which was pretty good. I got the times wrong, so we nearly missed it. Luckily, our hotel got us a crazy taxi driver who raced through traffic to get us there on time. We got there with 5 minutes spare. I tipped him well.

Anyway, that bus was really good. Since it was overnight, I was knocked out for most of it, but we received warm dinner when we left and breakfast when we arrived. The bus company we used was Todo Turismo.


Getting Around La Paz

You’ve got a few options to get around La Paz. The most commonly used is the Colectivo, a shared taxi van with a set route that stops anywhere along its route to let you in and out. I advise you to speak to your hotel for more information about which one to take. There are so many; the correct one depends on where your hotel is.

Another option is a normal taxi or Uber. Normal taxis are available just about anywhere and are more expensive than Colectivo’s. Uber has a price similar to that of a taxi, but you won’t have to negotiate prices.

For the most exciting way to travel around, ride the Mi Teleférico, a cable car system that takes you to places like El Alto. This system was built by an Austrian company because of La Paz’s geography. Some areas are so steep that trams and metros are just not viable options.


Things to Do in La Paz in Bolivia

Now that I’ve answered the question, ‘Is La Paz, Bolivia, worth visiting?’ Let’s discuss why it is such a good place to visit. There are quite some reasons. I’ll list them below.

Mountain bike on Death Road

Possibly the most spectacular thing to do is mountain biking down the ‘most dangerous road in the world’. It sounds incredibly scary, but honestly, it’s not that bad.

The 40-mile-long, 11,800-foot descent is a spectacular way to see this area, which has dramatic landscapes and forests. Please make sure you use a trusted company, as the quality and maintenance of the bikes are very important.

I did the hard research work for you and recommend this tour with Gravity Bolivia.

Visit El Alto’s viewpoint

The viewpoint in El Alto, at an astonishing 13,435 feet (4095m), is one of the best places to see La Paz and the surrounding landscape.

Just make sure you don’t wander off into El Alto, as parts of this city are not that safe. The area around the cable car, which is where the viewpoint is, is absolutely fine.

Ride the Teleféricos

It’s perfect for combining with the El Alto viewpoint, as it’s right next to the cable car station (or stop? I’m not sure what to call it!). The cable cars were installed as a public transport system, as the city’s geography is unsuitable for traditional modes of transportation like trams and metros.

Whereas the cable cars in cities like Medellin and Quito are more of a tourist attraction, thousands of locals use the cable cars in La Paz daily to get to and from work. The routes are colour-coded and easy to understand.

Explore the Witch Market

There are two Witch Markets: one in the famous Calle Sagarnaga and the original in El Alto. Tourists and even some locals call these markets witch markets because, to us, the stuff here seems used for witchcraft.

This is just a name. The markets are used by locals for traditional medicine, herbs, and spices and for buying offerings for Pachamama. The ‘God’ in Bolivian culture is Mother Earth, and Bolivians believe that burning offerings makes her happy. To be honest, I’m not sure if they’re right or wrong.

I quite like the idea of keeping Mother Earth happy within a religion. Our planet needs to be protected, and while burning items might not seem like the way to do it for some people, it works for the Bolivian people.

Go to a Cholitas Wrestling event

The famous women’s wrestling is also in El Alto; I would’ve loved to go there. I met quite a few people who loved the show. Whilst I can’t speak from experience on this one, different people recommended it so often that I had to include it in this list.

One of the easiest and perhaps best ways to watch the show is with a guide. I can’t find a decent option online, but your hotel can help you with that.

Shop at Calle Sagarnaga

This famous street is in the heart of La Paz’s tourist area. It is full of shops selling handicrafts, clothes, and traditional Bolivian items. Here, you can get a taste of the new Witch’s Market, with shops selling the same items. Trust me. Just walk down the street, and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Join a Red Cap walking tour

I highly recommend this tour on Thursdays and Sundays. It takes you to the ‘black’ market on these days, and the tour also includes a visit to the cemetery. It sounds daunting, but to Bolivians, it is not a sad place to be. Their culture celebrates moving on to ‘behind the mountains’.

It’s a fascinating tour altogether. Now, the tour doesn’t include the Cholitas wrestling, but it can be added on. You’ll be dropped off at the event.


Where to Stay in La Paz

A comfortable bed is one of the most important things while travelling. Depending on your budget, here are my recommendations.

📍 Budget option – Hostal Iskanwaya

This is the hotel we stayed at. It’s called a hostal, but it has private rooms. The staff is incredibly nice and helpful. Callie was bedridden with altitude sickness and had to miss breakfast. They were nice enough to hold on to some fruits for her to have later!

The rooms are average but clean. The beds are comfortable, and the bathroom is sufficient. Great breakfast included!

It’s close to the ‘new’ Witch’s Market, only a short walk away. There are also lots of restaurants in the area.

❗️Book the affordable Hostal Iskanwaya before it’s too late!

📍 Mid-range option – El Museo Hotel Boutique

It is a great option with large rooms, 24-hour reception, and a snack bar. This hotel is highly rated and in a great location, close to bars, restaurants, and a traditional market.

❗️Get your room at El Museo Hotel Boutique before it gets fully booked!


FAQs – Is La Paz Bolivia Worth Visiting

I’ve covered as much as I can, but here are some slightly off-topic, frequently asked questions and their answers.

Why is La Paz so famous?

La Paz is famous as the highest capital city in the world, located at an incredible 12,000 feet (3650m).

How many days should I spend in La Paz, Bolivia?

Three days is the perfect amount of time to visit La Paz. This gives you time to get used to the altitude, go on a walking tour, and bike down Death Road.

Is it safe to visit La Paz, Bolivia?

Yes, it is safe to travel to La Paz. However, as with most destinations, petty crime is still a problem. Make sure to keep an eye on your surroundings, don’t wander the streets at night, and don’t flash your valuables.

What should I wear in La Paz?

People in La Paz dress casually. It doesn’t really matter what you wear. Anything goes! Make sure to check out our Bolivia Packing List for more inspiration.

Hovering umbrellas in La Paz, Bolivia

Final Thoughts – Is La Paz Bolivia Worth Visiting

Hopefully I convinced you to go explore this amazing city. It is 100% worth visiting. It’s not known as a must-visit kind of place, and that is honestly a shame. It has so much to offer!

Especially when Bolivia is already on your plans, make sure La Paz is included in your trip. You won’t regret a single thing!