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
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
- 2 days
- Plaza Murillo and the Witches' Market, then El Prado
- 3 days
- Four clusters, slow first day, cable car on day 3
- 5 days
- Four clusters + Lake Titicaca or Tiwanaku day trip + one buffer day
Three mistakes to avoid
- 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)
- Do not take coca leaf across borders.(Survive · red lines)
Money and SIM
- Budget day
- Bs150–300 excl. bed
- 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.
The best time to go
Apr: Drier; clear days.
A first day
Day 1 — A slow start: Plaza Murillo and the Witches' Market
Start about 09:30
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.
Timed version: La Paz in 3 days