La Paz in 3 Days — 3-Day Guide

La Paz in 3 days: the seat of government at 3,640m where coca tea is the altitude remedy, where llama fetuses are burned as offerings to Mother Earth in the Witches' Market, where Aymara women in bowler hats and pollera skirts perform professional wrestling moves, and where a 64km descent from 4,700m to tropical jungle is called 'the world's most dangerous road.'

Also explore La Paz for:

📋 General guide ⭐ Highlights

Day 1 — Witches' Market, Sagárnaga & Mi Teleférico Cable Cars

Day 2 — Valle de la Luna & Cholitas Wrestling Sunday

Day 3 — Tiwanaku UNESCO & Death Road Cycling

📋 General 3-day guide ⭐ Highlights

Book tours, tickets and experiences via GetYourGuide — free cancellation on most activities.

Browse all activities →

Language	Spanish (español — the official language of Bolivia; Bolivia's Spanish has a distinctive Andean pronunciation (the 'Andean Spanish' or 'colla' accent: slower, more clearly articulated, with the strong influence of Aymara and Quechua phonology)). Aymara (Aymara — the indigenous language of the La Paz region and the surrounding Altiplano; spoken as a first language by approximately 2.5 million people in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile; one of the 36 official languages of Bolivia) and Quechua (the indigenous language of the Inca Empire, spoken by 2+ million in Bolivia). English is spoken at tourist-oriented businesses in the Sagárnaga area and at higher-end restaurants, but is not widely understood beyond the tourist zone.
Currency	Boliviano (BOB). Current rate approximately BOB 7.40 = €1. La Paz is one of the most affordable capitals in South America: a full day of sightseeing, meals, and transport for BOB 200–400 (€27–54) is comfortable. ATMs (Banco Bisa, BCP) accept international Visa/Mastercard (though with fees). USD cash is widely accepted and the most practical foreign currency.
Transport	Mi Teleférico (BOB 3/trip — the most important public transport in the La Paz basin; covers all major tourist areas from the central historic district to El Alto); minibuses (micro/trufi — shared minibuses running fixed routes; BOB 2–4; the most common local transport but confusing for visitors); taxi (negotiate price: BOB 20–40 for most city trips; app-based taxis (InDriver) available); Death Road and Tiwanaku: organised tours from the main tourist agencies on Sagárnaga Street (USD 30–90/person). Walking is possible in the historic centre but the altitude makes uphill walking exhausting for acclimatising visitors.
Best time	May–October (the Bolivian dry season: clear skies, lower chance of rain, the best views of the Illimani and the Andes; temperatures 5–18°C (cold nights) and 15–22°C daytime). The winter (June–August) has clear skies but cold nights. The wet season (November–April): rain (the afternoon rains are short but heavy in the December–March peak); the Death Road becomes more dangerous and the Tiwanaku site becomes muddy.
Getting in	El Alto International Airport (LPB — at 4,061m (the highest international airport in the world (standard scheduled service)); the airport is on the El Alto plateau, 15km from central La Paz; Mi Teleférico Blue Line connects to the city centre (BOB 3, 30 min); taxi BOB 80–150. Beware altitude: arriving from sea level directly at 4,061m is the most extreme altitude exposure possible on a commercial flight. Direct international flights from Lima (2 hrs), São Paulo (4 hrs), Buenos Aires (3.5 hrs), Miami (9 hrs), and European connections via Lima or São Paulo.
Tipping	10% at restaurants. Taxi: round up. Death Road guide: USD 10. Tiwanaku guide: BOB 50. Market food stalls: no tip. Cholitas wrestling: BOB 10–20 thrown to the ring (the standard appreciation custom at cholitas events).
Safety	La Paz is generally safe in the tourist areas (Sagárnaga, Sopocachi, the city centre). The main concerns: (1) altitude (the most serious and underestimated risk for visitors; respect AMS symptoms and descend if they worsen); (2) petty theft in the market areas and on buses (keep valuables secure, use zippered bags); (3) the El Alto plateau and the Cementerio district (the area around the cemetery bus terminal) are higher-risk areas — use taxis after dark. Do not use 'taxi-trapping' (an organised kidnapping scam involving fake taxis picking up tourists — always call a registered taxi or use InDriver).
Budget tips	Valle de la Luna: BOB 15. Mi Teleférico: BOB 3/trip. Witches' Market: free. Mercado Lanza lunch: BOB 15. Tiwanaku: BOB 100 + BOB 30 bus. Death Road cycling: USD 60. Salteña breakfast: BOB 6–10. Anticucho dinner: BOB 20. Budget BOB 200–400 (€27–54)/day excluding Death Road.