When planning our trip to Bolivia, we quickly realized there was not as much information about it as there is about the more popular destinations of Peru, Argentina and Chile. Many travelers visit Peru for close access to hikes and Incan ruins. While there is no second Machu Picchu in Bolivia, there is very similar terrain and many beautiful locations. In this post we are answering the question, is La Paz, Bolivia worth visiting? Hopefully this is helpful if you’re looking for information about what to see and do in this city.
La Paz, Bolivia sits in the Andes Altiplano meaning everywhere you look you are surrounded by mountains. At 11,975 feet in elevation, La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world. Because of its location it is an incredibly unique city. It’s like a city was built at the bottom of a bowl and the edges of the bowl are neighboring El Alto and snowcapped mountains. Even the ride from the airport the whole time we couldn’t stop saying how cool it looked!
The Altitude in La Paz
Because La Paz sits at over 11,000 feet, altitude is something to consider when you’re visiting. If you’re not coming from elevation already you might notice some symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches. For some people they feel nothing while others it comes and goes.
For us, we had already been in high altitudes from spending the past 11 days in Cusco and hiking to Machu Picchu. So we got to La Paz and didn’t notice a difference from what we were already at. Within the city there are a decent amount of hills to walk up and down. Occasionally we would notice ourselves breathing a little out of breath while walking uphill. If you’re not used to the altitude yet it’s recommended to give your body time to acclimate before exerting yourself too hard.
How Long Should I Spend in La Paz, Bolivia?
We spent 3 days in La Paz, Bolivia and felt it was the perfect amount of time to get a feel for the city! We had plenty of time to see and do all the things we wanted to do. But also felt like we weren’t rushed either.
We took an overnight bus on the 3rd night to Uyuni in order to continue on to our Salt Flats tour. Because we were already going on a multi-day excursion, we opted not to do any day trips while in La Paz. There are plenty of day trip options though such as Death Road, Valley de La Luna and many more.
Read More: 3 Day Bolivian Salt Flat Tour
What Should I Do in La Paz?
Ride Mi Teleferico
By far the highlight of our time in La Paz was riding Mi Teleferico. In 2014 construction began on a cable car system in order to alleviate traffic as well as improve transportation between La Paz and El Alto. El Alto sits on the Altiplano plateau making it higher in altitude than La Paz. Because of the two locations, a cable car system has made transport significantly easier.
There are eight different lines serving different stations around La Paz and El Alto. Wherever you are staying within the city of La Paz there is bound to be a station close by! Because of the location of La Paz and the fact that you’re traveling in a cable car, it is the most scenic public transportation we have ever used!
The locals use it to get around the city, however, we opted for a roundtrip ride to see the views from all the lines. We started close to where we were staying on the linea blanca (white line) to the linea naranja (orange line). From there we transferred to the linea roja (red line) which brings you to El Alto. From there we took the linea plateada (grey line) along El Alto to the linea amarilla which came back down into La Paz. Then we went on the linea celeste (light blue line) one stop to transfer back to the white line where we were staying.
- It sounds like a lot but really it is so easy! Each line has about 2 or 3 stops and then ends. You will know it ends because the cable cars make a circle and go back the way you just came. When you get to the end of the line, the connecting line is right there. So you don’t even have to exit the station and find the next one.
- They made it super easy so the cable cars as well as stations are all color coded to the color line. So if you’re transferring from the orange line to the red line, you’ll see a red part of the building and then an orange part of the building. There are plenty of signs pointing to the way to go and then you’ll get on!
- It is 3 Bolivianos each ride or about 0.43 USD. For us to complete the loop above it was about 3 USD each. So while it was absolutely beautiful, it was also very cheap!
Wander Through The Witches Market
The Witches Market is an interesting market within the center of La Paz. You can find all sorts of things such as llama fetuses, potions and lots more believed to help people both physically and spiritually. The llama fetuses are buried under houses to honor Pachamama, or Mother Earth, and is believed to bring good luck to the land.
If you’re experiencing altitude sickness you can find a remedy or simply walk through and see a bit of the culture of the witch doctors or yatiri.
Travel Truth: We had read that they don’t like you taking pictures while walking through so we tried to be discreet photographing it without being disrespectful. Just something to keep in mind if you’re walking through!
Walk Down Calle Jaen
Calle Jaen, or Jaen Street, is a colorful cobblestone street located in the center of La Paz. It is an old colonial street featuring traditional bright and colorful houses. This street has been well preserved and now features bars and cafes, a hostel as well as five different museums.
Take a walk down this beautiful street and definitely bring your camera along! It is a few minutes walk from the Witches Market so you can easily do both in the same afternoon.
Explore El Alto Open Air Market
El Alto Open Air Market is just what it sounds like. It is an outside market located in El Alto on Thursdays and Sundays. We easily took Mi Teleferico to the linea roja (red line) and saw the market just a few steps away. Then we just hopped back on when we were ready to leave and continue our cable car ride.
The biggest market in Bolivia, the El Alto Market has literally everything you can think of. Car parts, batteries, clothes, shoes, electronics, and so much more. It continues on for farther than the eye can see with stall after stall of items being sold. If you happen to be in La Paz on Thursday or Sunday take some time to explore this massive market.
- We didn’t see any other tourists while walking through and felt completely fine the whole time. However, El Alto is not the safest part of the city so just be careful! We opted to take pictures with our iPhone and not take out our bigger Sony camera just to be on the safe side.
Read More: How to Get a Bolivian Visa as a US Citizen
So, Is La Paz, Bolivia Worth Visiting?
Yes, we think La Paz, Bolivia is definitely worth visiting! After spending time in this Andes city, the views alone are worth the trip. The location of La Paz is so unique making it one of the most beautiful cities we have ever seen! We saw almost no other tourists the whole time we were there which was a nice break from the more touristy parts of Peru. We also found it to be incredibly cheap which was another big win for us! We would definitely recommend giving La Paz a chance and planning a few days to explore before heading off to Uyuni or anywhere else.
