This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2016. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
The altitude affected us as soon as we stepped off our flight in Bolivia.
It was 2015, and we’d just finished up a few weeks of travel in Mexico. The jump in altitude, from sea-level at Riviera Maya to 3,650 meters (nearly 12,000 feet) in La Paz, started affecting us immediately. Perched high in the Andes, this Bolivian city is known to cripple some travellers with altitude sickness. We were some of the lucky ones—our suffering limited to just a few days of mild headaches.
We downed our first cups of coca tea at the hostel, then were ready to begin our introductions to Bolivia. From the moment I stepped out in La Paz, I knew this city was going to be something special. It felt like a world of its own—narrow streets winding up slopes on the steep hills, market stalls bursting with colour, and walls of brick in terracotta hues stretching over the hillsides in every direction.
After having a few days to properly explore, I found La Paz to be a highly underrated city for travellers. This South American gem is one of the best places to visit in Bolivia and offers a little thrill and a lot of culture. Plus, the incredible La Paz day trips allow visitors to see landscapes that are completely unique to this part of the world.
Bolivia is a budget-friendly destination, too. While flights to South America can be pricey, once you arrive, your wallet will breathe a sigh of relief. You can expect to pay around half to two-thirds of what you’d normally spend on food, drinks, and sightseeing in La Paz compared to cities in the US or Western Europe.
If you’re ready to step off the beaten path and find out what exciting adventures Bolivia has to offer, here are all my top picks for the best things to do in La Paz!
Quick summary:
La Paz, Bolivia is a high-altitude city packed with adventure. In this post, I share the best things to do—from soaring cable car rides and otherworldly salt flats to local markets, traditional Cholitas, and the infamous Death Road—plus tips for staying healthy at 3,650m!
Recommended Tours & Tickets:
🌵 Uyuni Salt Flats Tour – Explore surreal landscapes, cactus islands, and a train graveyard
🚵 Death Road Mountain Biking Tour – An adrenaline-packed ride down one of the world’s most dangerous roads
🤼♀️ Cholita Wrestling Tickets – A one-of-a-kind cultural show you’ll never forget
🍽️ La Paz Food & Beer Tour – Taste your way through Mercado Lanza with local specialties
Things to do in La Paz, Bolivia:
Take the cable car for a ride in the sky
La Paz has the world’s highest and longest urban cable car system. The colorful gondolas of Mi Teleférico can whisk you across the city, and they offer jaw-dropping views of the urban sprawl.
We went straight for Estación Mirador (Mirador Station) on the Red Line, which we’d heard was the best spot for a La Paz cable car views. The panoramic vista of the city lived up to expectations! From this spot you can look out over La Paz and the surrounding Andes mountains, and see the towering Mount Illimani in the distance. Another great option is the Yellow Line which has views over the urban landscape as you ascend toward El Alto.
🚡 If you’re interested in getting a guided commentary while riding the cable cars, book a La Paz Cable Car Tour for a more comprehensive overview of the local metro system and hear about it’s importance for the residents of La Paz.
Visit the world’s largest salt flats
The sheer scale of the Uyuni Salt Flats is truly amazing and should be added to every Bolivia itinerary. We spent a whole day exploring the incredible landscape around Uyuni, including the photogenic Cactus Island in the middle of the flats and the spooky abandoned train graveyard. Experiences like this are something that you just can’t find anywhere else.
🌵 Travelling to Uyuni is a little time consuming as it generally involves an overnight bus, but it’s 100% worth the effort. We decided to book an Uyuni Tour from La Paz and would highly recommend making the effort to visit this unique area.
Mountain bike down the world’s most dangerous road
Death Road, which can be easily done in a day trip from La Paz, is both exhilarating and terrifying. Our mountain biking adventure on Death Road meant getting uncomfortably close to steep cliffs while trying to keep our handlebars steady on rough gravel. Despite the fear factor, this activity was a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend it as you get to see some beautiful parts of the Bolivian landscape along the way.
Despite its deadly reputation (at the time of our visit in 2015, around 250 people died on this road each year), most accidents involve cars or trucks trying to pass each other. Cycling is surprisingly safe—as long as you book a reputable tour.
🚵 We booked a Death Road Tour with Altitude Adventures, who were very professional and considered our group’s safety before anything else.
Spot the iconic Bolivian Cholitas
A fun La Paz activity is to spot Cholitas, which is fairly easy as these traditionally dressed Bolivian women are impossible to miss. With their tiny bowler hats, voluminous skirts, and long plaited hair, they’re a distinctive symbol of Bolivia’s culture. You’ll see them scattered all throughout the city.
🤼♀️ If you’re up for something truly unique, get some Cholita Wrestling tickets in La Paz (yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like!).
Get lost in the streets
I really loved the street art in La Paz. It was different to what I’d seen in American or European cities. The locals have added a Bolivian element, so you can expect to see Cholitas, Alpacas, and the brightly patterned fabrics of Bolivia all represented in the street art.
🎨 If you like, you can hop on a La Paz Artistic City Tour to have a guide show you all the best spots.
If you’re after a souvenir with a twist, head to the Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas). Here, you’ll find everything from mystical potions to dried llama fetuses (for good luck, apparently). Even if you’re not in the market for spell-casting supplies, wandering through this surreal bazaar is an experience in itself.
Taste the local delights
My vegetarian diet mde it somewhat difficult to find food in Bolivia, and it was also challenging to find anything healthy–Coca Cola practically owns Bolivia and they don’t exactly have a history of producing wholesome foods. Still, I managed to find an endless supply of avocados that were cheap, perfectly ripe, and readily available in street markets. Not at all upset about the fact that I practically lived off avocados and bread rolls while I was there.
One of the best La Paz attractions is Mercado Lanza, where you should go to try all the local fares. Sample a hearty bowl of sopa de maní (peanut soup), or nibble on salteñas, Bolivia’s answer to empanadas, stuffed with savory fillings like beef, chicken, or cheese. Don’t forget to try api, a sweet, warm purple corn drink that pairs perfectly with buñuelos (fried dough treats).
🍽️ If you’re interested in seeing the market with a local expert, a La Paz Food and Beer Tour will have you visiting all the best spots in Mercado Lanza with food and drink samples included.
Explore Bolivia’s otherworldly landscapes
I was totally blown away by the natural beauty surrounding La Paz. For jaw-dropping scenery, you can go hiking in El Palmar Integrated Management Natural Area which also marks the start of the Death Road descent through the mountains. The high-altitude lakes and plains in this area are truly stunning.
🌕 Just 10km from La Paz, you’ll find Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), where erosion has sculpted bizarre rock spires that make you feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet. A Moon Valley Day Tour is an easy La Paz day trip and well worth it for the surreal scenery.
Drink loads of coca tea
Most travellers heading to La Paz will suffer some form of altitude sickness. Coca tea helps. This local brew is made from coca leaves (the same plant used to make cocaine, though the tea won’t get you high!) and it’s a staple for travellers who need some adjusting to the thin air.
Our hostel offered free coca tea in the common area, and we helped ourselves whenever we desired a cup! It quickly became a part of our daily routine over the next 3 weeks as we travelled through the mountainous areas of Bolivia and Peru.
We also took altitude medication before our trip, and combined with the coca tea, our symptoms were reduced to a mild headache for a few days. Some people in our hostel weren’t so lucky—they were completely bedridden. So if you’re heading to La Paz, remember to take it easy and drink up that coca tea!
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