In this guide
La Paz looks one way on a map and another way in your legs. The center sits at the bottom of the canyon and almost everything interesting goes up or down. That is why it pays to plan by slope and by acclimatization, not just by a list of monuments.
This is a 1, 2 and 3 day plan, with real transfers, indicative third-party costs and what changes with the season. If you want background on the city (history, neighborhoods, two capitals), start with our general guide to La Paz.
The plan in a table
| Days | What you see | Level of effort |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cable car, historic center, Calle Jaén, Mercado de las Brujas | Low |
| 2 | Valle de las Ánimas, Valle de la Luna, Killi Killi, Sopocachi | Low to medium |
| 3 | Tiwanaku (70 km) or Chacaltaya (5,421 m) | Medium to high |
| 4 (optional) | Palca Canyon or Yungas (Coroico) | Medium to high |
High-altitude excursions can require 24 to 48 hours in La Paz beforehand. Do not put them on your first day. The full plan is in our guide to altitude sickness.
Day 1: the center and the cable car
Take the Red Line up to El Alto and look at the city from above. It is a few minutes in a cabin at about 4,000 m.
Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Murillo, the Teatro Municipal and Calle Jaén, with five museums.
Herbs, charms and Aymara ritual offerings a few streets from San Francisco.
Sopocachi has cafés and restaurants with views of Illimani.
The cable car. Mi Teleférico opened its first line on 30 May 2014 and now has 10 lines between La Paz and El Alto, with about 32 km of cable. It is not an attraction: it is public transport. A fare costs 3 bolivianos (about 0.25 USD at 12.02 BOB per USD, the official rate of 30 September 2026), a transfer 2, and there is a reduced fare for students and seniors. The Orange Line passes the Central Station, a building from 1930, and the Red Line climbs to El Alto, a rise of about 500 m.
The historic center. Plaza San Francisco, with its mestizo baroque church; Plaza Murillo, with the cathedral and the Government Palace; and Calle Jaén, a cobbled block with five museums and the Casa de Murillo, where the leader of the 1809 La Paz revolution lived. You can walk it in a couple of hours, with breaks.
Markets. Besides the Mercado de las Brujas, Avenida Buenos Aires and Avenida Tumusla have stalls selling food, clothes and spare parts. In El Alto, the 16 de Julio fair is held on Thursdays and Sundays and is one of the largest in South America.
This route fits into a guided excursion of 6 to 8 hours: La Paz in a day combines the center, the cable car and the southern valleys in a single outing.
Day 2: valleys and viewpoint
The two valleys are in the south of the city, about 30 to 40 minutes from the center depending on traffic.
- Valle de las Ánimas. Clay and sandstone spires explored on a guided walk of 1 h 15 min, with Illimani (6,438 m, the highest peak in the Cordillera Real) in the background on clear days.
- Valle de la Luna. A labyrinth of clay and sandstone with two paths, of 15 and 45 minutes, and a cactus garden. Entry for foreigners is around 15 bolivianos, about 1.2 USD at 12.02 BOB per USD (2023 to 2025 references; confirm at the ticket office).
- Killi Killi. The viewpoint from which the indigenous siege of the city was overseen in 1781; today it offers the best panoramic view of the La Paz valley.
Day 3: a full-day excursion
Here you choose according to what appeals to you most.
Tiwanaku. The pre-Inca ceremonial center about 70 km from La Paz, at 3,850 to 3,885 m depending on the source, with museums and the Puma Punku complex. It is 1 h 15 min by road and a visit of 3 to 4 hours on flat ground. All the details are in our guide to Tiwanaku.
Chacaltaya. About 30 km in a straight line and a little over an hour by road, the vehicle climbs to about 5,250 m and the 5,421 m summit is reached on foot in 30 to 60 minutes. It was a ski resort, now with no glacier. Keep this excursion for when you have spent at least two nights in La Paz; the details are in our guide to Chacaltaya.
Palca Canyon. A descent of about 8 km through a sandstone canyon, at between 3,200 and 3,500 m of altitude, with about 2 h 30 to 3 h of walking, plus a viewpoint (Alaxpacha) on the way back. It is a full day of 9 to 10 hours and demands some fitness.
If you are torn between two of these options, Chacaltaya + Valle de la Luna puts two very different landscapes into a single day.
Extra day: the Yungas and the Death Road
About three hours from La Paz along the Yungas road, the scenery shifts from frozen altiplano to cloud forest. The historic route is about 64 km long, drops about 3,500 m and was built in the 1930s, partly by Paraguayan prisoners from the Chaco War. Since 2006 there has been a paved alternative, and the old road is used mainly for mountain-bike descents.
It was so dangerous that, before the alternative road, an estimated 200 to 300 travelers fell off the cliff every year. Today it is normally ridden by bike with an agency, but accidents still happen: at least 18 cyclists have died since 1998.
Coroico, at the foot of the mountains, is the usual resting village.
Where to stay according to the plan
- Center or Sopocachi: the most practical if you want to walk between plazas, markets and the cable car. These areas are hilly but compact.
- Zona Sur (Calacoto, Obrajes): lower and milder, good if altitude is hard on you; it is close to the valleys and farther from the historic center.
- Near the cable car: it saves taxis if you will be moving a lot between La Paz and El Alto.
If it is your first night above 3,000 m, a room in a lower area helps you sleep better.
If it rains
From December to March the normal pattern is a clear sky in the morning and rain in the afternoon. Split your day in that order: cable car, valleys and viewpoints in the morning; Calle Jaén museums, covered markets and cafés afterwards. Excursions to summits such as Chacaltaya are postponed if visibility is poor.
Getting around
- Cable car: the most practical way between the center, El Alto and Sopocachi.
- Minibus and trufi: for southern neighborhoods and Mallasa; fixed fare per stretch.
- Taxi: agree the price beforehand or call a radio taxi. Short trips within the center rarely take more than 15 minutes.
- Excursions: they leave the city early; confirm the pickup point the day before.
Before you go
- Altitude: La Paz and El Alto lie between 3,250 and more than 4,000 m. Bring sunscreen and a jacket.
- Cash: small notes in bolivianos. With the floating exchange rate since 26 June 2026, compare before you change money.
- Safety: theft in markets and terminals; do not display valuables and be careful with fake police officers.
- Blockades: marches can cut streets and roads. Ask your lodging before a long excursion.
- Sundays and holidays: some museums close; confirm opening hours before you go.
Common mistakes
- Doing Chacaltaya on your day of arrival.
- Climbing long hills on foot with your travel backpack.
- Holding your phone in your hand in the market.
- Skipping lunch at 3,600 m: the tiredness adds to that of the altitude.
- Planning only two nights in La Paz with Tiwanaku, Chacaltaya and the valleys: it is too much.
Recommended tour : Tiwanaku and Puma Punku tour from La Paz
FAQ
How many days do you need to see La Paz?
Two days are enough for the historic center, the cable car, the markets and the Valle de la Luna. With three or four you add a full-day excursion, such as Tiwanaku or Chacaltaya, and respect your adaptation to the altitude. If you arrive from sea level, your first day should be gentle and short.
What can you do in La Paz on the day you arrive?
The most sensible thing is whatever demands least: ride the cable car to see the city from above, stroll along Calle Jaén and the plazas of the center and have an early dinner. Avoid long climbs, alcohol and heavy meals. Keep high-altitude excursions, such as Chacaltaya, for the third day.
Is the La Paz cable car a tourist attraction?
It is above all public transport: hundreds of thousands of people use it every day to get to work or school. A fare costs 3 bolivianos (about 0.25 USD at 12.02 BOB per USD, the official rate of 30 September 2026). For visitors it saves climbs and shows La Paz and El Alto from above without paying for an excursion.
Can you ride the Death Road?
Yes, by bike and with an agency. The historic Yungas road is about 64 km long and drops about 3,500 m from the altiplano towards the jungle. It is a dangerous road because it is narrow and runs along precipices, with several cyclists killed since 1998. Choose a company with inspected bikes, helmets and a guide, and do not ride it in the rain.
Is it safe to visit La Paz?
With basic precautions, yes. The usual risks are petty theft in markets, terminals and crowded transport, and fake police officers. Avoid showing your phone, do not walk alone at night in empty areas and use radio taxis or an app. Check with your lodging whether there are blockades or marches before heading out on long excursions.
