Photo: Parallelepiped09 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel guide for La Paz, Bolivia — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
La Paz is a stop in Bolivia, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Mi Teleférico cable car network, Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas), Plaza Murillo instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 30–80 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal
Weather
From highland cool to tropical warmth
Mi Teleférico cable car network
Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas)
Plaza Murillo
Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna)
San Francisco Church
Killi Killi viewpoint
Calle Jaén museums
Cholita wrestling (seasonal)
Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas)
Plaza Murillo
San Francisco Church
Killi Killi viewpoint
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Budget
USD 15–35
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 30–80
per person / day
Luxury
USD 90–150+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in La Paz, Bolivia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Typical mid-range for La Paz
Estimated total (USD)
$1,760
≈ $880 per person · $251 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $55/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match La Paz mid-range ground costs (budget 15–35 · mid 30–80 · luxury 90–150+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Local favourites
Chifa Puerta del Sol
Average Chinese. Not worth the 17-km drive out of the city.
El Consulado
Best brunch in town, gourmet food in beautiful surroundings. Wifi and garden. Working with the "New Andean Kitchen" and organic coffee. Clos
Angelo Colonial
A dark, bohemian cafe set in an old mansion decorated with scads of antiques. Serving Bolivian and mediocre international food. The best dri
Tambo Colonial
Lavish breakfast buffet for Bs. 20 (US$2.50), great international and local food from noon-23:00. Try the Lake Titicaca trout with Beni almo
Naira
Catering mostly to travelers (and guests of the hotel—see below), but a good sampling of Bolivian dishes. Expensive.
Alo Cubano
Best place to pretend you're back in the 1950s plotting a Pan-American revolution with Fidel and Che.
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Hotel la Valle
Great location, great prices (double with private bath (no TV), Bs. 90) and very friendly staff. Popular with Bolivians. Great place.
Perla Negra Hostal
24-hr hot showers, free pool table/ping pong/table football, free breakfast, free internet, Wi-Fi in all rooms and comfortable beds. Feels m
Inti Wasi
Cheap backpacker joint, but not as clean as you might expect. Nice staff, warm water, shared bathrooms with electrical showers, cheap laundr
Photos: Parallelepiped09, Sebastian Avendaño Maceda, Frank iart — via Wikimedia Commons
Top picks in La Paz include Mi Teleférico cable car network, Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas), Plaza Murillo, Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna). See the full list and itinerary on this La Paz travel guide.
The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal.
Plan at least 3 days in La Paz for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Popular stays in La Paz include Hotel la Valle, Perla Negra Hostal, Inti Wasi. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
On the ground in La Paz (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 15–35 per person per day, mid-range about 30–80, and luxury about 90–150+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in La Paz, Bolivia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
