14 Things To Do in La Paz Bolivia You Can’t Miss

La Paz is breathtaking because of its landscape and how it’s built. The city has two main sections: El Alto (the upper part) and the lower center, nestled inside a giant natural bowl. You’ll spend most of your time in the center, but thanks to the city’s unique topography, there are many incredible viewpoints all around. These spots are perfect for taking photos of the nearly 800,000 inhabitants and admiring the city’s dramatic skyline.

Best viewpoints in La Paz:

• Kili Kili (near the center)
• Montículo (near Plaza Avaroa)
• Sallahumani Viewpoint (El Alto) / Mirador Ballivián

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Because of the steep hills, walking long distances in La Paz can be exhausting. For that reason, over the past decades the government has built an extensive cable car system across the city. It’s not just for tourists; locals use it every day to commute, go shopping, go out, or even for dates.

You can do a full cable car circuit in one day, but it might get repetitive. Instead, I recommend choosing a few lines and combining them with sightseeing:

• Yellow, Silver, and Red lines: to reach El Alto, visit the Mercado 16 de Julio, and watch Cholita wrestling
• Blue and Green lines: to see central La Paz, head to the southern districts, and continue your trip to Valle de la Luna

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In most big South American cities, you’ll find walking tours, a great way to explore on your first day, learn about local culture, and hear interesting stories. In La Paz, I joined City Tour Red Cap, an excellent experience full of fascinating tales.

From what I’ve seen, there are no fully free walking tours here. The Red Cap tour is cheap on GetYourGuide, but remember they expect tips; this is their main income (the online price only covers fees and organization).

• La Paz: Half Day Walking with Red Cap City Tour

Use my code HORIZONHUGO5 on GetYourGuide and get 5% off your booking.

If you do a walking tour, you’ll probably pass the Witches’ Market briefly, but it’s worth returning to take your time. Step inside the shops and see all the curious spiritual items they sell. Are they real witches? Can they cast a spell to make someone fall in love with you? Maybe. Whether you believe it or not, remember that locals take these traditions seriously, so be respectful.

The streets surrounding the Witches’ Market also have cozy cafés and souvenir shops. It’s a great area to wander peacefully for a morning or afternoon, and one of the more relaxed places to visit in La Paz.

I went by myself once and had time to discuss with one “witch.” She was very nice! She was trying to sell me a lot of things, and so as not to make her angry, and I guess to get better luck in life, I bought some amulets. I didn’t want to get a spell put on my back!

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El Alto is the highest part of La Paz. It’s not very touristy but extremely popular with locals. On Thursdays and Sundays, one of the largest street markets in South America takes place here, spreading across countless streets around the Red Line cable car station, “El Mercado 16 de Julio.” Vendors sell everything: electronics, clothes, food, antiques, even car parts.

Go in the morning, as sunset comes early here. If you visit in the afternoon, you can combine it with an evening at Cholita wrestling, one of the top attractions in La Paz, Bolivia.

A must see among the things to do in La Paz. Wrestling is a big deal in Latin America (especially in Mexico), but here it’s unique because of the “Cholitas,” women in traditional Andean dresses who wrestle as a show of empowerment and strength.

It’s both fun and impressive to see them in action. You can watch matches at:

• A tourist oriented venue in central La Paz (about 100 BOB)
• A more local spot in El Alto (about 50 BOB)

Or go with a transfer via GetYourGuide:

• La Paz: Cholitas Wrestling Ticket & Transfer

La Paz’s landscape is so unusual that there’s a place called “Valley of the Moon” because Neil Armstrong is said to have remarked it looked like the lunar surface. This small park offers a 40 minute walk among surreal rock spires, perfect for photography. If you’re lucky, you might hear a local musician playing the flute from one peak.

If you’re short on time, you might prefer the even more spectacular Valle de las Ánimas.

• La Paz Private City Tour with Cable Car & Moon Valley Visit

For me, this is the most impressive place among all the attractions in La Paz, Bolivia. In the dry season, you can hike between the giant rock spires; in the rainy season, the valley turns into a river. At the top, there are small mines where locals extract Bolivian amethyst, a gemstone with stunning purple and yellow tones.

The views of southern La Paz from here are breathtaking, and walking among the towering formations makes you feel incredibly small.

• La Paz: Animas Valley & Palca Canyon

One of the most famous adventures near La Paz. The “Death Road” got its name from the high number of fatal accidents that used to happen here when trucks drove in both directions on its narrow cliffs.

Today, it’s popular for downhill mountain biking. The ride offers spectacular views of changing landscapes, and most of it is a long descent, not very physically demanding, but potentially slippery when wet. In my group, a few people fell, and one even ended up in the hospital, so caution is important. This one sits among the most extreme adventures I’ve done in South America.

I went with Gravity Bolivia, which offers high quality bikes. At the end, we visited the animal sanctuary Senda Verde, home to rescued tapirs, monkeys, bears, and even a jaguar, the only company doing this.

• Camino de la Muerte with Gravity Bolivia

Don’t risk your trip without cover, get your EKTA insurance sorted before you leave.

About an hour from La Paz, Tiwanaku is the most important archaeological site in Bolivia. This UNESCO World Heritage site showcases the ingenuity of pre Inca civilizations, with stone structures and sculptures that are still well preserved, offering insights into their advanced knowledge of architecture and astronomy.

• From La Paz: Tiwanaku Ruins with Guide

Standing at 6,088m, Huayna Potosí is one of the most iconic peaks you can see from La Paz, and you can climb it. It’s known as one of the cheapest +6000m climbs in the world, with 3 day trips starting at around $150 USD.

The expedition includes training in alpine techniques and the climb itself. You should prepare physically, especially your legs, and be well acclimatized before attempting it. Climbing the Huayna Potosi was my favorite activity in La Paz, both for the challenge and the incredible sense of achievement.

• From La Paz: 3 Day Adventure to Climb the Huayna Potosí

In the same mountain area as Huayna Potosí, Charquini is a one day trek leading to a glacier and the stunning “Emerald Lagoon,” its waters crystal clear, flowing directly from the ice above. It was the first glacier I’d ever seen, and while small, it’s still spectacular. Ideal for photos that will make your friends jealous.

• Trek Group to Charquini and Emerald Lagoon

Locals love escaping to Copacabana for a weekend away. This small town on the shores of Lake Titicaca offers stunning views, boat trips to Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, and visits to Inca temples. You can even stay overnight on Isla del Sol. Don’t miss the freshly caught trucha frita (fried trout).

If you can’t allow 2 to 3 days to visit Copacabana, you can still do it in a day:

• La Paz: Full Day Trip to Copacabana and Isla del Sol

This place looks like it’ll sell out soon, so reserve it on Booking.com now.

On the opposite side from Lake Titicaca, the mountains gradually give way to the lush green valleys of the Yungas. The town of Coroico is a popular weekend destination for its warm climate and beautiful scenery.

Coroico is also the endpoint of the Death Road, so if you’ve just done the bike ride, you can spend a couple of relaxing days here afterward.

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