La Paz is one Bolivia’s capitals (the other is Sucre) and it’s a city where most travelers will stop while passing through Bolivia. While there are so many interesting day trips from La Paz, I also think it’s worth spending a little time in the city itself. Nearly one million people call this place home and there are some interesting sites within the city itself.
So, I put together this itinerary for one day in La Paz to help first time travelers plan their time.
One Day in La Paz, Bolivia
This is not the only way to spend your time, but it’s what I’d recommend to first time travelers to La Paz. I spent a week in the city, so I took my favorites from my time and combined it into one itinerary.
Early Morning – City Center/San Francisco Church
Start your day near the San Francisco Church. It’s near the center of the city and where you’ll be wanting to spend most of your time (aside for taking a tour in El Alto), so stop by to get your first glimpse of central La Paz.
Along the church, you’re sure to find vendors lined up selling all sorts of things. There’s religious items, treats, and even more. Stalls like this exist, not just in La Paz, but all over Bolivia, so get used to seeing them.
Also worth seeing in this area is the San Francisco Church. You can see the church from the outside at any point during your time in La Paz, but you can only go inside at certain points during the day. Typically, these times are in the morning, so stop by and visit the inside of the church before it closes for the day.
Don’t stress too much about exploring everything in the city center. We’ll be back later.
Morning (10:00 am) – El Alto Chotel Tour
When I designed this La Paz itinerary, I wanted to come up with a way for you to explore the city completely independently. However, I took a unique walking tour from La Paz and I really enjoyed it, so I’m including it on this itinerary.
Of course, there are walking tours you can do within La Paz itself, but my recommendation is to visit El Alto. Years ago, La Paz and El Alto were one giant city, but have since split into two separate cities. Tourists typically stick to La Paz (unless visiting the famous market in El Alto), but El Alto feels completely different.
It is possible to visit El Alto on your own, but I think that a tour can give you so much more insight. Specifically, I recommend this tour of the Cholets. These are a new type of architecture style that is really only found here in El Alto and are a unique combination of fancy mansion and commercial business. While you can just walk and see them from the outside, I loved my tour.
On a guided tour, you’ll meet in central La Paz before taking the cable car up to El Alto. From there, your guide will show you where the shamans perform their rituals before going on to explain the relatively recent history of the cholets. As you move through El Alto on public transportation with your guide, you’ll see even more cholets and actually have an opportunity to go inside one.
If you have an interest in architecture or urban planning, you have to take this tour. Even if you don’t have an interest in one of those things, I think this tour is still worth it. You’ll ride the cable cars (a must do in La Paz) and learn a lot about this city. Plus, you’ll get off the tourist path for a few hours. I didn’t see any other gringos while I was on my walking tour.
Lunch
Take a break from exploring and grab some lunch. There’s no shortage of places to eat in the city center, but if you venture just a little bit beyond, you’ll find plenty of local places.
For a budget option, try to find a menu del dia. These lunch specials typically include an appetizer (usually soup), a main dish, and a drink for one low price, making it perfect for those traveling on a budget.
Wherever you eat is up to you.
Afternoon – Exploring the City Center
After lunch, the rest of the afternoon can be spent exploring the city center. It’s up to you how you want to do this, but there are a few places that I recommend you visit. You should have already visited the San Francisco Church this morning, but there’s more to see.
Wander through the small Witches’ Market to see where people buy the necessary items for their ritual. At the Rodriguez Market, you can walk through a traditional Bolivian Market. If you’re stocking up on fruits to keep in your hotel room, this is a great place to visit. However, you’ll find way more than just fruits and vegetables as the market feels like it extends forever.
Plaza Sucre is a nice square, but is also home to the infamous San Pedro Prison. The stories that have come from this prison are absolutely fascinating and it’s hard to believe that the prison is right there along one side of this beautiful square. And there’s also Plaza Murillo which is another nice square, but is surrounded by government buildings instead of a prison.
Of course you’ll also find museums, but I feel like there’s so much to see if you just get out and explore on foot.
If you’re unsure of exploring on your own, or you just want to learn more, I can recommend Red Cap Tours. This is the same company who did your tour in El Alto, but they also have an option right in the city center that runs twice per day. While the tour comes with a small cost of $3, this just covers the basic overhead fees of running the tour and you should treat this tour like you would any tips based walking tour.
Evening – Traveler’s Choice
Whether you want to keep exploring the city or relax in your hotel room, it’s up to you how you spend the rest of your evening in La Paz.
Is One Day in La Paz, Bolivia Enough?
If you’re just trying to explore the city, I think that one day in La Paz is enough. You won’t see everything, but you’ll see enough to get a good overview of the city.
More Things to Do in La Paz, Bolivia
There is more to do in La Paz besides what I have mentioned here. One of the most popular activities that I skipped is a Cholita Wrestling Show. It’s popular among so many travelers, but I didn’t quite make it to a show during my time in La Paz.
In addition to the wrestling show, you’ll also find museums and other sites in La Paz.
Day Trips from La Paz, Bolivia
My main reason for staying as long as I did in La Paz was to take advantage of the day trips from the city. There’s just so many interesting things to do.
Cycling Death Road is by far the most popular option, but you also have plenty of hiking. Charquini Lagoon was my favorite, but Chacaltaya (often paired with Moon Valley) also had some nice views. And that’s just the starting point!
How to Get to La Paz, Bolivia
As the major city in Bolivia, La Paz is easily connected with the rest of the country. In any bus station you walk into, you’ll hear “La Paz” shouted at you. So it’s pretty easy to find buses to La Paz and from La Paz. Depending on the destination, you may need to take an overnight bus. Uyuni, Potosi, and Sucre all require an overnight bus.
La Paz also has an airport, but all of the travelers I met in Bolivia traveled via bus. Internal flights exist within the country, but the cost of these flights makes the buses a much cheaper option.
How to Get Around La Paz, Bolivia
I walked through La Paz and had no issues. I’ll admit that some of the walks were long (my hotel was 20 minutes from the center), but they are doable.
For public transportation, there are buses moving throughout the city. If you plan to use one of the buses, I highly recommend talking to your accommodation to get advice. Even locals seemed to be confused about where exactly the buses were going and often had to ask the driver.
Taxis are also prevalent throughout the city and a way to cover some of those longer distances. While the Uber app showed drivers, I didn’t have any luck actually calling an Uber and used a taxi when I needed it.
Final Thoughts
While La Paz isn’t my favorite city in Bolivia (that title goes to Sucre), it’s still an interesting city to explore. Despite its touristy areas, it still feels more lived in and “real” than so many other capital cities that I’ve visited. Many people I talked to loved La Paz, so visit and experience it for yourself. Whether you have one day in La Paz or a full week, there’s plenty to see in this city.
Continue Your Adventure
La Paz: In the capital city of La Paz, there’s no shortage of day trips including hiking at Chacaltaya Mountain, Charquini Lagoon, and Moon Valley. For adrenaline, bike down Death Road.
Bolivia: Near Sucre, you can hike at the Maragua Crater. Halfway between Uyuni and Sucre is Potosí, which was once one of the richest cities in the world. In the very north, visit Copacabana and Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca. And lastly, no trip to Bolivia would be complete without visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats. Learn even more in my Bolivia Travel Guide.
