La Paz
Bolivia · Country profile
La Paz is the de facto capital of Bolivia and effectively the highest big city in the world, a dramatic, dizzying metropolis that fills the bowl of a deep Andean canyon, its red-brick districts climbing the slopes and its suburbs rising above four thousand metres of altitude. The historic centre holds the colonial churches, the busy markets of the Witches and the modern boulevards, and the aerial cable cars of the recent era glide over the whole city, linking the canyon floor to the high plateau of El Alto. The city is the starting point of the whole Bolivian journey, the gateway to the salt flat, the jungle and the highlands, and its altitude, its colour and its sheer vertigo are part of the experience. Chaotic, breathtaking and endlessly fascinating, La Paz is the strangest city on the continent.
About La Paz
La Paz is a city in Bolivia. The city's documented population is around 823,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +591. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: El Alto International Airport.
The Canyon, the Cable Cars and the Streets of the Heights
La Paz is a city of extraordinary setting and altitude, filling a canyon and climbing its walls in a chaos of brick, cable and market stall. The old colonial core, the witch markets, the museums and the plazas give the history, and the modern cable car system gives one of the great urban rides of the world. The city takes a couple of days to even begin to acclimatise to, and the visitor should take the altitude seriously before any full itinerary. It is the perfect base of the whole country, with the altiplano, the salt flat and the jungle all within a day’s reach. Rough-edged, warm and profoundly Andean, La Paz is an experience that starts with the breath and never quite settles.
The Altitude, the Dry Season and the Markets of the Witches
The altitude is the whole issue: take the first day or two easy, drink plenty of water and consider the local remedies of the coca tea, which the country treats as a traditional staple rather than a narcotic. The dry season of the winter, from May to October, is the best window, when the skies are blue and the days are cool. The city is walkable but the hills are merciless, so the taxis and the cables should not be begrudged in the budget. The currency is the boliviano and cash remains useful in the markets. The museums and the markets have their own hours and their own rhythms, and the safety of the city is a matter of the usual big-city care, especially at night.
The Mi Teleferico, the Valley of the Moon and the Cables of the Canyon
The cable car system of the city, the Mi Teleférico, is the great new transport and the best sight of all, and a full loop of its lines gives an hour of the finest urban views in the world. The witch market sells the dried llamas and the herbal secrets of the Andean tradition, and the museums of the gold and the history hold the country’s treasures. The main square, the Murillo, and the congress and the cathedral frame the civic heart. The famous valley of the Moon at the city edge, a strange eroded badland, is an easy half-day, and the high-altitude views from the rim of the canyon are the end-of-trip memory. The whole city is a theatre of altitude, colour and the indigenous life of the Andes.
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- Country
- Bolivia
- Population
- 823,000
- Coordinates
- -16.5133, -68.1923
- Capital
- Sucre
- Region
- South America
- Currency
- Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +591
- Country code
- BO
Getting to La Paz
Airports we list for La Paz:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Bolivia
Other cities we cover in Bolivia:
Frequently asked questions
Is La Paz the capital of Bolivia?
No — the capital of Bolivia is Sucre.
What currency do I need in La Paz?
The local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB). Languages spoken in Bolivia include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Bolivia?
The international dialling code for Bolivia is +591.
Which airport should I fly into for La Paz?
El Alto International Airport (LPB) is the airport we list for La Paz.
How far is La Paz from the nearest airport?
La Paz is about 552 km from Viru Viru International Airport.
Flying out of La Paz? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.