La Paz Travel Tips for First-Timers
La Paz, Bolivia: Travel Tips for First-Timers (2026)
Before you go: Bolivia in 2026. La Paz is open and welcoming, but plan around two 2026 realities. The boliviano floated in mid-2026 and its value is still moving, so check a live currency converter rather than trusting any fixed rate, and carry some small US dollars as backup. Occasional road blockades or strikes can briefly close routes, so keep overland plans flexible and check locally before longer trips. Both issues eased through the second half of the year, but conditions shift, so check the latest before you fly.
Altitude comes first
La Paz sits around 3,640m, and El Alto airport, where you’ll land, is higher still at roughly 4,060-4,150m. Altitude sickness is genuinely common here, not a rare complication. Take your first day easy: skip alcohol and strenuous activity, drink plenty of water, and try mate de coca, the standard local remedy. Diamox is the medical option if you’ve discussed it with a doctor beforehand, and anyone with heart, lung, or pregnancy concerns should get advice before traveling.
Entry requirements
US citizens have been visa-free since 1 December 2025; UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian travelers already had 90 days visa-free. New for everyone: SIGEMIG online pre-registration is now required before you travel, regardless of visa status. If you’re continuing on to Bolivia’s Amazon or Yungas lowlands, check yellow-fever vaccination requirements too.
Money
The boliviano floated in mid-2026 and the rate is still settling, so always check a live converter rather than relying on a number you saw in an old article. Bolivia remains a cash-heavy economy with a lingering US-dollar shortage, so carry small, clean US dollars as backup and don’t count on ATMs everywhere. Bolivia overall is genuinely cheap by South American standards, and a 10% tip is standard at sit-down restaurants.
Getting around safely
Use registered radio taxis only, booked by phone or through your hotel. The fake-police scam and express-kidnapping risk are real, specific threats here, especially near tourist areas like the Witches’ Market: never hand documents or valuables to a street “plainclothes officer,” and never get into an unmarked or hailed street taxi. Ride-hailing app coverage is limited in Bolivia, so radio taxis are the safe default. Mi Teleférico, the cable car network, requires a fare card, since turnstiles don’t accept cash.
A few cultural facts worth getting right
La Paz is Bolivia’s seat of government, not its constitutional capital; that’s Sucre. Coca leaf, chewed or brewed as tea, is legal and central to Andean culture, entirely distinct from cocaine, though it’s illegal to export and can trigger a positive drug test abroad. The Witches’ Market is living Aymara belief, not a novelty stop, so ask before photographing vendors. And tap water isn’t safe to drink anywhere in the country.
Read more: our main La Paz guide rounds out where to go once you’ve got the practicalities sorted.