5 Majestic Best Hikes Around La Paz, Bolivia You Cannot Miss

The department of La Paz is one of 9 departments of Bolivia, located in the northwest of the country, bordering Peru and Chile to the west.

The department of La Paz is a blend of beautiful culture and nature. Lake Titicaca, pre-Inca ruins, pre-Columbian roads and the majestic peaks of the Andes are all located here.

And here’s where we also find a tropical paradise with protected areas and Natural Reserves, which extend from the tropical valleys (Los Yungas) to the Amazon region, shared between the department of La Paz with the department of Beni.

Altitude in La Paz, Bolivia

The city of La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world that’s located at an altitude of approximately 3,650m. Since it looks like a pit, the city consists of ups and downs whereas, in certain areas, it’s more than 3,800m high.

This is where you’ll find yourself surrounded by mountains and snow, especially during winter. At 6,438 metres, the highest snowy peak of La Paz and the second highest in Bolivia, Illimani mountain, stands out in the sky imposingly.

Weather in La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz is also known for its changeable weather. In one day, you can experience rain, wind and sun, so you should be prepared for it at any time of the day.

December to February – La Paz in Summer is also when it rains a lot because it’s the rainy season in Bolivia.

March to May – The beginning of Autumn is the perfect time to hike because after the rainy season ,the landscape is full of wildflowers and grass, although watch out for strong winds on some days.

June to August – Winter is dry and cold, but it can be really hot at noon. There may also be occasional rainy days.

September to November – Surprisingly, the hottest season in La Paz is in Spring. Even if it says 21°C, it can be really hot because of the altitude.

hence, I highly advise you to use sun protection every time you step outdoors regardless of the season. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 50 and wear a hat or cap, as sunburn can hit you when you least expect it.

Getting To La Paz, Bolivia

To get to Laz Paz, you can get by plane or bus depending on where you’re coming from.

By plane

There are flights from almost everywhere. If you’re coming internationally, El Alto International Airport is where you’ll touch down. This is situated in the city of El Alto. You can then take a taxi to La Paz city because both cities are connected.

By bus

Some travellers who visit many countries in South America usually cross the border by bus.

A popular route is to visit Titicaca Lake from the Peru side and then cross over to the Bolivia side.

If you arrive in another part of Bolivia, you can find buses to La Paz city from every department.

Choose the most convenient option for you and enjoy this beautiful and unique city along with its mountains, views, culture and people.

Getting Around La Paz, Bolivia

Take into account that traffic is quite heavy in this city since there are no large avenues and the city is very busy especially in the morning, when there tends to be a lot of movement downtown.

To help with traffic and to take advantage of the hills that this city is built on, cable cars were built as a means of transportation for its population, thus connecting important points, such as the neighbouring city of El Alto where the airport is located. El Alto is also where you can also enjoy the unique view of the city.

5 Best Hikes Around La Paz, Bolivia

One of the most popular activities to do in La Paz is hiking, since the city of La Paz is surrounded by mountains as mentioned above.

On this occasion, here are some fun, easy hikes that can be done near the city, such as the Muela del diablo, Valle de las Animas, Valle de las Agujas, the Auquisamaña grove and Valle Escondido.

1. Muela Del Diablo (Devil’s Tooth)

A hill near the city called Muela del Diablo because of its shape, this hill of 300 metres high is located at an altitude of 3,825 metres above sea level.

The place was named after a legend about a fight between angels and demons; when an angel hit a demon very hard and a tooth fell out. This tooth became the hill. In addition, it’s said that goblins inhabit the place.

The journey to the summit passes through a small town called Chiaraque. The duration is approximately 1.5 hours to 2 hours to reach the top of the hill. The distance is approximately 4 km one way. To return, it’s necessary to take the same road.

This La Paz hike is perfect if you enjoy nature, especially in the spring and summer where you can find very varied flora and fauna. As for wildlife, if you’re lucky, you can see vizcachas and various types of birds.

Directions to the hike:

You can reach the place by taking a minibus to the Pedregal area from the centre of the city.

Alternatively, if you use the cable car, you should arrive at the green cable car station in Irpavi. Then, take a minibus or cab to the mentioned area. From there, go up on foot passing through a cemetery.

This is the best-known way which you can get there on your own, but there are also other ways for which you need a guide, especially if you don’t speak Spanish.

Location

2. Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley)

A little touristic and not so well-known place in the south area of the city of La Paz, there are rock formations of different colours and shapes.

The tour shows a canyon at the beginning, and walking up, you can see the variety of colours in the earth through minerals, colours such as white, red and brown.

From the entrance to the highest part, it takes about 1 hour; about 2 km of walking, and it’s located at an altitude of approximately 3,700 metres.

If you’re lucky and have a good observation, you can find Vizcachas.

Directions to the hike:

To get to the place you must take a minibus to the Pedregal area from the centre of the city. 

Alternatively, if you use the cable car, you must get to the green cable car station in Irpavi and then a minibus or cab that goes to the mentioned area. Take into account that this valley is not well known and may be confused with a road that connects to Muela del Diablo, so a guide is recommended to get there.

Location

3. Valle De Las Animas (Souls’ Valley)

This is a unique place near the city, located in the southern zone, a landscape full of gigantic rock formations that seem otherworldly especially when there’s fog, called Valle de las Animas or “souls by the noises” as it’s called.

Rumour has it that you can hear the wailing of souls in pain. You’ll sometimes also hear rumours of people seeing human shadows. In reality, though, this is caused by the passing of the wind in the middle of the rocks.

As for other longer trails that divert from here, a guide is recommended as it’s necessary to know the right way to continue. Plus, there are fences in some parts of the trail to keep the local sheep or cows around there. They close these passes so that their animals don’t graze further than they should.

Generally, these people don’t get upset if you pass. Some may ask you for money but they don’t know any English and some barely understand a little Spanish, so a guide not only shows you the right way, they can also help with any communication issue that may arise, such as running into locals. They can also provide alternative options in case there have been landslides in certain sections of the trail, which can happen during the rainy season.

In this place, there are several routes for hiking from 30 minutes to 5 hours, since there are several entrances to it, from the beginning you can appreciate the landscape of this place.

In one of the entrances, there’s a viewpoint only 30 minutes walk up and also routes of 2 to 3 hours for more experienced hikers, one of the most difficult routes is 5 hours which reaches an altitude of 4,200 metres above sea level approximately, but it allows you to see different landscapes of the city, pampas, mountains and rock formations that look like mazes.

This place is highly recommended for people who wish to train for longer hikes outside the city, such as to Pico de Austria or Huayna Potosi.

Directions to the hike:

To get there, it’s necessary to take a minibus to Ovejuyo and stay at the corner of Inca street with the main avenue, from there, you can use Google Maps to guide you. Another entrance is on 63 Chaquipampa street, the area before Ovejuyo.

There are other routes, but it’s best to stick with either of these 2 options.

At the first entrance, it’s possible to go without a guide and go in because it’s a single round trip, the bad thing is that sometimes there are residents who come to charge for passing through there, indicating that it’s for the maintenance of the road, which should not happen, but to avoid problems with the locals you can give USD 0.70/ 5 bolivianos.

Location

4. Bosquecillo De Auquisamaña (Auquisamaña’s Grove)

This place is a protected area in the municipality of La Paz, located in the southern micro district, between the Huañajahuira and Llojeta-Obrajes watersheds. The area has areas for camping, hiking and wildlife observation.

The entrance is in the area of Auquisamaña. As the walks are not very long, reaching the highest point only takes 30 to 45 minutes. However, there are several sections that have collapsed in the rain, so proceed with care.

Directions to the hike:

To get there, it’s necessary to take a trufi (public transportation) that goes to this area, which is located on 21st street of Calacoto in the southern area. Alternatively, you can go by cab.

Location

5. Valle De Las Agujas (Valley Of The Needles)

This is located in the area of Huayllani, passing the area of Achumani, the rock formations found there are similar to the valley of the animals, but these are thinner so they have a needle-like shape and hence the name.

The entrance is through a ravine in the middle of eucalyptus trees, which is located on the right-hand side of a river that is being embanked.

It’s advisable to have some experience in hiking because the road is uphill and is somewhat demanding, take into account that it’s easy to get lost because to climb to the top you have to go through a maze of canyons with narrow and small roads so is advisable to go with a guide or a local who knows the way.

The summit is located approximately 4000 metres above sea level from which you can enjoy the view of La Paz and its surrounding mountains, in addition to observing the “rocky llama”.

Well, they say it was carved by nature and others by the hand of man, but I leave that to your discretion when you see it yourself.

The hike lasts approximately 4 hours and to return you must take the same trail, although there’s an alternative trail that goes to Chasquipamapa near Calle 60. You’ll need a guide for this as the route isn’t well known.

Directions to the hike:

To get to the place, you can take a minibus to Achumani but that goes to Huayllani street 1 or you can take the Puma Katari from the bus stop on Mexico street, a few blocks from the student’s square, which will leave you in the same place.

Location

Important Things To Know Before Hiking In La Paz, Bolivia

There are some things to take into account when hiking in La Paz, which I mention below:

1. Even if you have experience in hiking, don’t forget that this city is at an altitude of approximately 3,600 metres above sea level, so its mountains are higher than that. As such, any hike will be more demanding than normal.

2. The weather as mentioned before can be very changeable in a single day, so you should check the weather forecast to equip yourself with the right attire.

3. Since the altitude is higher, sunlight is very intense in La Paz, no matter the season of the year. It can cause skin burns, especially in the middle of the day when you’re out for prolonged periods. I can’t stress this enough!

4. It’s possible to do some hikes without a guide, but is recommended to have one or go with a local who knows these places for safety.

I got to know the sweetest girl, Sarah Uribe, whose passion is in showing foreigners around her city. She’s from La Paz and she was very helpful in taking us around some of the popular hikes mentioned above. You can reach her at Whatsapp at +59170552790 or on Instagram at @azulkaori.

How To Prepare For Hiking In La Paz, Bolivia

The best thing to do for those who wish to hike in peace is to acclimatize to the altitude a few days before the activity, as the altitude can cause certain discomforts for some, such as headaches, dizziness, vomiting or extreme tiredness.

For altitude sickness, it’s good to drink mate de coca or chew the leaves (not swallow them!). If you get a serious case of it, you have the soroche pills that help a lot. You can also get them online in advance. Ultimately, if it’s very serious and you’re going on some serious hiking, it might be necessary to obtain oxygen.

Even if you have no symptoms, it’s better to have a softer diet for the first few days to help your body acclimatize.

For any of the hikes mentioned above, it’s always necessary to wear a hat or cap, sunscreen of at least factor 50, sunglasses and hiking boots as some trails require them. Bring plenty of water and a light snack (fruit is recommended), a windbreaker and depending on the season, a rain jacket.

Best Hotels To Stay In La Paz, Bolivia

In La Paz you can find several options for accommodation according to price, quality and location. Here are some examples depending on your hotel budget.

Luxury Hotels In La Paz, Bolivia

The Grand La Paz Experience Hotel Boutique

Stay in an elegant suite at the luxurious Grand La Paz Experience Hotel Boutique in La Paz, complete with closet space, a desk area, a private bathroom and a balcony among their beautiful surroundings.

The property features express check-in and check-out, non-smoking rooms with free WiFi throughout; it also has a shared lounge where you can meet other travellers or spend some quiet time reading one of their many magazines available inside!

You’ll be able to enjoy some time relaxing on its terrace for a nice sunset after exploring the town.

Met Hotel

Stay in style at this luxury hotel close to San Miguel, the up-and-coming cosmopolitan neighbourhood. The Met offers 5-star accommodations with a restaurant, an indoor pool, a fitness centre and a sauna included!

You’ll be able to enjoy city views from each room as well as access 24-hour front desk service that’s available on-site or order food via room service when you’re too tired after exploring all day long.

We recommend their buffet breakfasts which include everything you could desire, including meats, cheeses, juices, eggs, coffee, tea etc., but if there’s nothing listed you fancy, they also offer à la carte options every morning.

Mid-range Hotels In La Paz, Bolivia

Anami Hotel Boutique

The Anami Hotel Boutique is the perfect place to stay if you’re travelling on a budget and looking for somewhere central to stay.

You’ll find plenty of great restaurants and shopping centres as well as attractions like zoos or museums in this area.

We highly recommend their excellent breakfast buffet which includes options such as Eggs Benedict among others, all at very affordable rates too!

Patio de Piedra Hotel Boutique

The Patio de Piedra Hotel Boutique is a great place to stay in La Paz. It’s located just off the famous San Francisco Square, and within walking distance of all that downtown has to offer.

Free WiFi access makes it easy for you to while away your time on the go, whether you’re here for business or leisure. There are also some rooms equipped with seating areas if you need to work.

The staff at this hotel will ensure any requests made by guests shines through.

Budget Hotels In La Paz, Bolivia

Hotel Naira

Hotel Naira is a budget hotel in La Paz, Bolivia. It’s located at the foot of real mountains and one block from The Witches’ Market, perfect for those who want to experience country-style rooms with large windows and patios while staying close to some of La Paz’s attractions!

All guest room amenities include cable TV, a private bathroom plus a small dining table.

Hostal Iskanwaya

Hoster Iskanwaya in La Paz has free WiFi and offers accommodations close to the popular market Mercado Rodríguez, with rooms fitted out for your comfort as well as TV channels available on demand through cable or DSL Internet connection.

There are shops at the property where you may purchase any items needed before leaving; however, there’re plenty of retail outlets nearby too!

If you work online (aka are a digital nomad), I like staying in Selina. It’s a great place to meet other fellow nomads. In case of a longer stay, it’s more advisable to use Airbnb.

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There are many different hikes that people of all fitness levels can enjoy around La Paz.

Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike or an easy stroll, there’s something for everyone.

Keep in mind that every hike will be harder than normal because of the altitude, so pay some attention and get used to it. Whichever trail you choose, you’re sure to have a great time exploring the beautiful scenery of La Paz!

I hope this article has inspired you to get out and explore the beautiful nature that surrounds La Paz.