La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Altitude Adventures, Indigenous Culture & Bolivian Cuisine

✈️ Introduction

This La Paz 5 Day Itinerary takes you on an unforgettable journey through Bolivia’s high-altitude capital. Perched dramatically in a deep canyon at 3,650 meters, La Paz is a city where indigenous traditions blend with colonial history and jaw-dropping Andean scenery. Over five days, ride the world’s highest urban cable car, wander through markets brimming with mystical charms, trek alien-like landscapes, and savor altiplano flavors. This guide includes detailed transport tips, food recommendations, and daily budgets to ensure you experience La Paz like a seasoned traveler.

🏛️ Day 1 of La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Historic Core & Mystical Markets

Morning – Plaza Murillo & Historic La Paz

Start your La Paz adventure at Plaza Murillo, Bolivia’s political heart. Encircled by grand architecture like the neoclassical Presidential Palace, Cathedral of La Paz, and Congressional Buildings, the plaza whispers stories of coups, revolutions, and resilience. Marvel at Aymara women in bowler hats selling coca leaves on cobbled streets—a reminder that indigenous traditions pulse beneath colonial façades.

Walk towards the Calle Jaén, a narrow, well-preserved colonial street lined with vibrant houses and small museums like the Museo Costumbrista. Learn about La Paz’s cultural heritage and its mix of Spanish and indigenous influences.

Lunch – Mercado Lanza

Head to Mercado Lanza, a bustling local food market, where you can enjoy salteñas (Bolivian empanadas) for about $1.50 each and a refreshing api morado (a sweet, spiced purple corn drink) for $1. The market’s energy is infectious—chefs in tiny stalls prepare sopa de maní (peanut soup), and locals debate football over plates of silpancho.

Afternoon – Witches’ Market & Museo de la Coca

Next, immerse yourself in the mystical at the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market). Stalls are filled with dried llama fetuses, herbs, and talismans for Aymara rituals. A local vendor may share the symbolism behind these offerings—how they connect people to Pachamama, the earth goddess.

A few steps away is the Museo de la Coca, where interactive displays unveil coca leaf’s spiritual and medicinal role in Andean culture. Entry is $2, and you can try chewing coca leaves to ease altitude symptoms.

Dinner – Traditional Bolivian Cuisine

Dine at Namas Té, a cozy restaurant with vegetarian options and hearty Bolivian classics like pique macho (a meat-and-potato platter) or quinua soup. Expect to spend around $10–15 per person.

Estimated Costs:

• Transport (taxis/Uber): ~$10
• Meals & Drinks: ~$15–20
• Entrance Fees: ~$5
• Total: ~$30–35 per person

🚡 Day 2 of La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Sky-high Views & Moon Valley

Morning – Teleférico Adventure

Ride the Teleférico, the world’s highest urban cable car network. A day pass (~$5) allows you to hop between lines like Linea Roja and Linea Amarilla, soaring above La Paz’s chaotic streets and terraced neighborhoods. From above, witness the city unfold like a colorful tapestry, fringed by the snowcapped peaks of the Andes.

Lunch – Local Favorites

Disembark near El Alto, where market stalls offer anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers) for $2–3. Adventurous eaters might pair this with a glass of api con pastel (sweet pastry with corn drink).

Afternoon – Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)

A short taxi (~$10) whisks you to Valle de la Luna, a surreal landscape of clay spires eroded into bizarre formations. Wander along the marked trails for two hours as the afternoon sun casts golden shadows across the lunar terrain. Entry fee: $3.

Dinner – Modern Andean Cuisine

End your day at Gustu, Bolivia’s flagship fine-dining restaurant (by Noma co-founder Claus Meyer). Expect dishes like llama tartare and Andean tubers—a tasting menu starts at $35–50 per person.

Estimated Costs:

• Transport: ~$15
• Meals: ~$40–50
• Attractions: ~$8
• Total: ~$65–75 per person

🏞️ Day 3 of La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Tiwanaku Ruins & Andean Heritage

Spend Day 3 exploring Tiwanaku, an ancient pre-Incan archaeological site about 1.5 hours from La Paz. Book a day tour (~$25–40 including transport). A local guide leads you through Kalassasaya Temple and the Gate of the Sun, sharing stories of the Tiwanaku civilization’s astronomy and rituals.

Enjoy lunch in a family-run restaurant near the site: trucha a la plancha (grilled trout) and quinoa salad (~$8–10).

Back in La Paz by late afternoon, relax in Parque Mirador Laikakota, with sweeping views of the city as evening falls.

Estimated Costs:

• Tour (incl. transport): ~$30–40
• Meals: ~$15
• Total: ~$50–60 per person

🌊 Day 4 of La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Lake Titicaca Excursion

Take a full-day trip to Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake. Depart early for Copacabana, a 3-hour drive or bus ($5–10) to Isla del Sol, where legend says the Incan sun god was born.

Enjoy a picnic lunch on the island and wander its terraced hills and ancient Inca steps. Return to La Paz by evening.

Estimated Costs:

• Transport: ~$20–25
• Meals: ~$10–15
• Attractions: ~$5
• Total: ~$40–50 per person

🛍️ Day 5 of La Paz 5 Day Itinerary: Artisan Markets & Farewell Views

Spend your final morning browsing artisan shops on Sagárnaga Street, perfect for buying alpaca sweaters, woven textiles, and handmade jewelry.

Enjoy lunch at Café del Mundo, savoring empanadas and Bolivian coffee (~$10–12).

End the day at Mirador Killi Killi or El Alto viewpoint, watching La Paz’s canyon glow under the Andean sunset.

Estimated Costs:

• Transport: ~$10
• Meals: ~$15
• Souvenirs: ~$20–50 (optional)
• Total: ~$25–75 per person

🌐 Resources

For official travel information on Bolivia, visit the Bolivia Tourism Official Website.

🌎 Planning to explore more Andean cities? Check out our Ultimate Quito 5 Day Itinerary: Andean Heights, Colonial Charms & Ecuadorian Cuisine for another unforgettable South American adventure.

📋 Overall Budget Overview (Mid-range per person)