Bolivia La Paz and the altiplano

  • Indigenous ladies sitting on a pavement in La Paz
  • View of La Paz with mountains in the background
  • Lake in grassland in Sajama National Park
  • Yellow pods of the Cable Car in La Paz
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At a dizzying 3,632m above sea level, La Paz is easily the highest capital city in the world. Overlooked by the icy Mount Illimani, the city bustles with quirky street markets.

Overview

Driving along the flat, windswept plains of the high-altitude altiplano, you are taken by surprise when you find yourself on the lip of a broad canyon brimming with the colourful, closely-packed buildings of Bolivia’s capital.

At a dizzying 3,632m and overlooked by the ice-jacketed Mount Illimani, La Paz is a busy place with a compact historic centre from which endless quirky street markets fan out. There are also modern boulevards with cool bars and ice cream parlours, where Aymara Indian ladies shuffle by in their traditional ponchos and bowler hats.

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Holidays La Paz and the altiplano

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

City of La Paz under mountains, Bolivia

Private Journeys

Peru / Bolivia / Lake Titicaca

Active Peru and Bolivia: trekking Andean peaks to tropical rainforest

17 days from £4,140pp

17 days from £4,140pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Atacama Desert Death Valley, Chile

Group - Classic

Peru / Lake Titicaca / Bolivia / Chile

Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare

17 days from £5,636pp

17 days from £5,636pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru

Group - Discovery

Peru / Lake Titicaca / Bolivia

Condor: Peru in depth

20 days from £3,851pp

20 days from £3,851pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Car on the Uyuni Salt Flats

Private Journeys

Argentina / Bolivia

Discover Bolivia and northwest Argentina

14 days from £4,800pp

14 days from £4,800pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

Hotel Rosario
La Casona
Ritz Apart Hotel

Where to go when - our guide to La Paz and the altiplano

View of La Paz with mountains in the background

The weather in La Paz and the altiplano is wide and varied

At a dizzying 3,632m above sea level, La Paz is easily the highest capital city in the world. Thanks to the high altitude, temperatures in the capital and the surrounding windswept plains feel chilly year round. The summer months (November - March) are rainy and humid with dull skies, while the winter (Apr - Oct) sees colder temperatures but brilliant blue skies and radiant sunshine. The Fiesta del Gran Poder (held annually in May or June) ignites the city with colourful street parades and costumed dancers.

View our La Paz and the altiplano weather guide

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Real Latin american experts

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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    Steve Yates - Travel Expert

    Steve has travelled extensively over the years, experiencing destinations in many different ways. From backpacking through basic hostels, hitchhiking and taking overnight buses, to enjoying stays in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and lodges, he has developed a deep appreciation for every style of travel

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    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

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