A Cozy December
Guide for Travelers in La Paz
december 2025
Crazy enough, December is already here, and almost the whole of 2025 has passed by. What are your December plans? Maybe you’re celebrating on the road, or maybe you prefer a December that feels a bit more like home. For many people, the holidays mean a longer vacation and a great time to travel, even if this month sometimes brings a little homesickness too.
In today’s blog post, I’m focusing mostly on La Paz, what this month feels like here, what it’s all about, and how you can enjoy the Christmas spirit in the city. But don’t worry, in La Paz you can choose. If you love Christmas, you can enjoy it fully. And if you’re not in the mood, you can escape it a little too. For more Christmas vibes, personal stories, and how it really feels to celebrate the holidays far away from home, listen toweek’s podcast.
La Paz news
Whatever your situation is, feeling a bit homesick or not, I think most of us can agree that December is a month where it feels extra nice to be surrounded by people, other travelers, or new friends. So we’ll be open in both the café and Tambo, and we’ll keep updating all our events and happenings on social media during the month (no need to list everything here and make you bored).
And when you’re in La Paz, don’t forget to check out our TravelZine, it’s the easiest way to get the weekly updates.
Festive La Paz Vibes
The city feels a bit different in December, lighter, warmer, and honestly just nicer to walk around in. Small Christmas markets show up in random corners, selling handmade gifts, decorations, and sweet little things to try. The cable cars shine in the evenings, and places like Sopocachi and San Miguel hang up lights that make the streets feel friendly and bright. Buñuelos and api are suddenly everywhere, the perfect stop when you want something warm in your hands on a chilly night. You can see live music in plazas, sometimes choirs, sometimes people rehearsing for a show. Even mornings feel calmer, with people carrying flowers, gifts, or just taking their time. December in La Paz is warm, charming, and an easy month to enjoy as a traveler.
Bolivian Traditions You Can Join
December in Bolivia has its own thing, slow, family-focused, and full of small traditions that travelers can join without feeling out of place. It’s one of those months where the city feels more open.
Picana starts appearing on menus, that warm Christmas soup families eat together, sweet, salty, a little bit of everything. Churches prepare for midnight mass, and even if you’re not religious, it’s a special moment to see the city quiet down for a few hours.. Even the streets feel different, with kids buying fireworks and families getting ready for their big dinners. December traditions here are simple, warm, and it’s easy to be part of them, even just for a day.
Cozy Activities for Travelers
December in La Paz is a good month to slow down a little, the weather changes all the time, and it kind of invites you to take things easy. It’s a nice balance between exploring and finding small moments to relax.
A warm café morning is always a good idea, especially when the air feels a bit cold and you just want something sweet with cinnamon. Viewpoints like Killi Killi or El Montículo are beautiful in December, with soft light and calm afternoons. Shopping in Sopocachi or San Miguel is fun too, lots of local designers, small shops, and easy gifts to bring home. And if you just want a quiet hour, there are plenty of cafés and bookstores where you can sit with a drink and watch the city move slowly outside. December has this mix of cozy and curious, perfect for when you’re traveling and want a slower day, but still want to feel and live everything happening around you.
December Adventures in the Andes
If you feel like leaving the city for a day or two, December is actually a good month to explore. You can go on a hike, there might be some rain, but it’s usually warmer in the mountains, and the landscapes feel calm. It’s also a good moment to get away from the Christmas noise for a while and just be in nature.
Tiwanaku has warm days and fewer crowds. Coroico is green and warm when you need a break from the altitude. Lake Titicaca has slow mornings and peaceful boat rides. And in Uyuni, the first rains might give you the mirror effect if you’re lucky. All of these are close enough for a short trip, but still give you that big Andes feeling.
New Year in La Paz
New Year in La Paz has its own style, a mix of fun, superstition, and everyone getting ready for a fresh start. It feels light, a bit chaotic, but in a charming way.
You’ll see yellow underwear everywhere (yes, really) because people believe it brings good luck for the new year. At midnight, families follow their favorite traditions, eating grapes, putting money in their pockets, or running around with a suitcase to bring more travels in the year ahead. Fireworks light up the whole valley, and the views from places like Sopocachi or Miraflores are impressive. Street snacks and warm drinks keep the night going, especially api when it gets cold. Some people head to viewpoints, others stay in their neighborhoods, but the whole city feels connected for a few minutes. It’s a fun, simple, very Bolivian way to welcome the year, and easy for travelers to join.
Before You Go
Don’t forget to download our little Bucket List so you can dive a bit deeper into the Christmas feeling, here in La Paz and all through December. This month is honestly easy to enjoy: cozy, colorful, and full of those tiny moments that stay with you long after you leave.
If you have any questions or need tips for your own trip, just write to us.
We’re always happy to help make your time here a little smoother, and a lot more fun.
