A Perfect Day in La Paz
A simple way to explore the city, from morning to night
january 2026
A New Year and a New Blog Post
A new year often comes with a mix of feelings. A bit of excitement, a bit of tiredness, and maybe a wish for more space. No pressure, no big promises, just a fresh page. However your plans look this year, this post is here to give you a little inspiration. Take it with you if you’re planning to come to La Paz soon, or save it for later. That’s completely up to you.
To start the year, we’re beginning with travel and La Paz basics, through what we like to call A Perfect Day in La Paz, created together with the people in our Travel Lab. It’s an easy way to step into the city, whether you’re already here or still in the planning phase.
La Paz Lately - This week on the streets, in the cafés, and around the city.
Just a fast update from La Paz. Here at Café del Mundo and Travel del Mundo, there’s a lot of energy coming into this year, new ideas, new plans, new trips slowly taking shape. It feels exciting. At the same time, we know not everyone wants to jump straight in at full speed. Many of us are still a little tired after Christmas, New Year celebrations, and a very full December. Just this Wednesday we had our last celebration of the year, welcoming the New Year with food, music, and dances, and I really hope you were there, enjoying the moment with us.
So even if there’s excitement and creativity in the air, there’s also a need to start softly. To slow down a little, land, breathe, and feel where you actually are before making big plans. That’s why this January we’re keeping things calmer in the café and starting with our Travel Journal. You can download it online or pick one up directly at Café del Mundo. Sit down with a cappuccino and something sweet, take a breath, and give yourself some time.
Inside the journal you’ll find simple questions and open space, nothing that pushes you, just small questions to reflect, dream, and slowly shape your year, at your own pace. GET IT HERE
Morning in La Paz, Wake Up Early but Slowly
Let’s get back to your perfect day in La Paz. One day means start early with a short walk around Rodríguez Market, when the city is just waking up. The air is cold and fresh, and you’ll smell coffee boiling in small street kitchens directly from the street. This is a good moment for a traditional breakfast. Try a salteña or a tucumana, together with a fresh fruit juice. It’s an easy and very local way to start the day.
After breakfast, take a short walk around the Sagárnaga area. Shops are opening, people are heading to work and school, and the streets slowly come to life. Take a few photos of the colorful streets with the mountains behind them, and at this early time of the morning you might have the umbrella street almost for yourself and your pictures.
Places That Stayed With Me
When I sat down to start my list of inspiring places for 2026, I was probably a bit too excited. What I thought would be easy turned out not to be, the world is big, and it’s full of incredible places. At the same time, you can make travel lists about almost anything in this beautiful world. You can list the best food destinations, beaches, party cities, or places that never sleep, and maybe I’ll do that another time. But the lists you’ll find here come from where I am in life right now. They focus on places you don’t just see, but truly feel.
After changing the lists, topics, and destinations more times than I expected, I finally landed on something that feels right. So the lists you’ll find today are built around four themes that made sense for me to create now: big landscapes, cities with a soul, feel-good travel, and places that change you.
They’re about moments that stay with you, not fast stops or ticking boxes. And I hope they inspire you as you start dreaming and planning your travels for 2026.
From Above – La Paz by Cable Car
After breakfast, head to the cable cars to see La Paz from above.
The Mi Teleférico is easy to use and gives you some of the best views in the city. As you move along the line, you can really see how La Paz drops down into the valley. On a clear day, keep an eye out for Illimani in the distance and the Andes around you. From up here, the city suddenly feels massive and very open. Each cable car line shows a different part of daily life. Getting off at one random stop is often the best part of the ride. Walk a little, look around, and explore without any real plan.
A Special Stop – Cementerio General
If you want a stop with a lot to see, get off at Cementerio General. Take a walk inside and notice how different it feels, with murals, street art, and daily life around it. Step back outside and try a scoop of traditional cinnamon ice cream from a street stand.
From here, start walking your way back toward Sagárnaga Street, passing through traditional neighborhoods and busy markets that show a very real side of daily life in La Paz. Along the way, you’ll see the gold market, bowler hats being made, and traditional clothing sold just as it has been for years, and as you continue, you’ll also cross fruit and vegetable markets filled with products you probably haven’t seen before. Take your time here, stop to look closer, ask questions, buy something small, and try new flavors as part of the experience.
After lunch, walk around Sagárnaga Street, explore the souvenir shops, stroll along Umbrella Street, and pass through the Witches’ Market before moving on with your day.
Afternoon Walks, Culture & Views
From Sagárnaga, walk toward Plaza Murillo to see the political heart of the city. From there, you can stop by a museum if you feel curious, like the Ethnography Museum, for a short visit before continuing.
Next, head to Calle Jaén, one of the most well-kept and colorful streets in La Paz, where the cobblestone road, old houses, and small museums make the area feel very different from the busy streets nearby. If you are here in the afternoon, you can sometimes combine this part of the day with Cholitas Wrestling, which is a very local and different experience. There are also a few bars and cafés around Calle Jaén, making it a good place to slow down, sit for a moment, and enjoy a short break before moving on.
Sunset & Dinner
From Calle Jaén, take a local transport up to Killi Killi viewpoint and try to arrive before sunset. Find a place to sit, and watch the city slowly change color as the sun goes down and the lights start to turn on.
For dinner, you have several good options, depending on your mood. You could go to Gustu, one of the top restaurants in Bolivia and South America, or choose Manq’a for good food with a social focus. Tambo Restaurant is another option, where a few nights a week you can enjoy traditional dishes together with live music and dance shows.
After dinner, the night is yours. And if you still have some energy, take a look at our freebie with cool bars in La Paz, a nice way to end the day, whether you feel like something calm or a bit more lively.
Mix & Match Your Day
Even the best planned day doesn’t fit everyone, and that’s the beauty of La Paz. If parts of this day don’t feel like your style, you can easily swap them for a short half-day experience instead. La Paz is perfect for mixing and matching, and sometimes a small change makes the day feel even more yours.
That’s a Day in La Paz
That’s it for today, and I really hope this gave you both useful information and a bit of inspiration for how to spend a day in La Paz and make the most of your time in the city.
If you want to know what’s happening while you’re here, have a look at our TravelZine, where we share updates about events, small happenings, and ideas that fit the days you’re visiting. And of course, in our Travel Lab we’re always here to help you with travel planning, questions, or just ideas, so don’t hesitate to reach out and let us help you shape your trip!
