The Bolivia Salt Flats or Salar de Uyuni is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited in my life. Spending three days in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by this world’s stunning nature, made my travel soul super full. Like most people, I started my Bolivian Salt Flats tour from Uyuni. Bolivia is known for being a little rougher to travel through compared to its neighbors like Peru or Argentina. The tourist industry is still developing there therefore knowing what to expect will make your travels a ton easier.

Although I read a ton of guides before my trip, there are a couple of things that I wish I took more seriously or have known before my journey into the Southern part of this incredible country.

Throughout my guide, I will share everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Bolivia salt flats. I will also share a general route that you are likely to take. If you don’t want spoilers for your trip stops, I suggest you only read the first part of the article. Note that if you take the 3-day tour (which I insist that you do), the name Salt Flats Tour is a huge understatement of what you will see. Yes, you will visit the salt flats but you will see SO MUCH MORE on days 2 and 3 that your brain won’t be able to comprehend the beauty that’s there.

This is your one-stop for everything you need to know about taking a Bolivia salt flat tour from Uyuni.

Let’s get to the logistics of the Bolivian Salt Flats tour

As stated above, there are a lot of logistics involved in taking this tour. For most long-term backpackers, a Salar de Uyuni tour is a must-do in South America, and trust me, although the nomad lifestyle tends to lean toward spontaneity, some of these people are more prepared than you think. If your Bolivia itinerary is only a couple of weeks, planning this part of the trip should be a priority for you. When I visited, my income wasn’t the greatest, so I focused on budget first. Overall I spent very little money and got a fantastic experience, but in hindsight, I would do a couple of things differently and splurge on certain things.

Uyuni was a part of my 2 week Bolivia itinerary and this is the route I took for your reference:

• Flew into La Paz to take a bus into Copacabana (base for Lake Titicaca) and stayed there a night to acclimate.
• Then took a boat to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca with an overnight stay.
• Returned to Copacabana to take a bus back to La Paz for 4 days.
• The next stop was this Salar de Uyuni tour.
• After the tour, I took an overnight bus to Sucre and stayed there for 4 days.
• My last stop was Santa Cruz to which I took a flight from Sucre. I stayed there for another 3 days.

Quick Salar de Uyuni facts

Salar de Uyuni is a huge salt flat that a really long time ago used to be a lake. After the water evaporated, it left behind this amazing formation that is 100 times bigger than the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US. It is certainly a highlight of a trip to Bolivia and should not be skipped.

Don’t let the flatness fool you. The Bolivia Salt flats are located in the altiplano at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) so unless you’re acclimated from La Paz or any other high city, I would not take this trip before spending a few days getting used to the air. A three-day tour can take you up even higher, all the way to 4,500 meters (15,000 ft). Altitude sickness is a real and serious thing and if you’d like to know what the experience is like and how you can prevent it, I recommend reading my Cusco post. If you have no other choice, back some altitude sickness pills like acetazolamide.

There is a wet season lasting between-ish December and April and that’s the best time to see water on the flats known as the largest mirror in the world. During the rainy season, you will likely not be able to visit the cactus island. The dry season lasting from late April to November will likely guarantee better weather but limited water reflections. If you have a good driver, he will find you a good reflection even during a dry season. I visited in June and got to see some water but certainly not as vast as you seen in some photos.

Salar de Uyuni at night is an incredible place in this world to see stars due to the fact that there are no surrounding lights to block the view. Although on most tours you will be able to see the night sky, there are separate tours that do a night photography session too.

Best time to visit Bolivia Salt Flats

While you can certainly visit the Salt Flats multiple times per year, let me break down what each season will look like. If you visit during the wet season (December to February), you will be able to see the mirror effect of the place with the water. Visiting from March to May will give you the dry as well as the wet views along with fewer crowds. Remember that the seasons in Bolivia are opposite of the northern hemisphere so visiting between June to August, which is the winter months, will be the driest but also the coldest. You will see stars and endless white desert views. September to November will be similar to the previous season but you can expect more rain.

So, what is the best time to visit the Bolivia Salt Flats? Well, it depends on what perspective of the Salar you’re looking for. I personally visited in June and loved that time.

Why do I need a Bolivian Salt Flats tour?

How to get to the Bolivia Salt Flats? Well, you need a tour. If you really really wanted to, you technically can venture out into the Bolivia Salt Flats on your own, in a 4×4 jeep. However, with the logistical nightmares, no signal/wifi, remote hostels, no official roads or routes, and fairly affordable tour prices, I would not even want to attempt it. God forbid something happens to your car, you’re now in the middle of nowhere and no one to call. And cars in Bolivia are not as reliable as what you might be used to.

The arranged tours have 1 or 3-day day options. I strongly advise you against the 1-day tour because it won’t cover the second part of the trip which includes even more beautiful landscapes than the flats. From what I know, 2-day tours are not available due to the logistics of transport but correct me if I am wrong. Starting the tour from Uyuni, you’ll follow a general route with similar times and stops with other companies. Trust me when I tell you that majority of the tours are identical. On the first day, you’ll see the Salt Flats along with a couple of other stops and on days 2 and 3, you will see SO much more of the Bolivian landscape.

Don’t expect cell service or wi-fi, you MIGHT catch some at the overnight stay or one stop along the road. The night accommodations will not be the best and it will get cold at night. Oh, and a shower on the second day is not likely.

Where to start the Bolivian Salt Flats tour from?

Do not complicate your life and just start the tour from the spot you’re closest to. Again, Bolivia is not necessarily transport-friendly so take the path of least resistance 🙂 I initially planned to leave from Tupiza but when I was in La Paz and realized how long it would take to get me there, I followed the crowds through Uyuni. You have three options that the majority of the tour operators start from. I’ll start from the least popular:

San Pedro de Atacama

If you’re arriving from Chile, this is your way into Bolivia. Tour groups have this route figured out, you can start there, end there, or even take a round trip. Depends on your planned route and budget. You will see the places in reverse, starting at the southern end of Bolivia near Laguna Colorada, making your way up to Uyuni. Make sure to know your immigration requirements and obtain the correct entry/exit passport stamps to avoid any future hiccups.

Tupiza

This is a 4-day tour as you’re farther away from the actual “starting” point. These tours tend to be a little more pricey because of the extra day as well as fewer tour operator options in town. This is a popular option for Argentine travelers as Tupiza is closest to that border.

Uyuni

As this is the most popular option, the pros of this are that 1) you can arrange your tour in La Paz or even the day off in the town of Uyuni, 2) you can bargain as the tour operators are competing for customers, 3) the transfers after to Sucre or even Chile are common so they can be easily arranged. The cons however are that you will follow the most generic route with groups of people doing the same exact thing. Let me tell you this though, even with the most “touristy” option for this tour, you won’t be disappointed.

It will take about 9 hours on an overnight bus to get to the town of Uyuni from La Paz on a “lie-flat” bus for anywhere between $15-25 (which is actually expensive for Bolivia). If 9 hours on the bus doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, there is a 1-hour flight between the two cities but prices can be as pricey as $100 which is almost as much as the whole 3-day tour. If you’d like even more options, here is a super informative post about the transport between the two cities. After the tour, you can return to La Paz or continue your journey to another Bolivian city like Sucre or even San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.

Packing List for the Bolivian Salt Flats tour

On the majority of the tours, your luggage will live on the roof. It will be unloaded for the overnight stops so you will be able to access your things at night. However, grab a smaller backpack with things you might want during the car ride. As far as clothes, you will need warm things. The days will be mild in temperature but the night will be cold.

Absolute must-pack items: comfy shoes, trekking clothes, warm socks, warms things to sleep in, light jacket, bathing suit, for the hot springs, flip flops, towel, water, snacks, sunscreen, wet wipes, toilet paper, a camera, extra batteries in case you don’t have electricity, and most importantly sunglasses. You can hurt your eyes if you don’t wear them as the reflection is absolutely brutal. Food will be provided by your tour. Since the nights will get super cold, you should ask whether there is an option for renting a sleeping bag.

How do I find a good Uyuni tour provider?

Repeat after me: all tours take (almost) the same route. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re lying. For an average base price is $120 (+/- $20) you’ll get the following: a Spanish speaking driver that will be your tour guide/cook, a car up to 6 people, basic accommodations in a private room on day 1 and a shared shitty and cold hostel in the middle of nowhere on day 2. What will drive the price higher (near the $200 range) is an English-speaking driver, fewer people on your tour, better accommodations, and further transfers after the trip.

There are many known tours in town like Red Planet, Quecha, Andes or luxury tours like Ruta Verde but I can’t speak for them since I didn’t take them. You can prebook a tour online but it will cost you a little more than in person. Instead, if you have some extra time in La Paz, go to different offices and negotiate on the price. If you want, you can even book a tour the morning off when you arrive in Uyuni.

My personal experience

I arranged my tour pretty last minute in La Paz based on a hostel recommendation. My tour ended up putting me with a 1-day group for the first part of the day and then transferring to a 3-day group that was coming from Tupiza at the end of the first day. My second driver spoke no English and with my basic Spanish I ended up as the group translator for the entire trip. You don’t really need the guide to speak English as the majority of the trip is looking at landscapes. My first driver didn’t care too much but the second one was phenomenal. Even though we were on the same route as everyone, he made sure to take us to places either before or after the crowds so we always had the spots to ourselves.

Don’t forget: Always tip your drivers (assuming the correct service was provided). Whatever you negotiate with the company has nothing to do with the person who will drive you around and your tip goes directly to his pocket. If you had an amazing experience, at the end of the day an extra couple of dollars that you’ll spend on beers anyway will be more useful for the driver and their family.

How to continue your travels after the tour?

If your start your tour in Uyuni, you’ll also end your tour there too, unless you request a transfer to Chile. From there, you can return to La Paz or continue your journey to Potosi or Sucre. All those transfers can be arranged through your tour company or you can just buy a bus ticket at the bus stations. My personal journey continued to Sucre on an overnight bus. Buses leaving from Uyuni “station” are a bit of a hectic mess. The buses leave between 9-10 pm and arrive in Sucre around 5-6 am. They go through Potosi, cost you around $10, and are not very comfy. Often though, this will be the option that makes the most sense after the tour.

I traveled with Trans 6 de Octubre, and I’d be lying if I said the journey was easy. The driver locked the bathroom door and the “lie-flat” seats slightly reclined back. I’ve never been happier than the moment we stopped in the dark, in the middle of nowhere for a pee break. Yes, I peed on a side of a dirt road with 10 other Bolivian ladies within 10 feet of me. Let me just tell you, now I know why their skirts are so wide 🙂

The second annoying thing is that if that’s your only option, you’ll be arriving in Sucre at 5 am. It is not ideal either unless you pay for an extra night at your accommodation and have a bed waiting for you. I wanted to save money and not pay for the extra night and let me tell you what a mistake that was. I tried to take a nap on the hostel couch and since my bed wasn’t ready until 2 pm, I struggled really hard to do anything. If I just booked it, I would’ve slept till 2 and still had the day to myself.

Miscellaneous things worth knowing before embarking on a Bolivia Salt Flats tour

1. Extra fees to expect: The entrance fee to the National Park is not included in your tour is roughly $22 USD. There is also another smaller fee (~$4 USD) for the fish island and this is something you’ll definitely want to do. Don’t forget your tip money for your driver as well.
2. Make sure to have some sort of camera with extra juice available. You may or may not get a chance to change things. My driver let us use his car outlet but don’t expect that from everyone.
3. The food will be cooked by your driver or provided at the overnight stays. It is delicious and you will love it. However, there will be no snacks or anything to munch on in between.
4. You will be spending a ton of time in the car with your tour group. Even if you have a pain-in-the-ass tourist in yours (like my group did), just accept it because it’s not worth ruining your experience. Establish a rotating system for the front seat and be respectful. People in these groups tend to be from different countries and have different customs. Understand that.
5. Unless you’re paying $700 for a personal provider and staying in upscale accommodations, this will be a rough and tiring experience. That should not stop you from taking a tour. Simply knowing that at the end of the day this is a driving tour through one of the poorest countries in South America should give you some perspective.

Ok, that was all the logistics that you need to know about taking the Bolivian salt flats tour. The next part of my guide will focus on the stops you’ll make along the route. If you’re undecided about taking the tour, I hope the next part convinces you that this is simply a must-do in your life. However, if you’ve already decided and don’t want that part spoiled for you, don’t scroll down. You’ve been warned.

Bolivian Salt Flats Tour

The itinerary below follows the route that most tour guides in Uyuni follow. There might be minor variations in the order of the stops as the route depends on the driver’s preferences. You might make a couple of bonus stops depending on the driver but don’t expect it. If you start in Chile, you’ll do this backward, if you start in Tupiza, your first day will include stops between Tupiza and Uyuni and then you will follow the route below.

Tours leaving from Uyuni start around 10 am allowing people to arrive in town. Buses start arriving around 6 or 7 am and flights from La Paz land around 8 am. Those who want to negotiate on the spot can spend an extra day in town but honestly, there is nothing to do there aside from touristy restaurants. It is totally possible to arrive in Uyuni at 7 am, find a tour, and leave at 10 am.

Day 1

Train Cemetery

Your first stop is the train cemetery or Cemeterio de Trenes, a creepy and random place. The old rusty European trains located in the middle of a Bolivian dessert with backdrops of mountains make this a rather apocalyptic site. Here is a quick backstory on them if you’re interested. When on tour, you’ll notice that all the jeeps will stop here and let you explore the grounds for about 30 or so minutes. It’s a cool place to take pictures and climb the old train. Since this is one of the first stops, be careful to not fall off or twist your ankle or your entire Salar trip will end before it even starts 🙂 I was lucky because my driver took us there twice, at the end of the last day he wanted us to experience this place without any crowds.

Colchani

A small little salt processing village, Colchani is your entrance point to the Salar. Most companies make their stop here before taking you into the Bolivia Salt Flats. It’s basically a local bazaar where you’re encouraged to either buy things you forgot to pack or silly souvenirs from your trip. People who take a one-day tour like this place because they can do their shopping. For someone going on a 3-day trip, this might not be the perfect time to buy useless things.

As I previously mentioned, I had two drivers and the first one wasn’t the greatest. He ended up leaving us there for an extended period of time to the point where my group had to call the Uyuni office to get him back. With that experience, always remember to note the phone number to the office and always take a picture of the car and license plate before you start the tour.

Salt Hotel

This is your resting place and lunch spot. Again, most tours stop here collectively and everyone eats together in a salt dome. Food is pretty good and you get some bonding times with the other travelers too. Afterward, you can check out the hotel too if that’s something that interests you. I don’t think you can stay there anymore but there are a couple of salt hotels in the area.

The coolest part about this stop is the flags outside. It’s nice for people from all over the world to walk around and look for their country flags in the middle of the Bolivian desert. Something as small as that brings a sense of unity and is just simply cute.

Uyuni Salt Flats

It’s no surprise that this stop is the centerpiece of this entire tour. There is nothing more breathtaking on this trip than seeing the Bolivia Salt Flats for the first time. The endless salt tiles take a second to process. The contrast between the baby blue sky and bright white salt is honestly mindblowing. I took a minute to just silently walk around to absorb it all.

A good tour driver will find a remote spot where you will be able to take photos without any people in the background. Most do but don’t be afraid to speak out if you have 5 jeeps surrounding you. This is the part where everyone takes silly pictures and just runs around the salt flats. It’s fun and if you have a good group, you’ll also coordinate some cool shots.

Isla del Pescado or Isla Incahuasi

This place is just trippy. Imagine an empty land of salt. You’re driving and see something in the distance that looks like a fish from far away. Then you pull up to discover a small hill filled with cacti. How random! That’s Isla del Pescado and you will be amazed at the views you can catch from there. Entry is not included in your tour but for around $5 you should certainly not skip this stop. I don’t remember exactly but the amount of time you get there is sufficient to comfortably explore it. There are snacks and water on this stop too.

Salar sunset and drive to accommodation

If you took a one-day tour, this is where it would end. But trust me this is the last thing you want to do as days 2 and 3 offer a ton more attractions. After Isla del Pescado, our driver took us to a place to see some water on the salt flats since we were traveling during the dry season. We then drove to the first accommodation which was quite pleasant. We had dinner and drinks with our fellow travelers, bonded, and went outside to watch the stars.

Day 2

Morning

After breakfast, you will start your drive into the southern part of the country with the Chilean border right on your side. Some notable stops here will include Gruta de las Galaxias and the sister salt flat called Salar de Chiguana. The next chunk is a lot of driving but you enjoy the distant Volcan Ollague and many other natural spots along the way.

Afternoon

Then you will stop at the salt lakes which honestly is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. They include Cañapa Lake, Laguna Hedionda, Laguna Hond and Laguna Ramaditas. Lunch will be outside, cooked by your driver with the lake and mountains in the background. This is honestly one of the best lunch spots I have ever eaten in. On this part of the journey, you’ll see those pink flamingos everyone also talks about too.

Evening

The night will be spent in one of the most remote places on this trip. It will be in the middle of nowhere, there will be no shower, it will be freezing inside the room and you will also share it with 6 other people. Did I sell you on this yet? Well, it’s like a fraternity initiation part of the trip. Everyone experiences the same thing, you get to talk about this part for the rest of your life, and don’t worry, your driver will wake you before sunrise to continue the journey 🙂

Day 3

Morning

Our amazing driver really wanted us to see the Sol de Manana geyser at sunrise which meant waking up super early. I don’t think that’s the traditional route as not a single soul was in sight for this. It was incredible and I am forever grateful that he made our experience a little different than the planned path. The next stop included the Dali Desert, which I was super excited to see since Dali is one of my favorite artists. We then proceeded to explore Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde & Laguna Blanca. Our last stop of the morning, again, against the current of tourists was the Termas de Polques or the hot springs. We had the whole place to ourselves which was amazing!!

Afternoon

As our trip was coming to an end, we ate lunch in a little village. All I remember is there is a ton of alpacas/llamas in the most beautiful valley ever. Walking around was just amazing. At this point, I was so blown away by all the landscapes seen during the trip that seeing a colorful field with cute alpacas seem normal. Continuing the journey or driver made one last stop at a canyon along the route home.

Evening

For the last part of the trip, we just drove back to Uyuni. I was exhausted at this point but still tried to take in the last glimpses of the Bolivian landscapes. After returning to Uyuni, we all parted with warm hugs and happy memories of this journey. We returned around 5 or 6 pm, headed to the bus station to get bus tickets to Sucre, and had some standard gringo meal in town. What I didn’t know is how awful and exhausting the bus ride would be ahead. This is something I talk about at the beginning of the post and I hope when you travel you know what to expect.

Final Thoughts

Our amazing driver Johnny made us feel like family for 3 days and went above and beyond to give us a little extra outside the typical itinerary. I was extremely lucky because my vetting of these tour companies was not the greatest. When he dropped us off in Uyuni, I was sad to have ended the journey but I knew that one more day on the road would have made this experience less magical. The trip is certainly not for the picky traveler. The combination of high altitudes, lack of basics, dust, extreme sun, and little sleep make this a pretty rough experience. However, I wouldn’t trade it for anything and do it again in a heartbeat. The Bolivian Salt Flats tour is truly one of the most perfect things you can do on this planet.

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It’s truly a rare event to meet a traveler that has disliked Sucre. On my three-week Bolivia trip, one of the most unexpected surprises was visiting Sucre. I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere of the city and deeply regretted not staying longer. Sucre is the capital of Bolivia although you will often hear the debate of La Paz being its contender. To this day, I think the answer varies with whom you actually ask. Compared to La Paz, Sucre is another world. It’s quiet, clean, everything is white and the climate is amazing. The weather in Sucre Bolivia is a dream for exploring.

This post will try to cover the basics of everything you need to know about traveling there, things to do in Sucre, and things I wish I knew. At the bottom of the post, you will find downloadable itineraries for your stay! I hope this post shows you how amazing this city is and inspires you to add it to your Bolivia itinerary!

Let’s get to the logistics

Sucre is an amazing recharging stop in the chaotic country of Bolivia. Most travelers get stuck there because it’s so simply very hard to leave this city. Sucre is welcoming, cheap, and interesting. I hope when you travel you don’t skip over it as it was certainly one of the highlights of my trip.

After being a little on the edge in La Paz and then spending 3 days in the Salt Flats, Sucre felt like paradise. I finally slept 8+ hours upon arriving there and I was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful Bolivian city.

2 weeks in Bolivia itinerary

Before we dive into the Sucre details here is an overview of my Bolivia itinerary with links to other guides I created. In the La Paz post, I also include a short summary of the costs for this trip.

• I flew into La Paz to take a bus into Copacabana and stayed there a night to acclimate.
• Then, I took a boat to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca with an overnight stay.
• I returned to Copacabana to take a bus back to La Paz and stayed there for 4 days.
• My next stop was a trip from La Paz to Uyuni for a 3-day tour.
• After the tour, I took an overnight bus to Sucre and stayed there for 4 days.
• My last stop was Santa Cruz to which I took a flight from Sucre. I stayed there for another 3 days.

Traveling to Bolivia as a US citizen

While most countries don’t need a visa while traveling to Bolivia, the US relationship with the country made it mandatory to get one in the past. That’s why it was quite rare to find many American travelers there. Obtaining a visa was fairly straightforward and I got one at the New York Bolivian embassy for a hefty fee of $160 USD.

Good news for you my fellow traveler, as of the 2020s, with the change of presidents, US citizens are no longer required to get one.

How to survive high altitude in Bolivia

Sucre has an altitude of a little over 9,000 feet. It’s not as crazy as La Paz or Copacabana, but it’s still pretty high. If you’re coming from a high altitude, you will have no problems in Sucre. However, if you’re coming in the opposite direction, from low to high altitude, be prepared to rest for at least a full day before attempting any exploration.

If you’re curious about how altitude sickness affected me, I talk about this Cusco”horror” story, so feel free to read it for some entertainment. For tips on how to survive altitude issues in Bolivia, read my La Paz guide which goes into depth on things you can do to prevent it.

Where to stay in Sucre

If you’re traveling to Sucre, chances are you’re a backpacker. I saw very few “traditional tourists” while roaming the city. Hostels will be your best bet here are they provide everything a gringo needs abroad: 1) a bar 2) a walking tour 3) a group of friends 4) an atmosphere to feel safe and happy and bonus, 5) Spanish lessons! I stayed in a private room at KulturBerlin, a fairly known hostel in the city and I can vouch for its reputation and atmosphere. It also turns into a club at night at which you can find a lot of locals. Beware though, they’re not there to hang out to, they’re on a hunt if you know what I mean.

Hotels in Sucre Bolivia are abundant and will certainly not break your bank. You can get some pretty awesome spots for a very cheap price.

Sucre Transportation Logistics

To get to Sucre you have a couple of options: a long-distance bus or a flight. Transport in Bolivia isn’t pretty so don’t be deceived by certain verbiage of what your transport actually includes. My story went like this: I wanted to save some money on accommodation and decided that I would take an overnight bus from Uyuni to Sucre. I booked a “cama” seat and assumed I would be napping the entire time. When I got on the bus, I quickly found out that there is no bathroom option, the AC would be blasting beyond any reason and my cama barely reclined. It was quite an adventure, to say the least especially when I had to pee on a side of a dirt road in the middle of the night but I honestly wouldn’t do it any other way. However, if this isn’t your type of travel, I would find a different mode of transport instead.

Within Sucre, everything is walkable. The hills in the city could be a little brutal so if altitude ends up kicking our butt, opt for a radio taxi instead. To get to common attractions outside the city, you can take a public bus.

If you’re flying in or out, make sure you’re aware of the 1-hour journey to/from the airport. I totally missed the memo of how long it would take and almost missed my flight. The mini-buses leave from Av. Gregorio Donoso and Calle Camargo and cost a little over a dollar a person. You can also get a taxi at a fixed price of about 50 bolivianos.

People & Safety in Sucre

When you’re prepping for a trip, you’ll read many warnings about scams and what can happen to you. I was well-prepped and knew that one of the most talked-about scams was getting in a taxi where the driver also picks up a local along the way. Those interactions often lead to express kidnappings too. When I got off of my overnight bus from Uyuni at the Sucre bus station at a very sketchy 5 am time, I made sure to grab a taxi that was the most legitimate in appearance. The driver helped me with the bags and after I got in the back, a local joined us in the front.

Even when you’re prepared and have all the information when you’re actually in the moment of something sketchy happening, your reaction ends up being very different than what you’d assume it’d be. This was my case because when I questioned the driver about it, he reassured me that it was a friend we were dropping off along the way. For some reason, my gut trusted him, and looking back at it, it was actually crazy that I went with the flow. The good news is that it was actually the driver’s family member and he ended up being one of the nicest humans I encountered on the trip. Luckily, he wasn’t out to get me and got my safe to the hostel.

For the remainder of my time in Sucre, I only met nice people who were happy about the tourism in their city. My taxi adventure goes to show that not everyone is out to get you and if your gut tells you that a situation is ok, trust yourself. But with that said, don’t go blindly trusting people. I probably should not have taken that ride and simply got lucky.

Eating in Sucre

No one really talks about food in Sucre and I honestly don’t know why. I legit ate my way through the city and I had the best meals at each of the places I visited. You can get a street snack for $0.50 or indulge at more upscale places for a ridiculously cheap price. At the bottom of the guide, you can find my favorite places in the city!

Sightseeing in the city

Within the city, you won’t find many sightseeing spots but the beauty of Sucre is enjoying it as a whole. It’s simply stunning, the white buildings, the tranquil atmosphere, and the awesome nightlife. You stay in Sucre to soak it in and enjoy it, not to cross off “top ten things to do” kinda style.

However, there are some things you should check out within the city so I’ll list them below for you.

Perfect Things To Do in Sucre

Plaza 25 de Mayo

I love the main plazas in every city because they usually reflect the atmosphere of the place. This is certainly the case in Sucre as Plaza 25 de Mayo is the perfect place to spend some time in. You will find many locals hanging out, vendors selling sweets or snacks, performers during the day, and cute shows at night. I kept on coming back to the plaza just to sit and enjoy it, every single day I was in Sucre. Make sure to come during the day, at night, and during the weekend if you can.

Don’t forget to check out the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe located on the corner too. It was built around the 1600s and is a beautiful religious site.

La Recoleta

It will be a painful hike to get there, but the views from this place are incredible. The arches overlooking the city are amazing too. It’s actually an old monastery that’s now the best hang-out spot in the city from views. Make sure to grab a drink at Café Gourmet Mirador, it’s a popular spot but it lets you soak in the city for a little longer.

Templo de San Felipe Neri

This amazing monastery/school is the spot for rooftop views of Sucre. The grounds are also great for some quiet exploration. I hope you’re luckier than I was and are actually able to get inside this place. It’s apparently open only between 2-6 pm and you need to knock on large wooden doors to get inside.

General Cemetery

Remember that the topic of death in South America vs. in the Western culture is very different. We don’t necessarily celebrate the dead and don’t spend time in the cemeteries for reasons other than grieving. In Sucre, a general cemetery is a place for families to return to their loved ones, celebrate them, and drop off personalized trinkets that their loved ones, once cherished.

When you visit the general cemetery, you will be fascinated by how casual (yet very respectful) the locals treat this place. You will be able to admire the beautiful blocks of graves. Don’t forget though that this is a burial site so make sure you’re also being respectful and not treating it as a backdrop for your new insta pic.

Parque Bolivar

It’s a pretty park to observe the locals strolling, especially all the local teenagers hiding from their parents and kissing. It has a strange mini replica of the Eiffel Tower too. This place is probably best for small children as it offers a ton of exciting structures for them. I liked it for a stroll and some afternoon peace.

Catch the Fuente del Bicentenario light/fountain show located in Parque Bolivar and the show occurs between 7 and 9 pm on Sundays. It’s something cute to do in town along with the locals. Double-check if it’s currently running as I couldn’t find any reliable confirmation about it still working.

Central Market

This should be a spot on your radar for some local delicacies if you’re staying long-term. The Sucre central market is the place for fresh fruit, delicious juice, and some local bites. It’s colorful, authentic and something you should also do in every town you visit. Please be respectful of the locals and don’t walk up to them and take pictures of their faces. Ask if it’s ok first or assess the situation. Sucre is not as infested with tourists as other South American cities so it’s your responsibility not to ruin the gringo reputation too much.

Tarabuco Market

This is not your typical town market. Tarabuco is a gathering of the locals of the Yampara culture. It’s not only beautiful but you can also do some cool authentic shopping. Getting there will take a little effort from your end. Catch the number 14 bus from Mercado Central to Parada de Tarabuco for less than $0.50. If local buses aren’t your thing, take a taxi. It shouldn’t cost too much either, around $15 a person. Heads up, the journey will take you 1+ hour along a very scenic route. Note, the market only happens on Sundays and closes as early as 2 pm.

This Tarabuco market article is an amazing resource if you’re planning to visit. This cool travel couple gives you the history and all the information you need for visiting. People have mixed feelings about it as locals don’t love so many tourists there and prices are known not to be the cheapest for visitors. However, if you’re staying long-term, it could be a cool experience.

Museums in Sucre

Sucre might be a tiny town but it still houses a handful of museums. If that’s something that interests you, you can spend a full day exploring them here.

• Museo del Tesoro: The treasure museum is a cool spot in town where you can find gold, silver, and other valuable gems. The fairly new museum is housed in an old building. English tours are abundant.
• House of Liberty Museum: If Bolivian history is something you’re interested in, this place should be a must-stop for you. Take a tour to understand what is happening there though.
• Museum of Indigenous Art ASUR: As the name suggests, this indigenous museum is your stop for all things indigenous, textiles, art, and way of life.
• The Ethnographic and Folklore Museum (MUSEF): Another museum about all things culturally important to Bolivians. Check out their awesome current exhibitions.

Cretaceous Park

What once was a limestone quarry is now a site to spot some authentic dinosaur footprints. To get there you’ll take bus micro 4 from Plaza de 25 mayo or a private taxi. Don’t be surprised when you find large man-made dinosaur statutes there. You’re not going there for that though. You’re going to see the Cal Orck’o limestone wall for which you need to catch the noon or 1 pm tour in order to enter it.

The place is not well-protected meaning that visitors can touch the wall and the weather is actively eroding these unique findings. Whether this is a must-do activity or not, depends on how interested in dinosaurs you are. If you’re not, I wouldn’t recommend coming all the way there to see it. However, if nerding out on dinosaur movies and books was your thing when you were a kid, skipping this place would be silly.

Spanish Classes

When you’re researching Sucre travel, this will come upon every single list of things to do if you’re staying long term. The reasons are simple: Spanish in Sucre is very clean and easy to understand, lessons are super cheap for the quality of learning, and the overall mentality of other students to learn as much as they. Even the hostel I stayed in advertised lessons inside and encouraged even a couple of days of learning.

You’ll see all the major spots in the city in a day or two but you won’t want to leave. Make use of that extra morning time and learn a new language or upgrade your existing skills. The options are honestly endless here. I suggest getting a private tutor because you will be able to learn the most in a short amount of time. If you’re looking to make some friends along the way, group classes should be your choice. You will find advertisements everywhere: hotels, hostels, restaurants, and cafes. I haven’t taken any classes so I cannot recommend a specific one but a simple google search will answer that question for you.

Maragua Crater

If you’re staying in Sucre for a longer period of time, consider doing this magnificent trek into the most scenic parts of the country. There are two ways to do it, an organized 2-day tour or a DIY tour that is often described as a logistical nightmare. Travelers often get lost due to the poorly marked trails but with the current posts now, I think you can learn from their mistakes. This blog tells you a good story about their Maragua adventure. I also like this post about this couple getting lost hiking the crater but eventually successful.

Eat eat eat drink drink drink

Sucre’s food scene is amazing and you should try as many places as you can. Since this city is quite cheap, you can get some gourmet meals for really cheap prices. On the contrary, street food is also amazing so whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. Here are my picks for a good meal. Don’t forget to drink in Sucre either. This is a cool town for your nighttime adventures.

• La Taverne: This was my favorite place in town. The steaks are to die for, the wine is amazing and the cute French ambiance is an awesome touch too.
• El Huerto: This is a higher-end restaurant to which you will need to take a taxi. It offers national dishes and a nice outdoor terrace.
• Cafe Florin: This is a known backpacker/tourist stop. Food is good and you’ll also find some travelers hanging around.
• Pueblo Chico: I like this place for drinks and a cool setting. It has courtyard-style dining and it’s super cute.
• Los Balcones: The food might not be the most amazing you had, but the view of the plaza makes up for it. I liked my dish there and I would certainly recommend it for an awesome perspective of the plaza alone.
• Chifa & Thai: Love this spot for some great chifa!
• Goblin Bar: An awesome local pub with some locally brewed beers. It’s family-owned and you will often find them onsite.
• Red Lion: An English pub in town. For sure not an authentic local spot but who doesn’t crave a good pub when traveling?
• KulturBerlin: No, it’s not only a hostel, but it’s also a solid bar that turns into a club at night too!
• Joy Ride Cafe: A known tourist spot in town. Make sure to at least grab one drink there.
• Mitos: This is your local discoteca to go drink and dance at.
• Chocolates Para Ti: And lastly, don’t forget to make a stop at this town staple for some tasty chocolates 🙂

Download Perfect Itineraries for your Sucre Trip

Sucre doesn’t seem that exciting on paper but when you get there, I promise it will surprise you in the best of ways. I stayed for 4 days but I honestly wish I stayed for 2 weeks. It’s such a nice place to unwind, practice your Spanish, eat well, and spend quality time with other travelers. Sucre is truly a gem and one of the best places to visit in Bolivia. It’s nothing like La Paz and nothing like Santa Cruz either. The tranquil atmosphere can be felt throughout the city and I promise you won’t want to leave.

All my itineraries were made after I traveled to a destination so they are optimized for things I wish I did differently. I hope that my mistakes could help you avoid bumps in the road. However, if you feel like some plans can be even more perfect, please let me know in the comments below!

One Day Itinerary for Sucre

I really don’t recommend traveling to Sucre just for one day because it is such a beautiful city. However, if that’s all you have, I have highlighted the places I think you should visit in your 24 hours. You will start your Sucre itinerary with a good breakfast with my favorite recommendations of restaurants. Then you will take a walking tour or a self-guided one. For your afternoon, I recommend you visit La Recoleta for some amazing views of the city. Lastly, you will grab a super tasty dinner and come back to the main plaza for some local vibes.

Two Day Itinerary for Sucre

Two days is what I recommend at a minimum here. It will let you capture the best spots in the city, absorb some culture and relax a little too. Your first day will look just like my day one itinerary. The second one, however, will let you see the cemetery and another known local park. At night, I am sending you to enjoy some Sucre nightlife.

Three Day Itinerary for Sucre

A three-day visit is a great option if you’re not planning to take Spanish classes and want to continue your Bolivian journey. Your first and second day will be very similar to my one and two-day itinerary, seeing major spots like Plaza de 25 de mayo, La Recoleta, restaurants, parks, and museums. On the third day, you will head to the awesome dinosaur park a little outside of town. You will end your stay enjoying the nightlife.

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There is no visiting Isla del Sol without stopping at Copacabana, and there is no real point in getting yourself all the way to Copacabana without going out to explore Isla del Sol. These two go hand in hand so why not tell you, all you need to know in one post. Isla del Sol is located on Lake Titicaca and Copacabana lies at its edge. Both are truly remarkable places because of their locations. Life is slow, beers taste 10x better and you won’t find swarms of tourists.

Below you’ll find all the logistics needed to travel there, must-see places, and most importantly, downloadable itineraries for your stay. As always, this post will try to cover the basics of everything you need to know about traveling there, perfect things to see, and things I wish I knew.

Let’s get to the logistics

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia is simply incredible. The rich blue water along with mountain views make this a crazy beautiful destination. Most that visit, see this lake from the other inside in Puno, Peru. Since I didn’t have a chance to see it there, I jumped on the opportunity when backpacking in Bolivia. To this day, I view this spot as one of the most unique destinations I have ever been to.

Before we dive into this part of the Bolivia itinerary, here is a reference for you of how I planned my 2 week trip to this incredible country:

• Flew into La Paz to take a bus into Copacabana and stayed there a night to acclimate.
• Then took a boat to Island del Sol on Lake Titicaca for an overnight stay.
• Returned to Copacabana to take a bus back to La Paz and stayed there for 4 days.
• Next stop from La Paz to Uyuni for 3 days.
• After the tour, I took an overnight bus to Sucre and stayed there for 4 days.
• My last stop was Santa Cruz to which I took a flight from Sucre. I stayed there for another 3 days.

Traveling there as a US citizen

While most countries don’t need a visa while traveling to Bolivia, the US relationship with the country made it mandatory to get one in the past. For that reason, it was quite rare to find many American travelers there. Obtaining a visa was fairly straightforward and I got one at the New York Bolivian embassy for a hefty fee of $160 USD.

Good news for you my fellow traveler, as of the 2020s and the change of presidents, US citizens are no longer required to get one.

Surviving high altitude

The city of Copacabana, Bolivia is located higher than La Paz, at over 12,600 feet. That is a crazy attitude for someone coming from sea level like myself. What happens at such high elevations, is that your body can no longer take in the same amount of oxygen per breath. This condition is called hypoxia. Having less available oxygen gives you a headache, confusion, lethargy and most annoyingly it’s hard to breathe too.

The first time I experienced pretty bad symptoms of altitude sickness was when I visited Cusco. I talk about this “horror” story here, so feel free to read it for some entertainment. When I was going to Bolivia, I wanted to be prepared so I researched ways to make this process less painful. I found out that you can take Acetazolamide or Diamox, a high blood pressure medication that can ease your symptoms of altitude sickness. I went to the doctor and got my prescription ready.

This is what it felt like for me: My doctor suggested starting the meds 3 days prior to arrival. After landing, I felt my head get a little heavy but not as bad as it did in Peru. My first stop was Copacabana and I was pretty ok throughout the day. At night, however, I got a headache that felt like my brain was about to explode. I cried because I thought it was my last day on earth, not kidding. To my surprise, I managed to fall asleep and woke up totally fine. After that, I did not have any more major issues while traveling the rest of Bolivia.

How to survive altitude sickness:

• Give yourself a day to do nothing and get your body used to the brutal altitude. Read a book, lay around and whatever you do, do not drink alcohol!
• Instead, drink tons and tons of water before and when you get there.
• If you know you will get sick based on prior experience, consider getting a prescription from your doctor for Acetazolamide or Diamox, a blood pressure medication that has a positive effect on altitude sickness. Its mechanism of action is believed to make your blood more acidic thus making oxygen stick to hemoglobin molecules in your blood a little better. I used it, and although it didn’t save me completely, it helped a lot compared to my experience in Cusco.
• If your symptoms get really bad, you can ask for oxygen at the hotel or you can descend to a lower altitude if possible.

Transport

To get to Copacabana from La Paz, you will need to take a bus from La Paz at the Cementary stop. If you’re landing in La Paz and want to go straight there since you’re already in El Alto that will save you an hour of extra travel. I decided to go to Copacabana first before going to La Paz and I am super happy with that route.

When I got off the plane, I went to the bus station, La Terminal Nueva de El Alto, hopped on the three-dollar, 4-hour local bus. I made friends with the local lady who fed me coca leaves to ease my altitude sickness. Most of them leave frequently but only when they fill up with enough people. They run until 6 pm or so. There are also tourist buses for about $7 that offer a little more comfort compared to the local one. I took this one back to La Paz and it was also totally fine.

On the way there, about 45 minutes outside of Copacabana, you will arrive at Tiquina Strain, a river crossing at which a little boat will transport you across it. The bus was will be a separate platform peacefully crossing the channel. It was so casual for everyone. For me, however, this was 3 hours into my Bolivian adventure so I was crazy fascinated by the whole process. There was a tiny fee for the boat transfer but from what I remember it wasn’t more than $0.40 or so.

If you’re spending a lot of time in South America and don’t mind long bus rides, I would really recommend looking into Bolivia/Peru Hop. The connections, flexibility and prices are great and allow you to see all the highlights of the gringo trail.

Where to stay in Copacabana, Bolivia

Copacabana is tiny. When you get there, you will have everything within a 15-minute radius. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where you stay, it all depends on your budget. You can find places as cheap as $5 a night or as pricey as $60. I stayed at a known hotel with a middle price range, La Cupula. It was beautiful, comfortable, and warm. I loved it and I would highly recommend it. Cupulas neighbor, the funky Hostal Las Olas is higher in price but if you have the budget, it’s a super cool place to stay in.

A lot of people choose to take a day trip to Isla del Sol from Copacabana as there isn’t that much to do on the island but I highly recommend staying a night there instead. It becomes a very different experience and you can soak in the beauty of the island without being rushed. Your hikes won’t be limited, you’ll get to see the most incredible stars at night and you won’t have to worry about missing the boat.

Similar to Copacabana, your stay will largely depend on your budget. I choose a pricer option, Hostal Jallalla because I wanted the views and a place with heat. I was also staying at cheap hostels for the rest of my trip so I figured splurging a little was worth it. Note, that the island can get chilly at night and not all the places provide heaters. The place was incredible but if you don’t want to spend the money, my only suggestion is to find a hostel as high up as you can. The main highlight of the island is Lake Titicaca’s views so don’t choose a place that deprives you of them.

Note: There are constant conflicts between the north and south side of the island, with the north frequently closing tourist access. Make sure to find relevant information before you leave to avoid surprises upon arrival. That’s why I recommend staying in the south part, in the village of Yumani.

People & Safety

Copacabana has mixed safety reviews. For the most part, people don’t have bad experiences and feel safe. I felt safe myself too. However, there are some tales of theft or scams but I honestly don’t think it’s any worse than your average travel threat. The one scam that comes up over and over is ATM machines eating your cards. That is exactly what happened to my travel companion upon arrival in the city. We thought this was the end of the card especially when the teller said the person that can get it, is out for lunch. However, to our surprise when we returned later in the day, the card was waiting for us. Turns out, the guy really went to enjoy some lunch…

Isla del Sol is filled with locals. There are a few tourists that stick out like sore thumbs wandering the island. I wouldn’t be too concerned about your safety there. However, when you’re hiking in remote areas, make sure to understand that the farms are the property of the people that live there. Unless you have permission or there is a sign allowing you to enter, do not wander into someone’s alpaca farm.

Most Bolivians are extremely nice and welcoming people. Embrace that but don’t go blindly trusting everyone that approaches you.

Food

Copacabana has a stretch of touristy restaurants along the main street of Av 6. The food isn’t horrible but also not very authentic. Go down to the port and have a local trout at one of the kiosks there. It’s a local specialty and I bet you that it tastes 10x better than at most restaurants in town.

Isla del Sol has family-run spots all over the tiny town. The best part is eating on top of the hill overlooking the lake. Try a couple to support the locals. For a navigational point lookup Pachamama.

Sightseeing

There isn’t an abundance of things to do in either of these spots but the spots themselves are worth making the journey. You’re meant to disconnect and enjoy the amazing scenery of both. My favorite part of Isla del Sol was stopping and listening to how quiet it was. Connecting with mother nature and allowing yourself to pause is the best thing you can do there.

Check out a couple of things you can do in each city in the list below.

Perfect Things To Do in Copacabana, Bolivia

Let’s not lie to ourselves, Copacabana doesn’t have many things to do. You’re likely not blending in as a local or finding things that are “off the beaten path”. So embrace being a visitor and don’t put on the “too cool to buy a fluffy alpaca” act.

Walk along Avenida 6 de Agosto to the “Port”

Being the main touristy street of town, on Avenida 6 de Agosto, you will find a ton of little shops, bars, and restaurants full of gringos. It’s cute, you can make friends with the tourists and enjoy a couple of beers in actually nicely decorated places.

When you reach the “port” or the dirt road from which the boats leave to the surrounding islands, you can observe the locals fishing, kids playing, and tourists buying shuttle tickets. What I do recommend, however, is grabbing the local delicacy or the trout along with a cold Paceña, in one of the kiosks. It’s one of those must-dos on your trip there and it’s much better than the one you can get in town.

Cerro Calvario

Technically this is a sacred place dedicated to a pilgrimage but many tourists simply enjoy the hike there. At the top, you will find the stations of the cross statues which are celebrated around Easter time. It will give you the best views of the town from above. Locals and tourists both visit the site and it will take about 30 minutes to get to the top. Unfortunately, I was battling altitude sickness that day so I didn’t get to watch the sunset from it as I really wanted to. Oh, yea, a 30-minute hike at almost 13,000 feet isn’t your typical stroll.

Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana

This is a beautiful white colonial church that you should visit despite what religion you believe in. It’s an important spot in Bolivia and many people come to see it through a pilgrimage. Also, it is sacred to both Catholics and the indigenous people due to its Inca importance.

Every day around 10 am, highly decorated cars pass through a blessing drive-thru for safety. The blessing is done by a catholic priest as well as a witch doctor. The car owner often finishes the blessing with a beer or coca-cola, for Pachamama of course.

Another thing you can find near the church is market stalls. Bolivian ladies sell anything from candy, toys, and tourist trinkets. It’s the closest to “local” as you will get in this area.

Horca del Inca

Back in the day, like Inca back in the day, this used to be an astronomical observatory. Rock structures used to be positioned to the sun, moon, and other structures. Today, only a couple of them remain after the ruthless Europeans decided to destroy a bunch of them after invading Bolivia.

It’s a difficult hike and only those that are fit and acclimated to the altitude should attempt it. However, the views will be amazing from there and the spot should be less crowded compared to Calvary Hill. If you’re interested, read this brief history about it in a very informative and well-written article from the Temple Trail here.

If you really want to see some ruins but aren’t fit enough to make this climb, try going to Intikala El Asiento del Inca instead. It’s close and accessing it is a lot easier.

Hike to Yampupata (or back to Copacabana)

Another cool (but much longer) hike can be done from or to the village of Yampupata. A lot of hikers opt to take an 80 boliviano/35-minute taxi ride to the village and then hiking back to Copacabana along the shore of Lake Titicaca. It’s a good activity if you have some extra time in the city and want to warm up for your Isla del Sol treks. You can do it both ways too but you have to be in really good shape. Again, Copacabana’s altitude is a killer, and things that are normally easy, become extremely strenuous on a person who doesn’t live in these types of conditions.

Islas Flotantes

Along the hike from Yampupata, you can encounter little floating islands close to Copacabana. They’re small and not as impressive as Peru’s islands and I don’t know if I would specifically make a trip out of town just to see them. But there is a bunch of tours organized from town that let you hike around and enjoy this unique activity so if you always wanted to see one and don’t have time for the Peruvian ones, take a short boat ride there.

Perfect Things To Do in Isla del Sol, Bolivia

To get to Isla del Sol from Copacabana, you will need to take a boat at 8:30 am or 1:30 pm from the boat dock in town for about $3. Make sure to get to the dock 30 minutes earlier and buy tickets there to save yourself some money because the ones that you will buy in town are a lot pricer. You can technically come back the same day because the boats come back at 3:30 and 4 pm but I wouldn’t really recommend that.

Useful Tips:

• If you’re going there for the night, store your main luggage at the hotel and only bring what you need for the day. You’ll save yourself the headache of carrying huge packs.
• Always triple-check the times of the boats. I missed mine by 30 minutes.
• If you miss the boat and you’re lucky, there are some private boats that can take you there but you will pay a shit ton more. I had to opt out for this option because my dumb self thought the boat runs between not at 8:30 and 1:30 …
• If the waters are choppy, you won’t be able to make the trip there.
• There are no ATMs on the island so take all the cash that you think you will spend. I had to loan money to a fellow traveler because they had no way of getting back to town.
• There may or may not be wi-fi there.
• North and the southern parts of the island always seem to be in conflict so there is a chance your plans might not work out if you wanted to see both sides. For the most part, the Yumani area seems to be always open, it’s the north that likes to close off access to tourists.

Hike hike hike

The reason why you came to Isla del Sol was for the views, sunsets, and untouched territory. There are no cars on the island so guess what? You are walking my friend. And you’re walking a lot, so make sure you’re acclimated as you’re at the highest lake in the world.

If the north and the south aren’t fighting, take the north-to-south route hike on the Willa Thaki Trail. Assuming it’s open, your boat can drop you off in the north part which is the Challapampa community, and then you can start your walk to Yumani which should take you 2-3 hours. If closed, you’ll get dropped off in the south, and you can loop that trail, one way in the middle of the island, the other on the coast.

Everything is marked and there aren’t any alternatives so you will have no problem following the route. Along the route, there is a bunch of ruins that I marked on the Bolivia map for you but I know nothing about them aside from that they’re old and important.

If the north is fighting with the south, you can still get killer views on the tiny south stretch. Walk to Mirador Palla Khasa for great views.

Sunset and Sunrise

I saw a couple of famous sunset spots in the world, and all I have to tell you is that they have nothing on the Isla del Sol views. This is the main reason why you should stay on the island for the night. Stay in Yumani but on the hill so you can comfortably grab a glass of wine or a cold Paceña and just silently soak in this beauty.

Oh, and you know the best part? After the sun goes down, the stars are SO bright they were the best ones I have ever seen in my life. Better than in the Uyuni desert or Mount Teide in Tenerife. Stargazing is even better than the sunset.

Inca Stairs

When you’re taking the boat back to Copacabana, you won’t be able to avoid the 200+ Inca Stairs. They’re beautiful but at that altitude, any physical activity is a huge pain. I wasn’t happy and the amount of mud there didn’t make this any easier on me. But the whole walk is surrounded by flowers and beautiful trees so it’s worth the pain. Spot the Fountain of Youth along the way. They bring you to the dock which is pretty too.

Las Velas

This was the highlight of the trip for me. Las Velas is a candlelit restaurant in the middle of the woods serving dinner at one time per night. The walk there is very scenic too. We arrived there a little early so we got to enjoy some beers on a cliff along with a great sunset.

The chef cooks everything from scratch as the whole restaurant waits. You can enjoy beers and board games as you will probably wait for over 2 hours. Is it worth it? A million times yes. The whole experience of disconnecting and just enjoying sitting collectively with other travelers while someone cooks a gourmet meal for you is incredible. At the end of the night, he made a little speech and every guest applauded him.

Then we walked back to the hotel in pitch dark through the woods. The stars were extremely bright and I didn’t even want to use a flashlight. I would say that this entire evening was one of the top travel experiences of my travel life.

Speaking of restaurants … EAT

Go to the top of the hill in Yumani around the restaurant Pachamama. You will have a meal with the most beautiful backdrop of the lake. Try to eat a couple of places as they’re all family-run. You can also go closer to the docks where you will find even more places.

Unwind, relax and stay the night

Traveling to Bolivia is hectic. You always have to plan and be prepared for everything ahead. A lot of your trips are arranged where you’re on a constant schedule. La Paz is a whole other story. It’s wild and loud and scary at times. Isla del Sol is everything but that. I frequently stopped while walking to just simply soak in the silence.

If you take a day trip, you will be rushing and stressing to get back to your boat and miss the most important reason for visiting this place. Staying the night will allow you to see the sunset and sunrise, the stars, and also experience the island “to yourself” as the majority of the day travelers will be gone after the last ferry.

Appreciate the rawness of this place, talk to the locals and soak in this unique beauty that many travelers haven’t seen yet.

Bonus: Isla de la Luna

Ok, you’ve heard of Isla del Sol but did you know it has a little sister, Isla de la Luna? It’s much smaller, and can be reached from both, Isla del Sol and Copacabana. It is known for its famous Temple of the Virgins. Even fewer people make it there or if you’re looking for some secluded hikes, ruins, and remote places, take a boat ride there too.

Copacabana & Isla del Sol Perfect Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guides

These two beauties go hand in hand. You can’t avoid Copacabana when visiting Isla del Sol and vice-versa. For that reason, I planned the best-combined visit for your trip. All my itineraries were made after I traveled to a destination so they are optimized for things I wish I did differently. I hope that my mistakes could help you avoid any bumps in the road. However, if you feel like some plans can be even more perfect, please let me know in the comments below!

Two-Day Perfect Itinerary

For your two-day plan, I start with the transport to Copacabana. Then you will explore this tiny city on foot for the major tourist highlights. After that, you will be able to climb a hill for the best sunset views and end your day with a perfect dinner. On the second day, you will wake up early to head to Isla del Sol located on Lake Titicaca. You will relax, hike and spend the night there, enjoying everything the island has to offer.

Three-Day Perfect Itinerary

Although technically not necessary, I like the three-day option for a slow enjoyment of life. This plan includes a day in Copacabana on day one, a trip to Isla del Sol on day two, and then back for another half a day in Copacabana. Alternatively, you can spend two days on the island and just one in town, stretching out the activities I suggest in that plan.

On day one, you will explore the town, climb a beautiful hill and have a tasty dinner. Then on day two, you will head to the island to explore it but more importantly, just to simply enjoy its beauty. On day three, you will spend one more night in Copacabana hiking or relaxing. For the night, I suggest a local Discoteca for some dancing and drinks.

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La Paz Itinerary: The Highest City In The World

La Paz intimidated me at first due to its not-so-hot reputation. I didn’t know what to expect, whether I’d feel safe and how the altitude would affect me after what I experienced in Peru. Having found many warnings for this destination, my nerves were pretty heightened for this trip despite being a not-so-nervous traveler, to…

Continue Reading La Paz Itinerary: The Highest City In The World

With this La Paz itinerary and useful resource for your travels, I hope to show you that this is a one-of-a-kind destination. I want to prepare you for what to expect, what to see, and how to make the most of this Bolivian adventure.

This post will try to cover the basics of everything you need to know about traveling to La Paz, things to see, and most importantly give you free downloadable itineraries at the bottom of the post! This is your one-stop for everything you need to know about traveling to La Paz.

Let’s get to the logistics of visiting La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz in Bolivia is a hidden gem to an average traveler. Backpackers, however, invaded the city a while back. It’s not as crowded with tourists as its next-door neighbors, Lima or Cusco for example, which makes this city a very unique destination. Tourism in places with high levels of poverty can be tricky but if done consciously, can tremendously help the economy. I hope that my small footprint was able to help as well.

Full Bolivia itinerary

Before we dive into La Paz specifics, for your reference, my personal Bolivia itinerary included the cities below. I’d say they’re the most popular Bolivia places to see:

• Flew into La Paz to take a bus into Copacabana (base for Lake Titicaca) and stayed there a night to acclimate.
• Then took a boat to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca with an overnight stay there.
• Returned to Copacabana to take a bus back to La Paz to stay there for 4 days.
• Next stop from La Paz to Uyuni for a 3 day Salt Flats tour.
• After the tour, I took an overnight bus to Sucre and stayed there for 4 days.
• My last stop was Santa Cruz to which I took a flight from Sucre. I stayed there for another 3 days.

Bolivia travel budget

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America so traveling there was really cheap. Here is a rough idea of how much things cost there for me in 2019 for the entire trip:

• Flights: NYC to La Paz, Sucre to Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz to NYC: $550
• Other transport including taxis and buses: $80
• Uyuni Tour: $140
• Hotels and hostels: $200
• Food: Most meals are under $5, more upscale restaurants are $20 for dinners, and really boujee places $50 for a special night out.

Traveling to Bolivia as a US citizen

While most countries don’t need a visa while traveling to Bolivia, the US relationship with the country made it mandatory to get one. That’s why it was quite rare to find many American travelers there. Obtaining a visa was fairly straightforward and I got one at the New York Bolivian embassy for a hefty fee of $160 USD.

Good news for you my fellow traveler, as of 2020’s change of presidents, US citizens are no longer required to get a visa for Bolivia. However, you should always check if that’s still the case at the time of your travels.

Surviving high altitude in La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz is located at 11,900 feet above sea level, and its El Alto neighborhood is even higher at 13,615 feet. It’s the highest administrative capital in the world. That’s pretty high. To quickly compare, Denver, Colorado is only a little over 5,000 feet. What happens to you at such a high elevation, is that your body can no longer take in the same amount of oxygen per breath. This condition is called hypoxia. Having less available oxygen makes your head hurt, you’ll feel confused and tired and it will be hard to breathe too.

The first time I experienced pretty bad symptoms of altitude sickness was when I visited Cusco. When I was going to Bolivia, I wanted to be prepared so I researched ways to make this process less painful. I found out that you have to take Acetazolamide or Diamox, a high blood pressure medication that can ease your symptoms of altitude sickness. I went to the doctor and got my prescription ready.

This is what it felt like for me: My doctor suggested starting the meds 3 days prior to arrival. After landing, I felt my head get a little heavy but not as bad as it did in Peru. My first stop in Bolivia was Copacabana and I was pretty ok throughout the day. At night, however, I got a headache that felt like my brain was about to explode. I cried because I thought it was my last day on earth, not kidding. To my surprise, I managed to fall asleep and woke up totally fine. After that, I did not have any more major issues while traveling the rest of Bolivia.

How to survive altitude sickness:

• Give yourself a day to do nothing and get your body used to the brutal altitude. Read a book, lay around and whatever you do, do not drink alcohol!
• Instead, drink tons and tons of water before and when you get there.
• If you know you will get sick based on prior experience, consider getting a prescription from your doctor for Acetazolamide or Diamox, a blood pressure medication that has a positive effect on altitude sickness. Its mechanism of action is believed to make your blood more acidic thus making oxygen stick to hemoglobin molecules in your blood a little better. I used it, and although it didn’t save me completely, it helped a lot compared to my experience in Cusco.
• If your symptoms get really bad, you can ask for oxygen at the hotel or you can descend to a lower altitude if possible.

Where to stay in La Paz

Staying in La Paz’s Center area is your best bet for a short stay. It’s the safest for a tourist, you’ll be central to everything and you can pretty much get anywhere from there. It’s kind of dirty and chaotic so if that’s important to you it might not be the best choice. Sopocachi is the hip area to be in. Although a little further away, it’s connected well to the center. The Zona Sur has more financial district/shopping/wealthy area vibes but I don’t know if I would recommend it for your first visit to the city.

Basically, anywhere you stay, nice hotels are cheap, and Airbnbs even cheaper for penthouse-like views. Hostels can be even found for $5 a night and are a great time in this country.

I stayed at Wild Rover, a known party chain hostel. It was good for coordinating a walking tour, the death road trip, and transfer to my next destination and obviously, it had a great social atmosphere. Honestly, I would only recommend it to a traveler that knows what they’re getting themselves into. It’s a party hostel meaning your door will probably be open all the time, people will be loud and obnoxious and your room will not have the accommodations you might expect. However, it is a unique experience for backpacking and if you’re going to stay in one at some point in your life, this city is a good option for it.

How to navigate La Paz

Landing at the airport is an experience within itself. The views upon landing are incredible. To get to your accommodation, you can pre-book a cheap taxi or take the city bus 212 which offers many convenient stops in the city.

La Paz itself is huge. Like seriously a huge city with some sketchy neighborhoods too. Mine and everyone else’s favorite way of getting around the city is the Teleferico, the coolest public transport I have ever been on. This post describes the experience very nicely! When you check out the most current map, make sure to pay attention to which lines are being built vs. which exist. I made the mistake of thinking there was a line and getting stuck on the other side of the city.

If you’re scared of heights, you have the option of taxis, Ubers, micro, or minibusses. Make sure that you take a radio taxi for your safety. I took the minibus where the route is displayed on the window and where you yell at the driver where to get off. It was a very local experience and I loved taking that authentic ride in the city too.

People & Safety in Bolivia

Tourism isn’t as popular in this city as it is in other South American countries so you’ll get a mix of reactions from local people. Most were very friendly, helping me out when I got lost in El Alto to get me back home. I do speak conversational Spanish so I’m sure that it helped too. Others weren’t as welcoming as one would ideally like. A taxi driver charged me an insane fare when I ventured out into the local town and left me with no choice but to pay. Another not-so-memorable moment was getting some crazy looks and comments while shopping in a remote, non-tourist area.

As far as safety, you should be fine but also aware that you are traveling to a very poor place. Second poorest after Venezuela in South America. Poverty, unfortunately, forces some people into doing bad things. There are stories of ATM kidnappings, fake police officers asking you for your papers, or fake travelers approaching you with a scam. Here is a good post on the most common scams in La Paz, Bolivia

Walking alone at night is not a good idea, especially if you’re a girl. I personally had no problems in the city despite all the warnings. For comparison, I experienced theft in Spain twice and that’s supposed to be a “richer” country. So stay alert, don’t be naive, and don’t assume everyone is out to get you.

Most Bolivians are extremely nice and welcoming people. Embrace that but don’t go blindly trusting everyone that approaches you.

Food in La Paz

I’m guilty of eating most of my food in La Paz at my hostel. I ventured out to a couple of restaurants and loved the dishes but I certainly did not eat my way through the city as I did in Sucre or Santa Cruz. Therefore, aside from telling you how much I love salteñas, I am not a good resource for this section. Instead, read this short and super sweet guide from Temporary Provisions for food to eat and restaurants to try while visiting this city.

Sightseeing in La Paz, Bolivia

The city has a decent amount of things on your La Paz itinerary and a three-day trip to the city is enough to see the highlights and get the local vibe. There are a couple of day trips you will want to take so that can add some length to your stay. This city truly does offer some weird things to do though so rather than passing it on your gringo trail, embrace it.

Bolivia as a country has a lot of interesting places to see so spending a long in La Paz may not be necessary unless you plan on working from there. See a list of my perfect choices for things to do below.

Perfect Things To Do on Your La Paz Itinerary

Plaza Murillo

The main square of the city, often referred to as the Plaza Murillo, is a must-see attraction when visiting La Paz. Located in the heart of the city, the Plaza is home to several significant landmarks, including the Presidential Palace, the National Congress of Bolivia, and the Cathedral of La Paz. The Plaza is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, with many people enjoying an afternoon stroll around the square, watching the hustle and bustle of city life, and observing the many vendors selling food and trinkets. If you take a walking tour of the Plaza, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the rich history of this important cultural and political hub. It’s worth noting that demonstrations and protests can sometimes take place in the Plaza, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and avoid any potential dangers.

Mi Teleferico

Technically not an official sightseeing attraction, but simply the best and coolest way to see La Paz. Mi Teleferico is a super modern, clean, and high-tech cable car, that for a very small price of 3 Bolivianos or about 0.50 cents a ride, lets you see the city from above. Transfers aren’t included so you will need to buy a ticket for each line change.

I couldn’t hype this up enough as I have never experienced anything like it before. Seeing the city from that many angles and from that height was simply insane. Seeing Illimani in the background was even crazier.

Oh, and if you’re fascinated by those types of vistas, don’t forget to make your way over to Mirador Killi Killi for some stunning views of the city too. If possible, try to catch some night views too.

Markets in La Paz

The most known one, The Witches Market, is a weird place, mostly curated for tourists. It sells witch-like things such as potions, llama fetuses, and many other sacrificial objects. You will either be weirded out or fascinated by it. I personally found it a cheesy souvenir market but still enjoyed browsing around the weird items. Don’t forget to buy the South American gringo medallion, otherwise known as the alpaca sweater. Although I got mine in Peru, there was not a shortage of them here either.

Walk a little further away and you will find a local produce and goods market Mercado Rodriguez, which is an actual authentic spot for locals to do their grocery shopping. There is also a more everyday item market, Mercado Negro, or an artisanal Ayni Market.

Another cool spot is the market in El Alto neighborhood which happens on Thursdays and Sundays. It’s huge and considered one of the biggest in South America. I found it fascinating and loved the very local vibe it offered. I scored some awesome street salteñas there too. Note that since this is a very local market, the majority of the items there will be of no use to you, like auto parts or household items. It’s more so for a local experience than anything else.

My personal favorite was Mercado Lanza, which is an indoor place with fresh juices and other great local food choices. I recommend it for grabbing a lunch bite. Very authentic and more importantly, very tasty 🙂

Plaza San Francisco

Plaza San Francisco is another major square located in La Paz, and it is known for its busy atmosphere due to its central location at the intersection of several major roads. While the Plaza itself may not have many activities or attractions, it is situated next to a popular market and is home to the impressive San Francisco Cathedral. Visitors can enter the cathedral for free, but there may be a fee for taking a tour or accessing certain areas of the building. Despite its busy location, Plaza San Francisco is worth a visit for its historic and cultural significance, and for the opportunity to explore the beautiful cathedral.

Calle Sagarnaga

I really liked this street despite its reputation for being a tourist trap. It has cheesy souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. I would certainly recommend visiting it despite it being a gringo trap. It will most likely be on your route to the Witches Market too. Don’t forget to get at least one typical gift there, for example, a cute little alpaca that you can drag all the way home with you 🙂 Yes, I have one, and yes I pet it at least once a week till this day.

San Pedro Prison

If you haven’t heard of this place, you MUST and I repeat, MUST read this amazing article about it. I learned about this prison on a walking tour and I was immediately fascinated with its history and current operating status. What I also learned, however, is how dangerous this place is to the locals and how the prisoners run criminal activities from the inside. So while I was blown away but how it functions, I am also aware of how horrible it is.

There are some insane tourists that choose to take a tour inside with one of the prisoners offering to smuggle them in as a “relative”. It’s actually quite a popular thing to do in town. I’m always down for some crazy and stupid things to do when I travel, however, this is the one thing I chose to stay away from. Remember, if you are considering this type of tour, you’re not exploring a local sketchy neighborhood, you’re going to a walled community of thousands of criminals. Instead, just choose a good walking tour that will give you the gist of what you need to know.

Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna or Valley of the Moon is out of this planet maze of rocks that will blow your mind. It seriously looks like you’ve transported yourself to outer space. To get there, take the green Teleferico to the end and then a short taxi to the entrance. Another option is a taxi or Uber, a colectivo or you can also book an organized tour. It’s not really necessary to have a guide there I would save you the money. The entrance fee is about $3. Prepare to spend 1 to 2 hours there or even longer if you’re taking some cool pictures.

Estadio Hernando Siles

It’s not a secret that South America is obsessed with futbol. Why not do something unique and head to the local stadium to catch a team play at this ridiculously high altitude. I learned about this place after some people from the hostel were heading out to watch a game. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go but all the fellow travelers that experienced it loved the vibe. Tickets run about $20 if you get them last minute and depending on who is playing. Catch the national team play there with the potential of seeing other major South American teams too.

Chualluma

Is street art and off-the-radar neighborhoods something you enjoy? Then look no further than the unique neighborhood of Chualluma. Your best bet is to take a taxi there but The Partying Travel describes how to get there in a more DIY way. It seems like this is an upcoming neighborhood for a hot insta-spot in the near future. Don’t put it on your radar for that but rather the story behind the art. Read the fascinating story about recent art here.

Cholitas Wrestling Match

I heard mixed reviews about this activity. What is it you ask? It’s sorta like a Bolivian WWE show where women in traditional attire and long braids wrestle each other as people gather to watch in plastic chairs around the ring. What? Yes, you read that correctly. For me, it was too cheesy and not something I cared to experience. Some friends from the hostel, however, appreciated to strange activity. Here is a good reference in case you’re interested.

Party

La Paz is a fun city to party in. All the top party hostels have daily drinking events and many themed nights. I spent all my nights at Wild Rover mainly due to the fact that I met some awesome people there. We enjoyed sharing travel stories over cheap beers and watching fellow backpackers make idiots of themselves too. For a more sophisticated scene head to Sopocachi.

Note, the city is also known for some nasty cocaine bars that tourists seem to chase. Truth is, you’re probably putting yourself at unnecessary risk and getting scammed by buying shit cocaine. All I have to say is be smart if that’s your vice but there are much cooler things to do compared to a dungy basement with gringo coke.

Day Trips for your La Paz itinerary

Death Road

Despite its huge popularity, this was one of the main highlights of my trip to Bolivia. This dangerous road received its reputation from the old days where its yearly death toll reached about 300 casualties. It’s much much safer now and if you’ve ridden a bike in your life and don’t have a fear of heights, you will be fine. Don’t underestimate its danger though. There are some parts of it which if you’re not paying attention could be very dangerous. A couple of narrow turns made my stomach seriously drop so if you are not a fan of adrenaline, don’t be a hero.

Unless you have a bike in Bolivia, you will need to book a tour. There are many companies offering a similar excursion so make sure to find one that has a good safety record. Your journey will start early in the morning on a paved road. This part will get you used to the bike and the conditions. At this altitude and this time of the day, you will be crazy cold. Then, you will continue on the actual death road which for the most part is unpaved. The views are like nowhere else and it’s such an incredible experience.

Don’t worry if you’re a slow biker, there will be a van following the last person making sure you’re safe. During the tour, you will stop a couple of times for small breaks, for lunch and of course for pictures. The ride will end in a warm jungle with a pool and drinks to relax and celebrate conquering this adventure.

Between the transport, stops, and extras that your tour company offers, expect this to be a 5-6 hour excursion and will cost you close to $100. It’s not cheap but it’s 1000% worth the hype.

Valle de las Animas

Valley of the Souls is the perfect name for this place. It’s empty, extremely quiet, and borderline eerie. However, the landscape and views of Illimani make it a perfect destination for your La Paz adventure list. Hiking this gem was no joke but it was simply stunning. Don’t try to do this during a rainy day either as the conditions become a lot tougher. There are many tours going now compared to when I traveled there and more resources about how to get there depending on which hike you’d like to do.

I took a long bus ride there from La Paz, ended up in the small town of Ovejuyo, and took a taxi to a small village at the Ruta Alterna “entrance”. Mind you, there are no clear signs where to enter or any trails so do yourself a favor and download an offline map. I simply remember just blindly following someone’s directions from TripAdvisor. Although eventually successful, my experience was a little bit messy so I don’t necessarily recommend my way of getting there.

Chacaltaya

This is a really cool day trip to a mountain summit on which you can find an abandoned ski resort. It was once the highest one in the world but after the glacier melted due to global warming, the resort closed. There are a couple of tour operators from La Paz that will drive you there and let you summit this high point in an hour or two. It’s a unique spot but you have to make sure that you’re acclimated before trekking that kind of altitude. A lot of excursions offer a two-part tour during which you will also have the chance to visit the Moon Valley too. It’s a good combo for a full-day trip if you don’t mind the extra cost. Check out this cool post on it from Snow Brains!

Muelle del Diablo

This is another rock formation offering beautiful views of the surrounding area. There are two ways to see it, hike to the top, or just take a taxi that will literally bring you all the way to it. To get there by public transport, take a microbus to the south of the city, then get on a minibus to Pedregal from outside the San Miguel Church. From there you can hike up.

Perfect La Paz Itinerary: FREE downloadable guides for your stay

Although not easy, La Paz is a unique destination. I hope you find its magic as I did and are able to appreciate how special it is.

All my itineraries were made after I traveled to a destination so they are optimized for things I wish I did differently. I hope that my mistakes could help you avoid any bumps in the road. However, if you feel like some plans can be even more perfect, please let me know in the comments below!

Two Perfect Days in La Paz

This itinerary starts with a free walking tour or a self-guided one for which I list all the highlights of the city. In the afternoon, you will explore the city from above in one of the coolest modes of transportation in the world, the Teleferico. For the evening, I suggest a nice dinner as well as checking out a nice viewing spot of the city.

On the second day, you will explore Valle de la Luna and an abandoned ski resort. Then you will relax and explore the culinary scene at night. If you don’t like the choices for day two, feel free to check out the third day from the three-day itinerary for more options on things to do outside the city.

Three Perfect Days in La Paz

The first two days are exactly like the two-day plan. On the third one, however, you will have a choice of an awesome activity. My personal pick is Death Road, but I give you a couple of other options in case that’s too scary for you.

I hope you enjoyed my guide and downloaded my itineraries for your travels. I had an amazing time in Bolivia, at the moment remains the top travel destination I have ever been to. It’s not for every traveler, but if you like amazing views, unique experiences, and a more authentic travel experience, this country should be on your top bucket list.

If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please share them below!

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