La Paz: Cable Car, Moon Valley & Witches Market Tour
Five cable car lines and a geology lesson in the clouds above La Paz
You ride five cable car lines across La Paz's canyon, walk through the otherworldly Valley of the Moon, then descend through colonial Jaen Street, Plaza Murillo, and the Witches Market. Transport, cable car entry, and a guide who knows what things mean are included. The tour is built for the first day, when altitude is still a factor and you want the main sights without arranging them yourself.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore La Paz highlights and surroundings
- Visit Valley of the Moon
- Ride La Paz cable cars
- Explore El Alto city
- Walk Jaen Street museums
- Visit Plaza Murillo
- Tour San Francisco Church
- Shop at Witches' Market
- San Francisco Church 25m
- Valley of the Moon 1h
- Calle Jaen Museums 20m
- Plaza Murillo 20m
- Witches' Market 25m
What’s included
Cable car tickets across five lines, private transport between all stops, and a guide who explains the city's history, geology, and living culture as you move through it. You walk the Valley of the Moon, ride the cable cars with views of the Cordillera Real, explore colonial Jaen Street and its museums, stand in Plaza Murillo surrounded by government buildings, and finish at the Witches Market where your guide translates what vendors are actually selling.
Times
- Every day 08:30 14:30
Before you book
Operated by WONDER TOURS, LA PAZ
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The experience
You've just landed at El Alto, the world's highest capital airport, and your lungs already know it. The air is thin up here on the Altiplano at 3,650 meters, and the city below spreads across a canyon like it was dropped there by accident. A private guide picks you up and the tour starts right away: no waiting, no confusion about where to go next. That matters when you're adjusting to altitude and you've got maybe half a day before jet lag hits.
The first stop is the Valley of the Moon, a short drive from the city center. It's not actually a valley, but a maze of eroded rock formations that look like they belong on another planet: towers, spires, shapes that have no names. The ground is rust-colored and fragile, and your guide will tell you to bring sunscreen and a hat because there's no shade and the sun reflects off the stone. You walk through it for maybe an hour, and the strangeness of the landscape makes you forget you're tired. Then you head back toward the city, and that's when the cable cars begin.
La Paz built the world's first cable car network as actual public transport, not a tourist attraction, and you'll ride five different lines. Each one climbs higher, and each one gives you a different angle on the city and the Cordillera Real mountains in the distance. The views are the kind that make you understand why people live in a place that sits this high and this steep. You'll stop at El Alto, the Aymara capital, where the population is mostly indigenous and the energy is completely different from La Paz proper. Your guide will point out things a solo traveler would miss: the markets, the neighborhoods, how the city actually works.
Coming back down, you walk Jaen Street, one of the best-preserved colonial streets in the city, lined with museums and old buildings that show what La Paz looked like centuries ago. Then Plaza Murillo, the political heart of the city, surrounded by the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral. And finally the Witches Market, where vendors sell ritual ingredients, dried llama fetuses, herbs, and things tourists photograph but don't quite understand. It's crowded and loud and genuinely strange, and your guide will explain what things are actually for instead of letting you guess. The whole tour takes about five to six hours, cable car tickets and all transport included, and by the end you've seen the city from above, walked through its geology, and touched its colonial past and living present in one afternoon.
Is this one for you?Book this if you've just arrived in La Paz and want the main sights in one afternoon without arranging transport, cable car tickets, and timing yourself: the fixed route and included entry are what make it possible to see the city from above, below, and at street level before your first evening.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
How long is the tour?
Around five to six hours, including all stops and transport.
Is the Valley of the Moon difficult to walk?
It's a moderate walk on uneven ground at high altitude. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Not recommended if you have cardiovascular concerns.
What's included in the price?
Cable car tickets, private transport, and the guide. Meals and museum entries on Jaen Street are separate.
Do I need to acclimatize before this tour?
The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, but La Paz sits at 3,650 meters. If you're sensitive to altitude, consider resting your first day or taking it slow.
Can I do this tour on my first day in La Paz?
Yes, it's designed for travelers with limited time. Just be aware of altitude effects and stay hydrated.
Is the Witches Market safe?
Yes, it's a busy tourist area. Your guide will walk with you and explain what vendors sell.
What should I wear?
Layers. It's cold at altitude, especially on the cable cars. Comfortable walking shoes for uneven ground.
Are there public restrooms on the tour?
Yes, facilities are available at the main stops. Ask your guide where they are.
La Paz: Cable Car, Moon Valley & Witches Market Tour
4h–5h · EN · ES
from US$ 43 per person
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