La Paz: Walking Tour, Cable Car & Witches Market
Three hours in La Paz: from street level to the sky and back
You walk through La Paz's colonial center and markets with a local guide, ride multiple cable car lines for views across the city, and learn the history behind the Cathedral, San Pedro Prison, and the Witches Markets in both La Paz and El Alto. The tour takes 3 hours, keeps groups under 15, and includes all activities and transportation. You just show up at San Francisco Church.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
La Paz city and cable car tour
- Start at San Francisco Church
- Visit Witches Market of La Paz
- See San Pedro Square and jail exterior
- Take various cable car lines
- Visit Witches Market of El Alto
- Explore flea market (Thursday/Sunday only)
- Return to La Paz
- Visit Jaen Street
- See main square and cathedral
- Walk through open air markets and shops
- Finish at San Francisco Church
What’s included
Your tour includes a local guide, all activities (Witches Market visits, cable car rides, Cathedral and government building viewing, Jaen Street walk, and San Pedro Prison exterior viewing), and all transportation within the tour. Groups stay under 15 people throughout.
Times
- Every day 11:00 15:00
Before you book
Operated by Hanaqpacha Travel
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
You're standing at San Francisco Church, already at 3,640 meters above sea level, and your guide is pointing out the colonial stonework while the city spreads below you in a way that makes your phone camera feel useless. This is where the 3-hour walking tour starts: no long bus ride, no waiting around. You move straight into the Witches Market, where the stalls sell everything from dried llama fetuses to herbs bundled in newspaper, and your guide explains what's actually happening here instead of letting you guess. The market isn't a tourist trap dressed up as local life. It's where people come to buy what they need, and you're walking through it with someone who knows the difference.
After the market, you head to San Pedro Prison. You see it from the outside, which is the only way to see it, and your guide tells you the actual history, not the sensationalized version. Then the cable cars. You take various lines across the city, and from up there La Paz stops being a jumble of streets and becomes a geography you can read. The guide points out neighborhoods, explains the layout, and you get why the city is built the way it is. It's not a scenic ride with no context. It's transport that teaches you something. Later you'll visit the Witches Market in El Alto: different from the one in La Paz, higher up, and on Thursdays and Sundays there's part of the giant flea market happening too, which changes what you see depending on when you go.
The tour brings you back down to Jaen Street, which is narrow and colonial and full of small museums and cafes, and then to the main square where the Cathedral sits alongside the government buildings. You walk through open-air markets, past shops, and the guide keeps talking: about the myths, the history, the things that actually matter to understanding why La Paz feels the way it does. Groups stay under 15 people, so you're not herded. You can ask questions and actually hear the answer. The whole thing finishes back at San Francisco Church, which means you end where you started, but you've seen the city from three different angles by then.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand La Paz's layout, history, and street-level culture in one morning without arranging your own transport or guide: the fixed 3-hour structure and cable car routes are what fit the whole city into a single tour.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the La Paz city tour?
3 hours, starting at San Francisco Church.
What's included in the tour?
Local guide, entry to the Witches Market, cable car rides, views of San Pedro Prison from outside, and visits to Jaen Street and the Cathedral. All activities and transportation within the tour are included.
How many people are in the group?
Groups are limited to no more than 15 people.
Do I need to be fit to do this tour?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's a walking tour at high altitude (La Paz is at 3,640 meters), so pace yourself and let your guide know if you need breaks.
What should I wear?
Smart casual dress is recommended. Bring layers. The weather in La Paz can change quickly, and the altitude means temperature varies.
Is the Witches Market safe to visit?
Yes, the tour visits the market as part of a guided group during the day. Your guide will explain what you're seeing and keep the group together.
Will I go inside San Pedro Prison?
No, you see the prison from the outside only. The tour explains its history from the street.
What's the difference between the two Witches Markets?
The first is in La Paz city center. The second is in El Alto, higher up, and has a different selection. On Thursdays and Sundays, part of El Alto's giant flea market is also happening.
Are public transportation options available?
Yes, public transportation is available nearby if you need to reach the starting point or leave from the ending point.
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts at San Francisco Church. Check your booking confirmation for the specific departure time.
La Paz: Walking Tour, Cable Car & Witches Market
3h · EN · ES
from US$ 10 per person
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