La Paz: High-Altitude Hikes and Valleys
Every hike near La Paz starts above 3,600 meters and most climb higher still, so this list comes with one caveat attached to every entry: acclimatize in the city for a day or two before attempting any of them. Coca tea helps, hydration helps more, and pushing hard on day one is how altitude sickness ruins a trip.
1. Valle de las Animas
About 20km east of the city, this eroded canyon of stone spires makes for a walkable half-day trip without technical difficulty, a good first hike once you’re feeling settled. Sits around the same altitude as La Paz itself, roughly 3,600 meters.
2. Valle de la Luna
Closer to downtown, about 10km south, this shorter loop through clay pinnacles takes 30 to 60 minutes and works well as a gentle warmup before tackling anything more strenuous.
3. Palca Canyon
A less-visited canyon southeast of the city with striking rock walls and a quieter trail than Valle de las Animas, good for travelers who want the same geology with fewer people around.
4. Muela del Diablo
A distinctive tooth-shaped rock formation reachable via a moderate half-day hike from the Zona Sur area, popular with locals on weekends and rewarding views over the southern part of the city.
5. Cerro Austria
A ridge hike in the hills above La Paz offering wide views back over the bowl and, on clear days, out toward the Cordillera Real, a solid moderate option for a half or full day.
6. Chacaltaya
Once the world’s highest ski resort, Chacaltaya sits at roughly 5,300 meters and its glacier has essentially vanished, a stark, sobering climate-change data point as much as a hike. Agencies run morning trips from La Paz; this is high enough that it should only follow real acclimatization, not be your first outing.
7. Cordillera Real day hikes
The mountain range east of the city holds several accessible trailheads for day hikers who don’t want the technical commitment of Huayna Potosi or Illimani, both of which require guides and proper mountaineering gear and sit well beyond day-hike territory.
A note on gear and guides
Nights are cold at these altitudes even when La Paz itself feels mild, so pack real layers. For anything past Valle de la Luna or Valle de las Animas, a local guide is worth the cost, both for route-finding and for reading how your body is handling the elevation.
Read more: nature spots beyond the city and day trips worth taking .