Walking Tours in La Paz, Sucre and Potosí

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. A nationwide state of exception was decreed in June 2026. Protests and road blockades can cut routes, including roads to airports, at short notice, and fuel shortages are regular. Demonstrations often gather in central squares, so check the news each morning. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Chapare Province, including Villa Tunari, and the US warns against travel there. See the FCDO advice and travel.state.gov .

Walking in Bolivia’s old centres

Bolivian cities reward slow walking, but the altitude and the hills set the pace. La Paz is steep and above 3,600 m, Potosí is near 4,000 m and Sucre, at about 2,810 m, is the easiest. Stop often, carry water, and avoid alcohol on your first days. Coca tea is a local custom, not a proven treatment for altitude sickness, and anyone worried about the heights should see a doctor before flying in.

La Paz historic centre

Start at Calle Jaén, a cobbled colonial lane with four small museums, covering instruments, precious metals, the Pacific coast and the house of Pedro Murillo. A combined ticket was quoted around Bs 20, but opening days vary, so check at the door. From there, walk to Plaza Murillo, the political heart of the country and the place where Murillo was hanged in 1810. It is a quiet, respectful public space and a frequent protest site, so leave if a demonstration forms.

Go on to Mercado Lanza for juices and sandwiches. Then follow Calle Sagárnaga and Calle Linares into the Witches’ Market, where stalls sell herbs, amulets and dried llama foetuses placed as offerings. Ask before taking photographs of vendors. Mi Teleférico, at about Bs 3 a ride on the first line, saves your legs for the steep return.

Sucre, the white city

Begin at Plaza 25 de Mayo, then stroll along Calle Calvo and Calle Dalence past whitewashed houses with flowered patios. Climb Calle Polanco to the Mirador de la Recoleta for tile-roof views and sunset. Finish at the Cementerio General, whose mausoleums are worth an hour. The old town was inscribed by UNESCO in 1991, and the flat centre makes it a good place to start a trip.

Potosí old town

Walk around Plaza 10 de Noviembre, then to the carved stone doorway of San Lorenzo de Carangas and beneath the Arco de Cobija. Pasaje de la Torre is a quiet lane in the old centre. The city is on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list, and the Casa Nacional de la Moneda is under a multi-year restoration that began in September 2026. Walk slowly at 4,000 m. A visit to the working mines on Cerro Rico is not a walking tour and needs its own planning, with attention to the dust, the cooperative that you support and the physical risks.

Isla del Sol

On Lake Titicaca, a stone path climbs from the southern port of Yumani past the Inca Stairway to a terrace near the Pilkokaina ruins. Community fees are about Bs 10 to 15 per sector, paid in cash. Access to the northern end has been disputed, so ask in Copacabana the day before whether the full ridge walk is open. Check that your boat carries life jackets.

Practical tips

Wear grippy shoes for cobbles and carry small bolivianos, which trade at about 12 to the dollar after floating in 2026.
Walk in daylight, keep phones out of sight and avoid crowds during protests.
Start early, because many museums close for lunch and Sundays.

To join a guided stroll, search GetYourGuide Bolivia walking tours .