La Paz in 6 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
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A 6-Day La Paz Itinerary on a Budget
Six days is enough to add an overnight to Lake Titicaca alongside the city core, Tiwanaku, and Death Road, running roughly $200-275 per person on a shoestring budget across the trip. As always, Day 1 stays a genuine rest day, since El Alto’s airport lands you around 4,050-4,150m before you’ve even reached downtown. For a week that also fits in El Alto’s market and cholita wrestling, see our 7-day itinerary.
Book these before you go:
- La Paz hostel or budget hotel in Centro or Sopocachi for the first four nights
- A reputable Death Road mountain-bike tour , never a DIY descent
- A Copacabana bus ticket or guesthouse for your Titicaca overnight
- A Mi Teleferico card on arrival
Day 1: Arrival and Acclimatize
Morning. Land at El Alto, take a registered radio taxi or hostel transfer in, and check in without pushing yourself.
Afternoon. A gentle Yellow Line Mi Teleferico ride, around 3 BOB.
Evening. An early dinner, coca tea, no alcohol.
Day 1 running cost (USD, per person): airport transfer $5-8 + Mi Teleferico $0.40 + meals $8-10 + hostel bed $6-10 = ~$20-28
Day 2: Casco Viejo and a Viewpoint
Morning. Plaza Murillo, the backwards Reloj del Sur clock, and Iglesia de San Francisco’s facade, free.
Midday. Almuerzo at Mercado Lanza for a few dollars.
Afternoon. The Witches’ Market and Calle Jaen, both free, respectfully.
Evening. Mirador Killi Killi at sunset, free.
Day 2 running cost (USD, per person): transport $2 + meals $8-10 = **$10-12**
Day 3: Tiwanaku Day Trip
Morning. A two-hour public bus for a few dollars each way reaches the UNESCO-listed Tiwanaku site, entry a modest fee (confirm at the gate).
Afternoon. Walk the Gate of the Sun, the Kalasasaya courtyard, and the Akapana mound at an easy pace.
Evening. Return to La Paz for a low-key dinner.
Day 3 running cost (USD, per person): round-trip bus $6-10 + site entry $10-15 + meals $8-10 = ~$24-35
Day 4: Death Road
Morning. Meet your booked, reputable mountain-bike operator for the North Yungas Road descent, roughly $80-130 including bikes, a guide, and a support vehicle. Never attempt this unguided.
Afternoon. Most tours include lunch and transport back to La Paz.
Evening. An early, restful dinner; this is the trip’s one big splurge.
Day 4 running cost (USD, per person): Death Road tour $80-130 (includes lunch and transport) + dinner $5-8 = ~$85-138
Day 5: To Copacabana and Lake Titicaca
Morning. A bus to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, roughly 3.5-4.5 hours, a few dollars each way. The world’s highest navigable lake, around 3,810m, sits noticeably higher again than La Paz itself, so keep the pace easy on arrival.
Afternoon. Walk Copacabana’s waterfront and, if you have time and energy, take a boat to Isla del Sol (roughly $5-10 extra) for a few hours among Inca-era terraces and ruins.
Evening. An inexpensive lakeside guesthouse (roughly $10-15) and fresh trout for dinner, a local specialty here.
Day 5 running cost (USD, per person): bus $6-10 + Isla del Sol boat $5-10 + guesthouse $10-15 + meals $8-12 = ~$29-47
Day 6: Return from Copacabana
Morning. Bus back to La Paz, the same 3.5-4.5 hours.
Afternoon. A relaxed final afternoon back in the city, Zona Sur’s warmer, lower streets (around 3,100m) a good low-key option if you’d rather not do more hard walking after two travel-heavy days.
Evening. A slightly nicer farewell dinner to close out the trip.
Day 6 running cost (USD, per person): bus $6-10 + transport $2 + meals $10-14 = **$18-26**
Six-day total: roughly $186-286 per person, with Death Road as the main splurge and the rest genuinely cheap.
Six days covers the city, Tiwanaku, Death Road, and a proper Titicaca overnight, which is the honest way to do the lake rather than rushing it into a single day. What’s still missing is El Alto’s market and cholita wrestling; add a seventh day for those, or swap them in for the Isla del Sol boat trip if you’d rather keep this itinerary’s length. The Uyuni salt flats remain a separate multi-day trip regardless, so don’t try to fold them in here. See our festivals guide for what else might be worth timing your six days around.