Bolivia offers stunning natural wonders from the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni salt flats to the serene waters of Lake Titicaca. Experience rich indigenous culture, colorful markets, and the world's highest capital city in La Paz.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Tiwanaku Archaeological Site
Tiwanaku was the capital of a civilization that dominated the southern Andes for centuries before the Inca absorbed its legacy, and its ruins remain one of the most important pre-Columbian sites in South America. The site is a set of open plazas, platform temples and carved monoliths on flat highland grassland above 3,800m, with an on-site museum holding the finer carved pieces. A half day covers the ruins and museum without rushing.
Highlights: Gateway of the Sun (Puerta del Sol) - monolithic carved gateway · Semi-subterranean temple with stone tenon heads · Akapana pyramid complex · Kalasasaya ceremonial platform · Tiwanaku Site Museum
Copacabana and Isla del Sol
Copacabana is the lakeside town on Lake Titicaca and the departure point for boats to Isla del Sol, the island the Inca regarded as the birthplace of the sun. The trip pairs a colonial pilgrimage town with an island of working agricultural terraces and Inca-era ruins reachable only by boat, but the 3.5-hour bus ride each way makes it a long day from La Paz.
Highlights: Copacabana Cathedral and religious sanctuary · Boat trip to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca · Inca ruins and agricultural terraces on the island · Yumani village and the 206-step Inca staircase · Lake Titicaca panoramas at 3,810m altitude
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
Valle de la Luna is a compact patch of badly eroded clay and sandstone hillside on La Paz's southern edge, cut by wind and rain into narrow spires and channels. It's a quick, easy outing rather than a destination in itself - the marked trail through the formations takes under an hour to walk.
Highlights: Eroded clay and sandstone formations resembling a lunar landscape · Marked walking trail through natural labyrinth · Rare high-altitude cactus ecosystem · Panoramic views of snowcapped Andean peaks · Photography opportunities with dramatic light in late afternoon
Coroico and the Yungas Cloud Forest
Coroico is a small town in the Yungas, the subtropical cloud-forest region on the Amazon side of the Andes, reached by dropping several thousand meters from La Paz's dry altiplano. The appeal is that contrast - within two to three hours you go from cold, thin highland air to warm, humid, green hillsides growing coffee and citrus. Most visitors either come for the climate and views or combine the trip with mountain biking the old Yungas Road down from La Paz.
Highlights: Dramatic altitude drop from 4,700m to 1,700m through cloud forest · Cascading waterfalls along the Yungas road · Coffee and coca leaf plantations · Colonial Coroico town plaza and viewpoints · Condor Point overlook of the Yungas valley
Chacaltaya Glacier
Chacaltaya was once the site of the world's highest developed ski area, at around 5,300-5,400m above La Paz, but its glacier melted away by the end of the 2000s and there is no snow or skiing left. What remains is the old ski hut and a short climb to a viewpoint over La Paz, the Altiplano, and nearby peaks including Huayna Potosi and Illimani - it's now a high-altitude lookout rather than the winter-sports site it used to be.
Highlights: Site of the world former highest ski resort at 5,421m · Panoramic views of Illimani, Huayna Potosi, and the La Paz city bowl · Retreating glacier as dramatic evidence of climate change · High-altitude ecology and Andean flora · Andean condors occasionally spotted on thermals
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from $25-60/person including transport, guide, and entry fees - best value for Tiwanaku and Chacaltaya
- Private
- Private car hire from $80-150/day for flexible exploration of Tiwanaku, Valle de la Luna, and surrounding villages
- Public
- Shared minibuses (Bs 15-25) serve most day trip destinations from La Paz terminal (Terminal Terrestre)
- Rental
- Car rental from $40-60/day for economy vehicles; 4WD from $80/day recommended for high-altitude routes
Multi-day tours from Bolivia
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from BoliviaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early - many day trips involve high altitude where afternoon weather deteriorates; most tours depart 7-8AM
Acclimatize in La Paz for at least 2 days before attempting the Chacaltaya (5,421m) or high-altitude day trips
The free cable car ride to El Alto is itself a fascinating 'day trip' revealing a completely different city above La Paz