Is La Paz safe?
Take real precautions. Petty theft is common, and express kidnappings and fake-police stops hit visitors; protests and blockades can halt transport.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-04-27.
- Homicide rate in Bolivia: 4.4 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Bolivia: 21.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119.
Safety in La Paz at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing, bag slashing and snatching, fake-police shakedowns and taxi robberies; violent crime against visitors is uncommon but real. |
| At night | Use radio taxis or apps door to door after dark; avoid walking in the center and near the terminal once streets empty. |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common, and assaults have occurred in hostels and clubs. Use radio taxis at night, lock your room and watch your drink. |
| Other risks | Altitude sickness at 3,640 m; rest and hydrate on day one; Road blockades and protests that stop buses; Steep streets and thin air make walking tiring |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake police in plain clothes asking to check your wallet or passport
- Street taxi drivers with accomplices who rob passengers; use radio taxis
- Mustard or liquid sprayed on you as a distraction for theft
- Fake tourist-police stops; ask to go to the station
Take care
- El Alto and the bus terminal: bag theft and robberies, especially after dark
- Plaza San Francisco and Witches' Market at night: pickpockets
- Marches and road blockades: avoid and plan around them
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Any amount of illegal drugs counts as trafficking; the minimum sentence is eight years
- Prison tours are illegal and unsafe
- Coca leaves are legal in Bolivia but illegal to carry into most other countries
How La Paz compares in Bolivia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Uyuni | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sucre | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Copacabana | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rurrenabaque | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Potosí | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Paz | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Santa Cruz | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is La Paz safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common, and assaults have occurred in hostels and clubs. Use radio taxis at night, lock your room and watch your drink.
Is La Paz safe at night?
Use radio taxis or apps door to door after dark; avoid walking in the center and near the terminal once streets empty.
What is the crime rate in La Paz?
Pickpocketing, bag slashing and snatching, fake-police shakedowns and taxi robberies; violent crime against visitors is uncommon but real. Nationally, Bolivia records 4.4 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in La Paz?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119.
More about La Paz
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Mi Teleférico
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.