La Paz Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Bolivia)
La Paz sits at jaw-dropping altitude and is the world's highest administrative capital, but travelers must watch for fake police, rigged taxi meters, express kidnappings, and fake tour operators.
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Fake Police Shakedown
Individuals in fake uniforms or with counterfeit police ID stop tourists near the Witches' Market and San Francisco church demanding to inspect passports or wallets for "counterfeit bills," pocketing cash during the inspection.
📍Calle Linares near the Witches Market (Mercado de las Brujas), the San Francisco church plaza, and the pedestrian zone of Calle Sagárnaga in La Paz tourist district
How to avoid: Bolivian law requires fines to be paid at a bank, never on the street. Ask to go to the nearest police station — real officers will agree.
This scam type is also documented in Buenos Aires and Lima.
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High Risk
3
Medium Risk
1
Low Risk
La Paz · Bolivia · South America
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in La Paz
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Fake Police Shakedown
Calle Linares near the Witches Market (Mercado de las Brujas), the San Francisco church plaza, and the pedestrian zone of Calle Sagárnaga in La Paz tourist district
Rigged Taxi Meters
El Alto International Airport taxi ranks and the road leading to central La Paz, as well as the tourist-dense Sopocachi neighborhood and Calle Sagárnaga
Fake Tour Operators for Uyuni
Tour agency streets near La Paz bus terminal in Villa Fátima district and in tourist-facing agencies along Calle Sagárnaga, as well as near the Uyuni bus departure area
Express Kidnapping via Unlicensed Taxi
Streets around El Alto International Airport, the Zona Sur neighborhoods of La Paz, and any late-night taxi pickup points near popular bars in Sopocachi and Miraflores districts
Fake Tour Company Hotel Pickups
Hotel lobbies and entrances in La Paz Centro and Zone South; near Plaza Murillo
Fake Police Wallet Inspection at Mercado de las Brujas
Mercado de las Brujas (Witches' Market) on Calle Linares between Sagárnaga and Santa Cruz streets, and the tourist shopping corridor of Sagárnaga Street in central La Paz
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
Street-level scams are most common in La Paz
3 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns — confidence and pace help.
How it works
Individuals in fake uniforms or with counterfeit police ID stop tourists near the Witches' Market and San Francisco church demanding to inspect passports or wallets for "counterfeit bills," pocketing cash during the inspection.
How it works
Taxi drivers manipulate meters or claim they are broken and demand triple the standard fare. The risk is highest at El Alto airport and near tourist-heavy areas of Sopocachi.
How it works
Scammers pose as licensed tour companies offering discounted Salt Flat day trips, then use unreliable vehicles, skip advertised stops, and demand extra fees mid-tour for "fuel" or "entry permits."
How it works
Tourists who hail unmarked taxis, especially at night, risk being driven to ATMs and forced to withdraw cash by the driver and waiting accomplices before being released.
How it works
Individuals claiming to represent tour companies approach you at your hotel offering "last-minute tour deals." They collect payment and disappear, or arrange a pickup that never materializes. Some variants involve taking you to a money exchange first, where you lose money on rates before realizing the tour is non-existent.
How it works
Individuals posing as plainclothes police officers approach tourists in the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) on Calle Linares and on nearby Sagárnaga Street, claiming to be investigating counterfeit currency or drug trafficking. They demand to inspect wallets, passports, and bags. Once the wallet is in their hands, cash is palmed or swapped for worthless notes before it is returned. Accomplices may distract the victim during the handover.
How it works
Street changers near the markets swap bills during the count using sleight of hand, or include counterfeit boliviano notes that are rejected in shops.
How it works
Crowded minibuses (micros) on routes through the city center are a common pickpocket hotspot, with thieves working in teams on busy routes to El Alto market.
How it works
Upscale restaurants in tourist areas have two menus: one in Spanish for locals with reasonable prices, and an unmarked "tourist menu" with items at double or triple cost. Restaurants may serve smaller portions or lower-quality ingredients to tourists while charging premium prices. Some establishments add service charges not stated on the menu.
How it works
Vendors and touts near Plaza Murillo and at the entrance to the Cholita wrestling venue in El Alto sell tickets to travellers at prices two to three times the posted local rate, framing the premium as a mandatory "tourist fee" or "reserved seating" surcharge. In some cases the tickets are counterfeit, leaving buyers refused entry at the door. The authentic shows run by the original promoters have fixed posted prices and do not require a tout intermediary.
La Paz Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
What scams target tourists in La Paz?
Are taxis safe in La Paz?
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Which areas of La Paz should tourists be most careful in?
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Filter scams in La Paz by category, or read our worldwide guides for each scam type — taxi scams, street scams, restaurant scams, and more.
If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the South America region. Before visiting Cusco, Bogotá, and Medellín, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for La Paz are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →