Tour & Activity Scams in La Paz, Bolivia
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in La Paz — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Buenos Aires, Lima, and Cusco.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in La Paz
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
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.
See all scams in La Paz
10 total warnings across all categories