11 Best Hotels in La Paz, Bolivia

Located downtown, right next door to the rather dated Hotel Europa, this onetime consular residence offers eight rooms of early-20th-century eye candy. It is La Paz’s best-looking hotel, sexy from the 10-foot ceilings and retro wallpaper down to the checkered-floor bathrooms. Every room is different and is worth a look even once you’ve chosen yours—if you can stand the risk of room envy. They all have loads of polished wooden floor space, are draped in sunshine, and have bathrooms where you actually want to spend some time, complete with ornate, freestanding bathtubs.

Tucked down a quiet side street, this grand Sopocachi house feels just like home, only impeccably decorated and with a superb restaurant (of the same name) downstairs. Owner Zack knows and loves the city and shares his knowledge enthusiastically; take the time for a short chat, and your visit is sure to be easier and richer. The rooms are plush, and every detail feels considered. Tastefully chosen antique furniture gives each of the 12 rooms a unique personality as modern and colonial styles meet. Most have spectacular views over the city and of the mountains beyond. Be sure to check which room you book into: it's worth a few extra dollars for the sunset and sunrise views over Illimani—from the comfort of your bed. This is the best value for the money in La Paz, and word has gotten around, so book early.

Perfect for longer stays and families, this property offers intimate, apartment-rental-style accommodations. The rooms are bright and colorfully decorated with plenty of interesting art, plants, and the odd antique. The apartments are fully self-catering with a fridge and even a dishwasher. Fresh bread and juice is delivered daily for breakfast.

Located in the quieter south zone, this hotel is situated at a lower elevation (3,200 meters/10,500 feet above sea level) than downtown La Paz, which makes adjusting to the altitude somewhat more bearable. Unlike many La Paz hotels that claim a five-star rating, here you'll find true luxuries like soundproof windows, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, a large spa, and a beautiful breakfast buffet. Rooms are modern and spacious, each with a plasma TV and workstation. Since the hotel is circular in shape, every room has a panoramic view of the Andes Mountains and surrounding neighborhood. The hotel also has its own fleet of taxis that will take you to the center of La Paz (20 min drive) for (Bs)15.

The Teleférico is one of La Paz’s best new tourist attractions, and at Casa Fusion, you are barely a block away from the yellow line in very well-priced comfort. Rooms are simple but modern, with understated, calming decor. Staff will help you come to grips with the area in no time, and although a little removed from central Sopocachi, the calm, slightly more residential vibe will soon win you over. Breakfast is served in a little greenhouselike café on the side of the house, a great place to start the day, and is powered by goods from the bakery on the other side of the house—the other family business.

This new addition to the Casa Grande brand, with its expansive curved architecture and interior swimming pool and garden, has easily taken the lead as La Paz's best large hotel. Focused on the demanding business traveler, it matches any international, modern hotel in terms of style, service, and comfort. Despite its executive tack, the rooms are all about luxury with little details like a pillow menu and spacious rain showers. The breakfast buffet is excellent, and the lunch and dinner menus keep pace with interesting choices, superbly executed.

The area around Calle Jaen is a city stroller’s paradise, thick with museums and historical buildings to ogle and snap, and finally, thanks to the appearance of this small hotel, there is a cheap and charming option right in the middle of it all. Lovingly and carefully restored over three years, the 22 rooms arranged around the central stone courtyard are basic but comfortable enough. Most feature large colorful murals painted by a local artist in a style that blends modern mestizo art with the house’s traditional colonial history.

This charming and consistently popular hostel, whose bright, cheerful private rooms surround a central courtyard, sits above the famous Peña Naira, where groups perform traditional folk music. The en-suite bathrooms always have hot water, there's good Wi-Fi, and the service is excellent. Though not as much of a bargain as it used to be, its location plus such amenities as cable TV, on-site computers, and a travel agency to organize your daily excursions make it a solid midrange choice. Rooms 204–207 have great views of Iglesia de San Francisco.

This charming, centrally located, Spanish-style hotel has had a complete makeover and expansion, bumping it up to one of the best hotels in its price range. The sunny courtyard has a fountain surrounded by clay pots overflowing with flowers and there is a cozy lounge with complimentary tea near the lobby. The best rooms are those around the courtyard, but all are clean, bright, and comfortable; many have spectacular views of Chacaltaya. The buffet breakfast is good, and the excellent staff are accommodating to those with early morning travel. Turisbus has an office in the lobby.

These well-appointed, independent-access apartments over the highly rated La Comedie restaurant put you in the heart of Sopocachi, but the little side street that houses the building keeps any potential noise and bother well at bay. The apartments are spacious and filled with all the comforts of home, from a stocked kitchen to a desktop computer. Add to that a good selection of restaurants, bars, and supermarkets nearby, and you'll see why La Loge is the perfect choice for families and longer-term stays.

Flashy and modern, Stannum Boutique Hotel oozes style—and has plenty of substance to back it up. Well-decked-out rooms feature feather pillows and duvets, 32-inch LED screens, rain showers. and an iHome center. All this along with a welcoming staff makes for a flawless stay in La Paz. The rooms have spectacular views, and the on-site restaurant has received high praise from all corners.