Is La Paz, Bolivia, safe for tourists?

La Paz is generally safe for international visitors, if they keep regular city alertness and watch for opportunistic little thievery. Violent incidents aimed at tourists are still uncommon, but pickpocketing keeps showing up in crowded markets and in transit hubs.

Getting around takes distinct awareness, because the environment changes fast. Instead of flagging random street cabs, which have been tied to fast abduction reports in the past, travellers should use only hotel-dispatched radio taxis or verified ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Yango. Also, the most immediate threat for many guests is not criminal behaviour, but the severe effects of altitude sickness.