La Paz Bus Station (Terminal de Buses)
Most long distance connections to and from La Paz operate from its main bus station.
The bus station is a striking yellow building bearing the distinctive hand of its designer, the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel tower, as well as the centerpiece tower in Sucre’s Parque Bolivar).
It is located in Plaza Antofagasta. It a 15-20 minute walk uphill from the main tourist area, so usually best reached by taxi. A taxi to / from the tourist area should cost around 4 Bs ($0.60 US) and take 5 minutes.
Destinations
La Paz bus station serves as the start / end point for many of the main inter-city bus routes in Bolivia, including:
- Oruro to La Paz ~ La Paz to Oruro
- Potosi to La Paz ~ La Paz to Potosi
- Sucre to La Paz ~ La Paz to Sucre
- Cochabamba to La Paz ~ La Paz to Cochabamba
- Santa Cruz to La Paz ~ La Paz to Santa Cruz
- Uyuni to La Paz ~ La Paz to Uyuni
- Tarija to La Paz ~ La Paz to Tarija
- Tupiza to La Paz ~ La Paz to Tupiza
- Villazon to La Paz ~ La Paz to Villazon
It also serves a number of international routes:
- Arica to La Paz ~ La Paz to Arica
- Iquique to La Paz ~ La Paz to Iquique
- Cusco to La Paz ~ La Paz to Cusco
- Puno to La Paz ~ La Paz to Puno
- Lima to La Paz ~ La Paz to Lima
- Arequipa to La Paz ~ La Paz to Arequipa
- Buenos Aires to La Paz ~ La Paz to Buenos Aires
All major bus operators going to Sucre leave from La Paz’s main Bus Station. The bus station is a bit busy and chaotic, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Terminal Fee
The main thing to be aware of is that passengers must pay a 2Bs ($0.30 US) fee for using the station, a fact which isn’t very well advertised.
You can pay this terminal fee at the ticket booth in the center of the station – look for a sign saying “boletas”. You’ll be given a ticket which is checked once you’re on the bus (and possibly already starting to pull away).
Photo by B. Dumas
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