La Paz, Bolivia’s high-altitude capital, features a cool subtropical highland climate with mild days, chilly nights, and dramatic seasonal contrasts. The city experiences a dry, sunny winter from May to October and a rainy summer from November to March. Its elevation brings strong sunshine, large day-night temperature swings, and occasional frost or snow, especially in winter.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
La Paz sits between 3,200 and 4,300 metres above sea level, making it the world’s highest capital. Its climate is shaped by altitude and Andean geography, resulting in mild daytime temperatures (13–19°C) year-round but significant drops at night – often below freezing in winter, especially in higher neighbourhoods. The city’s annual average temperature hovers around 10–11°C, with only minor variation between months. October and November are typically the warmest, while June and July are the coldest, with possible lows of -10°C or lower in El Alto.
La Paz has two main seasons. The dry season, from May to October, brings clear skies, abundant sunshine (up to 8 hours daily), and very little rain – monthly precipitation drops as low as 5–20 mm, and humidity is lowest. Nights are cold, with frequent frost and rare but possible snowfall. The wet season, from November to March, is warmer and cloudier, with frequent afternoon showers or thunderstorms and monthly rainfall peaking at 100–180 mm in January and February. These months can see fog, landslides, and occasional travel disruptions. Sunshine drops to 4–5 hours per day in the wettest months, but rain usually falls in bursts, leaving intervals of sun. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk at higher altitudes. The UV index is high year-round due to the city’s elevation, so sun protection is essential.
| Average climate data for La Paz, Bolivia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | -2 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 134 | 104 | 71 | 31 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 36 | 38 | 51 | 94 | 601 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 21 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 120 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66 | 71 | 68 | 59 | 48 | 41 | 43 | 43 | 48 | 49 | 51 | 61 | 54 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Average UV index | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
The best time to visit La Paz is from May to October, during the dry season. Expect clear skies, abundant sunshine, and ideal conditions for trekking, sightseeing, and exploring the city’s markets and Andean landscapes. Nights are cold, but rainfall is minimal and travel is rarely disrupted.
The least favourable time is from January to March, when La Paz is at its wettest. Heavy rains can cause landslides, muddy roads, and occasional travel disruptions. Sunshine is limited, and fog is common at night, though daytime temperatures remain mild.
La Paz has a cool subtropical highland climate with mild days (13–19°C), chilly nights, and strong sunshine. The dry season (May–October) is sunny and cold at night, while the wet season (November–March) is warmer, cloudier, and rainy.
The best time to visit is from May to October, during the dry season. Expect clear skies, minimal rain, and ideal conditions for outdoor activities, though nights are cold and frost is common.
Snow is rare in La Paz, but possible in winter, especially in higher neighbourhoods like El Alto. Frost is frequent at night from May to August, and temperatures can drop below -10°C in some areas.
La Paz receives most of its annual rainfall (700–900 mm) from November to March, with January and February being the wettest months. Rain falls mostly as afternoon showers or thunderstorms.
La Paz enjoys abundant sunshine, especially in the dry season, with up to 8 hours per day from May to August. Wet season months are cloudier, with 4–5 hours of sun daily.
Yes, the UV index is high year-round due to La Paz’s altitude and thin atmosphere. Sun protection is essential, even on cloudy days, to avoid sunburn and altitude-related skin damage.
Pack warm layers for cold nights, sun protection for strong UV, and a rain jacket for the wet season. Sturdy shoes are useful for hilly streets and trekking. Acclimatise to altitude before strenuous activities.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is November (17.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (13.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14.7 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is February (4.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (-4.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 0.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is January (133.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is June (5.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 601 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (20.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (2.7 days). Over the whole year there are 120.4 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (71.4 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (41.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 54 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 13 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 11 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 8 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is March (Average sunshine: 4 h). Over the whole year there are 5.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November and December (UV index: 12). The months with the lowest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 9). Over the whole year the average UV index is 11.3.
