5-Day La Paz Itinerary: Skulls, Saints & Andean Spirits

Why La Paz Is a City of Skulls & Spirits

La Paz sits high in the Andes—a city where Catholic saints share space with pre-Columbian spirits, and where rituals blur the line between sacred and uncanny. Every November, the Día de las Ñatitas (Day of the Skulls) transforms cemeteries into surreal landscapes: human skulls decorated with flowers, hats, and cigarettes, honored as protectors of homes and families. Combined with bustling markets, mountaintop vistas, and Andean rituals, La Paz offers one of the world’s most unique and hauntingly beautiful cultural adventures.

Who This Trip Is Perfect For

• Adventurous travelers craving offbeat cultural experiences.
• Folklore lovers fascinated by rituals that blend Catholicism and Andean spirituality.
• Photographers drawn to striking imagery of decorated skulls, mountain cemeteries, and highland markets.
• Cultural explorers who want to go beyond the usual Machu Picchu path.

Tips for Planning Your La Paz Adventure

• Altitude Warning: At over 11,000 feet, take it slow your first day. Coca tea helps with acclimatization.
  
• Festival Timing: Día de las Ñatitas takes place on November 8, but local cemeteries and rituals can be visited year-round.
  
• Markets Matter: Don’t miss La Paz’s Witches’ Market for charms, herbs, and ritual items.
  
• Respect First: Ñatitas are considered protectors. Always ask before taking photos during ceremonies.

5-Day Itinerary: Skulls, Saints & Andean Spirits

Day 1 – Arrival & Altitude Acclimatization

Stroll the historic center slowly. Visit Plaza Murillo and San Francisco Church. Evening: coca tea and an easy dinner — your body needs time to adjust.

Day 2 – Witches’ Market & City Rituals

Explore the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market), where yatiris (spiritual healers) sell charms, talismans, and dried llama fetuses for offerings to Pachamama. Afternoon: ride the Mi Teleférico cable cars for sweeping views of the city nestled in its canyon.

Day 3 – Día de las Ñatitas / Cemetery Culture

If visiting during the festival, spend the day in the General Cemetery, where locals decorate skulls with flowers, cigarettes, and hats. Outside festival season, take a cemetery tour to explore La Paz’s unique funerary art and traditions. Evening: visit Calle Jaén, a colonial street said to be haunted.

Day 4 – Tiwanaku & Andean Spirits

Day trip to Tiwanaku, the pre-Columbian ruins west of La Paz. The site’s monumental stones and sun gates reveal how Andean civilizations honored the dead and the cosmos. Return to La Paz for a traditional Aymara dinner.

Day 5 – Saints & Farewell Views

Visit the Shrine of El Señor de la Gran Poder, where Catholic and Andean traditions blend in worship. End with one last cable car ride up to El Alto for a panoramic farewell to the Andes before departure.

Did You Know?

• Ñatita means “little pug-nosed one” in Aymara — an affectionate name for the skulls.
• Families believe each skull has protective powers, from guarding homes to bringing luck in court cases.
• La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world, perched at over 11,000 feet.

Why Airial Balances the Surreal

Navigating La Paz’s rituals can be overwhelming—especially when skulls, saints, and spirits collide in everyday life. Airial weaves it into a meaningful flow, so you can experience the strangeness and beauty without getting lost in the chaos.