Your stay — Don Vico
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The Property — Don Vico
Don Vico is a no-frills, central bolthole in La Paz's old city, a three-star that trades on location and reliability rather than polish. The lobby feels like a functional city-centre hotel: tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a lift that saves you the lungs of the steep cobbled streets outside. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want to be a short walk from the Witches' Market and San Francisco Church, and who don't mind threadbare carpet in exchange for a competitive price. You're here for the city, not the room.
Chronicles of La Paz
La Paz was founded in 1548 by Spanish conquistadors on the site of a small indigenous settlement, chosen partly for shelter from the harsh Altiplano winds. Its architecture evolved from colonial adobe churches and two-storey balconied buildings into a chaotic mix of glass towers, red-brick tenements and the distinctive *cholets*—vibrantly painted, neo-Andean mansions that emerged as Aymara merchants gained wealth in the 1990s. The city's cultural identity is fiercely contemporary: a de facto capital of Bolivia's indigenous resurgence, with street art, a thriving culinary scene and the relentless energy of the world's highest administrative capital. Yet the colonial core around Plaza Murillo still anchors civic life, while the *teleférico* cable-car system ribbons across the canyon, threading old and new together.
Best Time to Visit
Full La Paz guide →Best months
May to October — dry season, clear blue skies, mild days (15-20°C) and manageable tourist numbers.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak season, driven by the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen (16 July) and colder, clearer weather Europeans and North Americans find comfortable. Hotel prices, including Don Vico, jump 20-30% above low-season rates.
Budget shoulder season
April and November — still mostly dry, fewer crowds and rates often drop 15% from the July peak.
Weather & packing
La Paz sits at 3,640 metres; afternoon sun is intense but temperatures plummet after sunset, often below 5°C. Pack layered clothing: t-shirts and a fleece for daytime, a windproof jacket and hat for evenings, plus lip balm and sunscreen due to high UV.
Live City Briefing — La Paz
- The Mi Teleférico line has completed its Yellow Line extension to El Alto's airport, cutting a taxi-free link from the city centre to departure gates in under 40 minutes.
- Several new *cholitas* wrestling events have opened in the Sopocachi district on weekend afternoons, popular with visitors for a surreal slice of Bolivian pop culture.
- La Paz's annual Gran Poder festival, due in June 2026, has led to street closures and increased bus detours along Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Don Vico, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request upper floor rooms at the rear of the building (away from the street). These are quieter and receive more natural light in the afternoon.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 2-4 facing the main street; street noise from traffic and nightlife carries up. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Best views
Upper floors with a side or rear orientation look over the city roofs towards the Cordillera Real — ask for an 'inner courtyard' or 'rear-facing' room if available.
Quietest floors
Floors 6 and above are generally quieter, as they sit above most street noise and away from ground-floor service areas.
🔊 Noise notes
La Paz is noisy — traffic horns, street vendors, and nearby nightlife. Corner rooms amplify sound. The lift mechanism on floor 1 is audible in adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on floor 6 or 7, away from the lift, and specify 'quiet rear' at booking. 2. Bring earplugs regardless — the hotel's location on a main thoroughfare means honking starts around 6am.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Don Vico
Free WiFi for all guests, speed around 10 Mbps download, login via room number and surname at splash page
Single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary printed copies of La Razón in lobby daily; no digital newsstand
Check-in from 14:00, early bag drop allowed from 08:00. Late check-out until 13:00 costs 30 BOB, after 13:00 charges full night
Free storage available at reception for guests checking in late or leaving same day
One step at main entrance (portable ramp available on request). Lift fits a standard wheelchair. No accessible bathrooms or grab rails in rooms
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Estacionamiento Calacoto on Calle 15, 50 BOB per night (08:00-22:00 only). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via credit card; no additional incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capilla del Cementario General (204 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Villa Victoria (556 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: Filadelfia (693 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (704 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galerìa Gran Poder — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Museo Ferroviario — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Teatro de la Parroquia Apostol Santiago — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 509 m · ~6 min walk
Super Farmacia — 35 m · ~1 min walk
Tienda de barrio — 439 m · ~5 min walk
Parada a Desaguadero — 15 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bolivian Boliviano, BOB
Exchange US dollars or euros at casas de cambio on Calle Sagárnaga or near Plaza San Francisco; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger shops and restaurants downtown, but many smaller places and markets require cash; contactless is rare.
Round up taxi fares; leave 5–10% at mid-range restaurants; hotel porters get 5–10 BOB per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small black coffee from a street stall or café local is about 5–8 BOB.
Menú del día at a comedor (set lunch) runs 15–25 BOB, often with soup, main, drink.
A main at a casual eatery (e.g., salteñas, pizza or pollo) is 20–35 BOB.
Calle Linares and the Mercado de las Brujas area have stalls with salteñas, anticuchos, and jugos; also try the market near Plaza San Francisco.
Supermarkets like Fidalga and Hipermaxi are common in central La Paz.
Market shopping at Mercado Rodríguez or the El Alto market (accessible by cable car) for cheap local and secondhand clothes.
Minibuses are the cheapest at 2–3 BOB per ride; from the airport, take the PumaKatari bus (3 BOB) into the city centre.
Eat at market stalls for lunch; use the Mi Teleférico cable car system (3 BOB per ride) instead of taxis for views and speed; always drink bottled or boiled water.
Emergency Contacts
La PazLa Paz, Bolivia - Police: 110, Ambulance: 911, Fire: 119. Tourist Police (POLITUR): +591-2-2110122. Main Tourist Information: +591-2-2118633. Always keep hotel contact information available.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in La Paz, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Don Vico
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 509 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Super Farmacia — 35 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
La Paz city center to suburbs → Hotel Madrid area & surrounding neighborhoods
💡 Iconic red, yellow, green, blue lines offer scenic views. Best for local transit around La Paz. Not direct from airport but efficient for city exploration.
Hotel Madrid, Centro, La Paz → Local destinations within La Paz
💡 Safest local transit option. App-based pricing prevents overcharging. Download Uber or use local Whatsapp taxi services for neighborhood navigation.
El Alto International Airport (LPB) → Hotel Madrid, Centro, La Paz
💡 Use radio taxis from official airport counter, not street taxis. Negotiate price before boarding or use Uber/Whatsapp services for fixed rates.
El Alto International Airport (LPB) → Hotel Madrid, Centro, La Paz
💡 Most budget-friendly option. Shared minibus stops at major hotels. Allow extra time due to multiple drop-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Don Vico?
Request upper floor rooms at the rear of the building (away from the street). These are quieter and receive more natural light in the afternoon.
Which rooms should I avoid at Don Vico?
Avoid rooms on floors 2-4 facing the main street; street noise from traffic and nightlife carries up. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Is Don Vico noisy?
La Paz is noisy — traffic horns, street vendors, and nearby nightlife. Corner rooms amplify sound. The lift mechanism on floor 1 is audible in adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Don Vico?
Upper floors with a side or rear orientation look over the city roofs towards the Cordillera Real — ask for an 'inner courtyard' or 'rear-facing' room if available.
What are insider tips for staying at Don Vico?
1. Request a room on floor 6 or 7, away from the lift, and specify 'quiet rear' at booking. 2. Bring earplugs regardless — the hotel's location on a main thoroughfare means honking starts around 6am.
What time is check-in at Don Vico?
Check-in at Don Vico is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Don Vico have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests, speed around 10 Mbps download, login via room number and surname at splash page
Is there a city or tourist tax at Don Vico?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Don Vico?
Menú del día at a comedor (set lunch) runs 15–25 BOB, often with soup, main, drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Don Vico?
Minibuses are the cheapest at 2–3 BOB per ride; from the airport, take the PumaKatari bus (3 BOB) into the city centre.
When is the best time to visit La Paz?
May to October — dry season, clear blue skies, mild days (15-20°C) and manageable tourist numbers.
Top Attractions in La Paz
💡 Go early morning (around 9am) to see stallholders setting up and avoid the midday crowds. Don't touch the fetuses unless invited.
💡 Check the changing of the guard at the palace, usually at 10am and 4pm. Avoid sitting on the grass if you value clean trousers.
💡 The museum is small—allow 45 minutes max. The guided tour in Spanish is worth it if you understand basic Spanish.
💡 Buy a single ticket for the best photo stop at the intermediate station. Ride at 5pm for sunset light over Illimani mountain.
💡 Take the 'Chasquipampa' micro bus from Plaza San Francisco (cheap and direct). Go late afternoon for cooler temperatures and better light. Entry under £2.