Month by month
MonthsWeatherThe valley
May – SeptemberDry, clear, cold nights (around 0 °C), strong sunVehicle drives into the middle of the valley. Sharp light, sharp shadows. The photographer’s season.
October – NovemberWarming, first showers, still mostly clearQuiet, green starting at the edges, good light. Underrated.
December – MarchRainy season: afternoon storms, wettest in JanuaryWe walk in instead of driving. Mud on the trail, clouds between the spires — unforgettable on the right morning.
AprilRains ending, skies clearingEverything green, few visitors, mornings clean.
What the seasons change on our tours
- Dry season: the vehicle takes you right into the middle of the valley; the sunrise tour is at its most reliable; bring the warm layer for 5:30 am.
- Rainy season: we walk in from the chain; Palca Canyon runs only when the forecast allows (it is a riverbed); heavy rain moves your date or refunds you — light rain is part of the show.
- All year: daytime 14–17 °C, the sun burns at any temperature, and first light is between 6 and 6:45 depending on the month.
Festivals worth knowing about
Two dates change the city. Gran Poder, in late May or June, fills the center with a day-long dance parade — spectacular, and hotels fill up. Alasitas, from 24 January, is the fair of miniatures, where people buy tiny versions of what they hope for in the year. If your dates land on either, tell us and we plan around the closed streets.
Questions
Is there a bad month?
Not really. January and February are the wettest and afternoons storm, but mornings are usually fine and the clouds between the spires are worth the mud. If you must pick one month to avoid for the valley, February.
How cold does it get?
Nights drop to around freezing in the dry season (June–August); days reach 14–17 °C all year. It is the swing that surprises people: near 0 °C at sunrise, hot in the sun by ten.
Does it snow in La Paz?
Rarely, and it does not last. The white on the mountains is permanent; the white on the streets is news.
