Sleeping in Airports

La Paz Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our La Paz Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

Benches aren’t very comfortable and there are only a few dining options. It’s a small airport so be sure to bring your own entertainment. – chocital

LPB Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at La Paz El Alta International Airport (code: LPB).

What to Expect

A small single-terminal international airport with clean facilities and a limited variety of shops and dining options.  This is the world’s highest international airport, so altitude sickness is no joke. Talk to your doctor and take the necessary precautions to stay healthy!  WiFi is available to help pass the time.  Economy class passengers can pay to enter the airport’s comfortable VIP lounge. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for locations and rates.

La Paz Airport Guide
(Photo courtesy of a guest traveller / 10July2018)

Sleeping in La Paz Airport

Sleeping areas are limited to the floor or the airport’s hard benches, and the airport can be cold, especially at night. Have a sleeping bag or travel blanket handy for added comfort and warmth.  For uninterrupted sleep, there are sleep pods in the terminal’s public area and hotels near the airport. See our Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.  For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our La Paz Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours. Airside is open according to the flight schedule.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Airport Hotels & Sleep Cabins

If sleeping in El Alto airport sounds like a nightmare, there are sleep cabins inside the airport that can be booked short-term.  Aside from that, there are a few hotels near the airport:

Hotel inside El Alto Airport

  • Sleepbox Onkel Inn – Sleep cabins and lounges located inside the airport. It’s convenient, but online reviews suggest that you need to keep your expectations very low. Sample rates are: Single, private for US$12 – 1 hour; Single, private for US$51 – 6 hours; Single, shared for US$9 – 1 hour; Single, shared for US$36 – 6 hours. Located: Landside. » Check Rates

Hotels near the airport

  • Lucy’s – Airport shuttle is available for a fee.
  • Roy’s Hotel – No airport shuttle.
  • Hotel Alexander – Airport shuttle is available for a fee.

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in La Paz, search for deals and read traveller reviews.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!

  • The Lounge VIP (International) – Location: Airside, International Gates, next to Gate 2. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • The Lounge VIP (Domestic) – Location: Airside, Domestic Pre-boarding Area, 2nd Floor, near Gate 9. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: La Paz Airport Lounges

Drinking Water

Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks

A reader let us know there is a 24-hour Juan Valdez coffee house located to the left of the landside airline check-in desks. A restaurant on the airside may also be open 24 hours. (November 2022)

Luggage Storage & Lockers

We’ve received mixed messages regarding the availability of luggage storage. According to an October 2018 review, storage is available for 25bs per day.

Mobile Charging

Location: Airside

Showers

Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at El Alto International Airport. Connect to the “GAP FREE” network.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Location: Landside, Main Hall, Ground Floor.

Currency Exchange – Aero Cambio Casa de Cambio. Location: International Arrivals area, Door 1. Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (daily).

Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping is available, along with a small variety of souvenir shops.

Information Desk – There is an information desk in the main hall and tourist information desks (Domestic and International Departures) that may be of assistance.

Medical Services – A medical clinic is available in the International Arrivals Area if you require medical attention. Hours: 24 hours a day.

Pharmacy – Location: International Arrivals Area (next to the medical clinic).

SIM Cards – A reader tells us, “SIM card are available at all the kiosks in the landslide checkin/arrivals area. I purchased a TIGO sim for 2bs that came with 150mb and then for an additional 10bs gave me 1gb with a bonus 3.5gb for the first recharge and 1.8gb for the second. Just remember to activate it using your passport at a TIGO store in La Paz or it’ll stop working after a few days.” (January 2023)

Airlines
La Paz Airport is served by the following airlines: Aeroméxico • Amaszonas • Avianca • Boliviana de Aviación • EcoJet • LATAM • Peruvian • TAM.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Car Rentals

These car rental agencies offer service onsite: Alamo • Avis • Budget • Dollar • Europcar • Hertz • National • Thrifty.

Hotel Shuttles

See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area.  Flat rates are available for key destinations.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.