The Feria 16 de Julio is not a market you need to “complete”.
It spreads through many streets in El Alto, with clothing, second-hand goods, tools, electronics, household items, food and all kinds of everyday products.
The easiest way to visit independently is simple:
Take the Red Line cable car to 16 de Julio → save the station as your reference point → explore what interests you → return to the same station when you are ready to leave.
The exact position of vendors and products can change from one market day to another, so this guide intentionally does not give you a fixed walking route.
The fair operates mainly on Thursdays and Sundays. Sunday was noticeably more crowded during our field visit, while Thursday still has plenty of vendors but can be easier to explore.
The fair begins to come alive from around 7:00–7:30 AM and is already operating well by approximately 8:00 AM.
The busiest period is generally around:
9:00 AM–11:30 AM
If you want to see the fair at its busiest, go during this period.
For a first visit, around 11:30 AM can be more comfortable. Some people begin leaving for lunch and certain streets become slightly easier to navigate.
We would avoid arriving for the first time after approximately 5:00 PM. The fair may still be operating, but some stalls begin packing up and getting back to La Paz can be less convenient.
The simplest option is Mi Teleférico.
Start at:
Estación Central — Línea Roja
Google Maps:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/knEmBWCkVAv1iy9g8
Start at Estación Central and look for the Red Line.
Look for:
16 de Julio
You do not need to change lines.
Fare: Bs 3
Journey time: approximately 15 minutes.
The station is:
Estación 16 de Julio — Línea Roja
You do not need to worry too much about choosing a particular exit. During our visit, the exits led directly into the commercial area around the fair.
As soon as you leave the station, you will already begin seeing clothing, vendors and different types of products.
“Yes, I’m in the right place.”
Practically as soon as you leave the cable car station.
A useful reference is Avenida Panamericana, but the commercial activity spreads quickly into several surrounding streets.
Google Maps reference:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xCrJ6vXNh2H4Fuum7
You do not need to find a formal entrance.
There isn’t one.
No.
And we actually recommend that you don’t try to follow a strict route.
The Feria 16 de Julio is a working commercial space, not a tourist circuit. Vendors can move, different sections can expand or contract, and what you find on one visit may not be arranged exactly the same way the following week.
Instead:
Use the cable car station as your main reference point and explore according to what interests you.
Before walking too far, save:
Estación 16 de Julio
on Google Maps.
The station is one of the easiest landmarks to use when you want to return.
The Feria 16 de Julio spreads across many streets, and the location of individual vendors can change.
If you are looking for something specific, there is now another useful option: the Feria 16 de Julio App.
The app was created to help connect visitors with participating vendors and their stalls, making part of this enormous commercial area easier to explore from your phone. It is available for both Android and iOS and was developed by IDAIPLUS S.R.L. App Store
You can:
Imagine you are looking for a specific pair of trainers.
Instead of walking through street after street hoping to find them, you can search for the product in the app, see which registered vendors list something similar, locate their stall and contact them before walking there.
For a fair this large, that can save a lot of time.
The app does not mean that every stall in Feria 16 de Julio is mapped.
Vendors need to register their businesses and products on the platform, so you will still find plenty of stalls, products and sellers that are not listed in the app.
Think of it as an additional tool for finding specific things — not as a complete digital map of the entire fair.
That is also why we still recommend exploring according to what catches your attention rather than trying to follow a fixed route.
Android: Feria 16 de Julio — Google Play
iPhone: Feria 16 de Julio — App Store
You can also explore the official platform and its current features on the Feria 16 de Julio website.
The Feria 16 de Julio App lets you search participating vendors and see their stalls on a map.
The biggest mistake is not choosing the “wrong street”.
It is simply walking for a long time without remembering where you came from.
A few simple things help:
The fair extends far beyond the first streets around the station, so trying to cover everything is unnecessary.
Cash is still the most practical payment method.
QR payments are common in Bolivia and some sellers accept them, but not everyone does.
Cards are much less useful here.
Bring:
Some sellers may accept US dollars, but we would not recommend depending on dollars because the exchange rate offered may not be favourable.
Yes, on many products.
You can politely ask:
¿Cuánto es lo menos?
What’s your lowest price?
This is common for many goods, particularly second-hand items and other merchandise.
Food and drinks normally have more established prices.
There is plenty of food throughout the fair, including meals, snacks, drinks and desserts.
Because many food stalls operate directly beside busy streets, use the same judgement you would use at any large street market.
Look for stalls with:
A busy stall where food is constantly being prepared is generally a better choice than one where prepared food has been sitting for a long time.
Yes, there are toilets throughout the fair.
Look for signs saying:
BAÑO
During our visit, prices were approximately:
Bs 1–1.50
Carry a few coins or small notes.
The fair attracts very large numbers of people, particularly on Sundays.
The main concern for an independent visitor is opportunistic theft in crowded areas, rather than treating the whole fair as a “dangerous place”.
Travel light.
We recommend:
If someone creates an unusual distraction, asks you to hand over an object or tries to involve you in something that feels strange, keep walking.
If you genuinely need help, ask a vendor, police officer or Mi Teleférico staff member.
The goal is not to be frightened.
Just pay attention in the same way you would in any very crowded market or transport area.
General photos of the fair and its streets are usually possible.
But remember: this is a workplace for thousands of people, not a set created for visitors.
Wide photos of streets, products and the general environment are preferable.
If one person is clearly the subject of your photograph, ask permission first.
Try not to photograph identifiable people closely without their consent.
There is an area where Aymara spiritual practitioners work near the wider 16 de Julio area.
However, we would not make this the reason for visiting the fair.
Not everyone works every market day, and during our Sunday visit some practitioners were not available.
If you happen to visit the area, remember that these are people at work — not performers waiting for tourists.
Google Maps reference:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/f7CrzEsXdSvCiuYX6
Yes, but treat this as an optional extension, not part of the basic Feria 16 de Julio visit.
From 16 de Julio station you can connect with the Blue Line of Mi Teleférico.
Some cholets and other examples of El Alto architecture can be seen while travelling through the city.
Keep in mind:
Seeing a cholet does not mean you can enter it.
Many are private buildings or event venues and are not normally open for spontaneous visits.
Return to:
Estación 16 de Julio — Línea Roja
Take the Red Line back towards Estación Central.
Fare: Bs 3
Journey: approximately 15 minutes.
Sunday can be particularly busy.
During our visit, the wait was approximately 15–20 minutes.
If there is a queue, waiting for the Red Line is normally still the simplest option.
Other transport options exist in El Alto, but they are not necessarily waiting directly beside the fair.
For taxis, minibuses or ride-hailing apps, La Ceja is a more useful transport area:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RsXSPfhxDfQJLLFF8
We would keep this as a Plan B, rather than your first choice.
For a comfortable visit:
☑ Bolivianos in cash
☑ Small bills and coins
☑ Water
☑ Sunscreen
☑ Hat
☑ Jacket
☑ Comfortable shoes
☑ Small bag or backpack
☑ Charged phone
A power bank can also be useful if you plan to use Google Maps or take many photos.
Avoid carrying documents or valuables you do not actually need.
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much does it cost?
¿Cuánto es lo menos?
What’s your lowest price?
¿Tiene otro color?
Do you have another colour?
¿Tiene otra talla?
Do you have another size?
¿Acepta QR?
Do you accept QR?
¿Acepta tarjeta?
Do you accept card?
¿Dónde está la estación 16 de Julio?
Where is the 16 de Julio station?
¿Por dónde está el Teleférico?
Which way is the cable car?
¿Dónde están los baños?
Where are the toilets?
Don’t go to Feria 16 de Julio with a checklist of things you “must see”.
It works better when you understand what it actually is:
a major space for commerce, work and everyday life in El Alto.
Look around, follow the sections that interest you, keep track of the cable car station and take your time.
You don’t need to see the whole fair to understand why it matters.
Personally checked by Alpaca Steps
Last verified: September 2026
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