In this guide · 7 sections
La Paz's Gay Bars and Clubs
La Paz, high in the Bolivian Andes, has a small but genuine gay nightlife scene. It is not a city of mega-clubs or a single "gayborhood": the dedicated venues are clustered in the central downtown core (Casco Viejo), while the bohemian district of Sopocachi around Plaza Avaroa offers the most gay-friendly mainstream bars and cafés. The upscale Zona Sur is pleasant but not where the scene is found.
The Main LGBTQ+ Venues
Open Mind Club — the anchor
On Calle Cochabamba in the city centre, Open Mind Club is widely described as La Paz's only openly gay club. It runs drag shows and dance nights from Thursday through Sunday and functions as the community's main gathering point after dark. Expect Latin pop, reggaeton and international dance hits, and a warm, mixed LGBTQ+ crowd.
Skandalo
Skandalo is a queer dance club with an artistic, alternative feel, popular with a younger crowd looking to dance late. It leans into the city's underground creative scene and is one of the most reliably LGBTQ+ nights out in La Paz.
Sátiros — Cruising Bar
Sátiros, in the central district, is a cruising bar for gay men — a more discreet, low-key space than the dance clubs. As the name makes clear, it fills a specific niche; go knowing what kind of venue it is.
Maximiliano Cantina Gay
Maximiliano is a smaller, self-identified gay cantina — an intimate neighbourhood bar rather than a club, good for a relaxed drink and meeting locals.
Saunas and Pride
La Paz proper has no dedicated gay sauna; the men-only bathhouses are in the adjacent altiplano city of El Alto, where Sauna Punto G is the best known. The city's Pride — the Marcha de las Diversidades Sexuales y de Género — is held each year in late June, around 28 June, and is Bolivia's largest, marching down El Prado. It is a good time to see the scene at its most visible.
Bolivia remains socially conservative, so discretion is advisable away from the gay venues and central nightlife, especially late at night. Venues in a small market can change; check current social media before heading out.