La Paz's Climate
La Paz sits on the Andean Altiplano in western Bolivia at roughly 3,600 m above sea level, giving it a cool alpine highland climate that stays fairly steady all year despite lying in the tropics. Thanks to the altitude, daytime highs are usually just 12–17°C and nights drop sharply, sometimes below freezing. Being in the southern hemisphere, summer (November–March) is the wet season with frequent afternoon showers and thunderstorms, while winter (May–August) is dry, clear and sunny by day but bitterly cold at night. UV levels are very high owing to the elevation and thin air.