The world’s longest, most modern, and highest urban cable car network is located in Bolivia. Known as “Mi Teleferico,” the system connects several cities, linking the high plateau of El Alto with the valley of La Paz — easing traffic congestion, making daily commutes more manageable, and offering passengers breathtaking aerial views of both cities.
Bolivians take great pride in this remarkable transit system. Today, it comprises 10 fully operational lines and 26 stations forming a continuous circuit. Each line is color-coded for ease of navigation, and riding the entire network takes approximately three hours.
The Red, Yellow, and Green lines remain the backbone of the system — the original trio with which this ambitious project launched — operating at elevations of around 4,000 meters above sea level.
The origins of Bolivia’s Mi Teleferico, the world’s longest cable car network
Mi Teleferico was born out of necessity. La Paz sits at approximately 3,600 meters above sea level, while El Alto looms more than 400 meters higher at roughly 4,000 meters — a dramatic elevation difference that makes road travel between the two cities notoriously slow and congested.
The Bolivian government, under President Evo Morales (2006-2019), commissioned the Austrian company Doppelmayr to design and build the system.
The first three lines — Red, Yellow, and Green — opened in 2014, representing the first urban cable car network in South America, built primarily as mass public transit rather than a tourist attraction. Subsequent lines were added through 2019, and the network has since become a model for sustainable urban mobility in high-altitude cities worldwide, carrying millions of passengers annually.
The network is divided and organized as follows:
🟢 Green Line — four stations | Travel time: 16–18 minutes 🟡 Yellow Line — four stations | Travel time: 16–19 minutes ⚫️ Silver Line — three stations | Travel time: 11–13 minutes 🟣 Purple Line — three stations | Travel time: 16–18 minutes 🔴 Red Line — three stations | Travel time: 10–12 minutes 🔵 Blue Line — five stations | Travel time: 20–23 minutes 🟠 Orange Line — four stations | Travel time: 12–14 minutes ⚪️ White Line — four stations | Travel time: 13–15 minutes 🔵 Light Blue Line — four stations | Travel time: 11–12 minutes 🟤 Brown Line — two stations | Travel time: 3–4 minutes
Practical facts about Mi Teleferico
Each gondola cabin holds up to 10 passengers and is used by everyone, regardless of social class, profession, age, or nationality. More than just a transit solution, Mi Teleferico bridges communities, shortens distances, and showcases the stunning natural beauty of La Paz from above.
The system operates daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., handling a flow of approximately 3,000 passengers per line. On public holidays and weekends, service ends one hour earlier.
Fares are very affordable. A single line costs 3 bolivianos (approx. US$0.44). If you wish to complete a full aerial circuit by combining multiple lines, each transfer costs only 2 bolivianos (approx. US$0.29) per line.
There are two ticketing options. The first is a rechargeable transit card, available for 30 bolivianos (approx. US$4.35) — of which 15 bolivianos (approx. US$2.18) are credited to your card as a welcome bonus to use at your discretion. The second option is purchasing single-ride tickets per line at the same rate: 3 bolivianos (US$0.44) for the first line and 2 bolivianos (US$0.29) for each subsequent transfer, with no card required.