La Paz municipal authorities are building a formal registry of street vendors who operate along the city’s malecón and Jardín Velasco, part of a new pilot program to organize informal commerce in the downtown core.
City Secretary Jehu Vázquez confirmed the vendor registry, known as a padrón, is already underway. The program will use a “carousel” rotation model, giving registered vendors scheduled access to selling spots along the waterfront promenade and the historic central plaza.
How the Rotation System Would Work
Under the proposed carousel model, vendors would rotate through designated locations rather than competing for fixed spots on a first-come, first-served basis. The goal is to bring order to a stretch of La Paz’s waterfront that draws both residents and visitors daily, while protecting the income of vendor families who depend on informal sales.
Local business chambers have endorsed the plan. Representatives from these associations attended recent meetings with municipal officials and said organized street vending could actually strengthen tourism. They pointed to the cultural value of traditional local products sold by vendors along the malecón.
Regulation Changes Needed Before Full Launch
The city acknowledged that municipal regulations will need to be amended before the program can be fully implemented. Current rules do not account for a formal rotation system or a registered vendor database in the downtown area.
The biggest challenge facing the program is persuading vendors to sign up. Many currently operate entirely off the books, with no formal labor protections and no permits. Registering could mean new obligations, and officials will need to offer clear benefits to encourage participation.
The issue of unregulated boardwalk vendors is not new in La Paz. In 2023, the city’s Director of Municipal Tourism called for a permitting process after complaints about unlicensed tour sellers on the malecón who were scamming tourists with fake excursion tickets. That earlier push for regulation focused on tour operators, while the current registry targets the broader population of street vendors selling food, crafts, and other goods.
What Comes Next
No specific timeline has been announced for the regulatory amendments or the pilot program’s full launch. Vázquez described the registry as an ongoing process, with municipal staff currently identifying and cataloging active vendors in the target zones.
The malecón, a five-kilometer seaside promenade, is one of La Paz’s most popular public spaces for walking, dining, and sunset views. Jardín Velasco, located a few blocks inland, serves as the city’s traditional central plaza.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.