In March 1922, de la Tapia qualified for her pilot's license at a test held at the school.
[2] Shortly afterwards, de la Tapia returned to Bolivia and assisted in the establishment of a school of aviation in the country, which opened in 1923.
In the early 1930s, de la Tapia went to France and qualified as a pilot at the Caudron school.
She attempted to enlist to fly in the Chaco War to defend her country, but women were not permitted in the armed forces.
In 1958, when the Bolivian Air Force was officially incorporated, de la Tapia was given the rank of captain, and later lieutenant colonel.