La Paz | Bolivia travel guide

La Paz Bolivia travel guide, People & culture of La Paz Bolivia, La Paz Bolivia travel vlog, La Paz Bolivia tourism& vacations

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court. La Paz was established in 1548, and is in the Andes. Altitude of the city ranges from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto (where the airport is located) to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. It is the highest national capital in the world.

The sight from the air as one flies into La Paz is incredible. First, one sees the sprawling shantytowns of El Alto, slowly giving way to the sight of La Paz itself, clinging tenuously to the sides of what looks like a large gash in the earth.

See in La Paz | Bolivia
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Sagarnaga Street, (just south of Plaza San Francisco). La Paz' main tourist strip. It's mainly a market street with artesano and souvenir stores, but you'll also find budget hostels, tour and travel agencies, cafes, and lots and lots of backpackers. Don't be suckered by the roving sellers of "trilobite-in-a-rock".

The Witches' Market, (Mercado de Hechiceria or Mercado de las Brujas). Calle Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz. Vendors sell llama fetuses and dried frogs for Aymara rituals, as well as soapstone figurines and aphrodisiac formulas. This street is also the best place to pick up a charango or other Bolivian musical instrument.

Calle Jaen. One of the few places in the city with preserved colonial buildings, currently housing several interesting museums.

The Valle de La Luna. Surreal, weathered rock. Just outside the town of Mallasa. 30-40 minute bus ride (depending on traffic) down the La Paz valley. Take local bus 43 to Mallasa (Bs 2.40), from San Francisco Plaza or Prado, mini-bus 273 or 902 (Bs 2.30 - 3), a taxi (Bs 35) or join a tour. The entrance to the park is located next to the flags and costs Bs15. Opening hours: 8 a.m - 5.30 p.m. UPDATE: As of Oct. 9, 2013, you can show up at the paradero near the Iglesia de San Francisco and Sagarnaga Street and jump on a combi/micro headed towards Mallasa and the cost is only Bs 2 per person.

The Thursday & Sunday Market in El Alto or Feria de 16 de Julio. A huge market held in El Alto every Thursday and Sunday. This mostly Aimara market is one of the world's biggest, and a person can find just about anything. The latest software and DVDs are practically free as are high quality used clothes, jackets, sweaters and everything else imaginable. For newbies, stick to the railroad tracks starting at the ceja and ending at Plaza Ballivian. Do not bring anything valuable (like camera or mobile phone) and keep your money (except small bills like 10's) inside your clothing. Bring sunblock. As a long time resident of Bolivia, this is one of my favorite pass times and the area where I have practically furnished my house, dressed my kids and bought plants for my garden. On fair days there are hundreds of mini buses leaving from the Prado.

The Self-guided Public Transport Tour. The best way to see the real La Paz is to jump on and off public transport minibuses and micros at random, go to the end of the line, turn around and jump off at any place that looks interesting. There is no way to get lost and each jump on and off costs about $US 0.15. Buy fruit and so on along the way and talk to people in the peripheral zones. Quite safe.

Lucha Libre de Cholitas, Polifunctional de la Ceja, El Alto (From San Francisco, take any mini-bus bound to Ceja and stop 200m after the autopista toll.), [1]. 4pm. The tourist entry ticket is pricier but includes some snacks and souvenirs. The show starts around 5pm with men fighting for the 1st hour before letting the Cholitas on the ring. You can go there with a tour or on your own with a mini-bus (Bs 2). Bs 50.

Vertical Route, Chuspipata, ☎ 78963263, [2]. 6. -Vertical Route: Vertical Route: it offers 5 main activities: abseiling, tibetan rope bridge, zip line and rope swing. These activities are located in Chuspipata within the municipal area of Coroico, about 1 hour and a half of La Paz. this circuit can be performed in a day 610.

verticalroute, Chuspipata, ☎ 78963263. -Vertical Route: Vertical Route: it offers 5 main activities: abseiling, tibetan rope bridge, zip line and rope swing. These activities are located in Chuspipata within the municipal area of Coroico, about 1 hour and a half of La Paz. this circuit can be performed in a day