Exploring La Paz, Bolivia: A Travel Guide

La Paz, Bolivia's de-facto capital, is a bustling city full of fascinating attractions. Here is a list of must-do things when visiting:

- Take in the views from Mirador Killi Killi: This viewpoint offers panoramic views of the city, including the Illimani and Huayna Potosí mountains. It's a 30-minute uphill walk from Plaza Murillo and is a great spot for photography.

- Ride the Mi Teleferico cable cars: With 25 stations, these cable cars offer stunning views of the city and are a practical way to get around. The red line takes you to El Alto, located at 4,000 meters, for the most scenic ride.

- Visit the San Francisco Church: This 16th-century church is one of the oldest landmarks in La Paz, featuring a blend of indigenous and Catholic elements on its facade. The museum inside the church grounds offers fascinating insights into the city's history.

- Explore Calle Jaen: This well-preserved colonial street is home to colourful buildings, cafes, shops, and five museums. It's a great place to stroll, take photos, and learn about the city's history.

- Wander through the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas): Located near the San Francisco Church, this market offers a unique shopping experience with vendors selling exotic herbal remedies, amulets, and dried animals for traditional rituals.

- Hike the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna): Just outside the city, this valley features surreal landscapes of wind-eroded spires. Two easy hiking trails allow visitors to explore this otherworldly site.

- Mountain bike the Death Road (North Yungas Road): For thrill-seekers, biking down this infamous road is a must. The road descends from high altitudes to the rainforests of Yungas, offering stunning scenery and an adrenaline-pumping experience.

- Brunch at Paceña La Salteña: Indulge in Bolivia's favourite snack, the salteña, a juicy, semi-sweet empanada filled with chicken or beef. Paceña La Salteña has multiple locations in La Paz and offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

- Visit Tiwanaku: This pre-Colombian archaeological site, located near Lake Titicaca, dates back over 10,000 years. It provides a glimpse into ancient civilisations and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- Enjoy the city's cuisine: La Paz has a diverse food scene, offering everything from traditional Bolivian dishes to international fare. Try the local street food, such as salteñas, empanadas, and tucumanes, or explore the many restaurants serving Indian, French, German, and Japanese cuisine.

Take a cable car ride over La Paz

La Paz, Bolivia's de-facto capital, is a bustling, high-altitude city surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. One of the best ways to take in the city's unique geography is by riding the Mi Teleferico cable car system.

The cable car network provides fast and reliable transport between the city's major attractions, connecting La Paz with neighbouring El Alto. The cable cars have cut the commute time between the two locations from one hour to just 10 minutes.

The cable car system operates at 4,000m (13,000ft) above sea level, making it the world's highest cable car ride. The ride offers spectacular bird's-eye views, enabling passengers to grasp the sprawling size of the city.

The cable car network consists of three lines, coloured red, yellow and green, representing the colours of the Bolivian flag. There are 11 stations in total, including a double station that serves as the end point for the yellow and green lines. The stations have names in both Spanish and Aymara, due to the large Aymarar population living in and around La Paz and El Alto.

The cable cars leave the stations every 12 seconds and operate from 5am to 10pm, seven days a week. A one-way ticket costs 3 bolivianos, with a 50% discount for students, seniors and the disabled.

Riding the cable car is a great way to get to many of the popular tourist locations in La Paz. Here are some of the key stations and nearby attractions:

• Estación Teleferico Sopocachi: Parque Mirador Laikakota, Sopacachi neighbourhood
• Estación 16 de Julio: El Alto Open Air Market, Polifunctional de la Ceja (stadium where Cholita Wrestling matches take place) & El Alto International Airport
• Estación Teleferico Cementerio: General Cemetery
• Estación Central: Plaza Murillo, Witches Market, Urban Rush, Mercado Lanza, Calle Sagarnaga, Calle Jaen & Iglesia de San Francisco
• Estación Teleferico Irpavi: Gustu, Zona Sur

Visit the Witches' Market

Visiting the Witches Market is one of the top attractions in La Paz, Bolivia. The market is located in the San Pedro neighbourhood of downtown La Paz, and is known for its unique and fascinating products.

The Witches Market is a popular tourist destination, where visitors can find a variety of strange and intriguing items. Among the most prominent products sold at the market are dried llama fetuses, which are said to bring good luck and prosperity. These fetuses are buried under the foundations of new buildings as an offering to Pachamama, the goddess of the Earth. In addition to the llama fetuses, visitors can also find dried frogs, soapstone figurines, owl feathers, dried turtles and snakes, herbs, and folk remedies.

The market is run by local witch doctors known as yatiri or brujas, who can be identified by their dark hats and coca pouches. These witch doctors offer fortune-telling services and facilitate cha’llas (offerings) to Pachamama. Visitors can purchase a variety of items from the yatiri, including colourful sugar tablets, cigarettes, dried starfish, lacquered frogs, coca leaves, and potions. It is believed that these items will bring good health, safe travel, and good luck.

The Witches Market is a unique and fascinating place to visit, offering a glimpse into the ancient mysticism and spiritual practices of Bolivia.

Explore the Valley of the Moon

The Valley of the Moon is a geological formation located about 10 kilometres away from the urban centre of La Paz, Bolivia. It is a protected area that belongs to the district of Mallasa. The valley is said to have been named by Neil Armstrong himself, due to its resemblance to the craters he saw on his trip to the moon. The valley was formed due to erosion consuming the upper part of a mountain made of clay soil. This erosion has, over time, created a landscape of white chimneys.

To get to the Valley of the Moon, you can either book a tour with one of the many tour agencies in La Paz, or make your own way there by taxi or bus. The bus will take around 40 minutes and costs around 3.00 Bolivianos. A taxi will be quicker, at around 20 minutes, but will cost more at approximately 42.00 Bolivianos.

There are two circular trails that you can choose from in the Valley of the Moon, each leading to different viewpoints. The longer trail takes around 45 minutes to complete and ends at Devil's Point, the most spectacular viewpoint. The other trail is much shorter, taking only 15 minutes.

The Valley of the Moon is a unique landscape, with colours that vary depending on the type of mineral content found in each mountain. The clay soil is composed of minerals that differ from area to area, resulting in colours that range from beige and brown to reddish and violet. The formations have been given curious names, such as "mother moon" and "the turtle mound".

The Valley of the Moon is a must-visit place when in La Paz, Bolivia. Its otherworldly landscapes, formed by erosion over thousands of years, are a sight to behold.

Discover Calle Jaen

Calle Jaen is a charming, quaint, and tranquil street in La Paz, Bolivia. It is one of the city's most well-preserved colonial streets, featuring colourful houses from the 18th century and cobblestone roads. It is located near Plaza Murrilo.

Calle Jaen is home to five of La Paz's most important and interesting museums:

• Museo de Metales Preciosos
• Museo Casa de Murillo
• Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas
• Museo de Instrumentos Musicales
• Museo Litoral Boliviano

The museums are all within close proximity to one another, so they can be visited in one day. However, visiting times vary, so it is advisable to check the opening hours before arrival.

Calle Jaen has a "bohemian" feel and is home to a range of unpretentious bars and restaurants. The most popular of these is Soho, a place for writers, poets, and artists to sip coffee while honing their crafts.

A stroll down Calle Jaen offers a peaceful escape from the bustling city and a chance to appreciate the colourful and historic remnants of a bygone era.

Hike the Death Road

The Death Road, or Yungas Road, is a 60-64km route from La Paz to Coroico that has been named the world's most dangerous road. The road was constructed in 1930 and was given its morbid name because it is a single track with no guardrails that was, until 1998, used by two-way traffic. The weather is often poor, with damp and cloudy conditions that make visibility poor and increase the danger.

Since 1998, the route has been open only to cyclists and, although there have been around 20 fatalities, it is relatively safe so long as you ride within your ability, giving the edge of the road a wide berth, and go with a reputable tour company. There are numerous companies offering bike rental and transport to and from the start of the adventure, with prices ranging from $50 to $1100.

The Death Road is not a technical ride, but it is a fun adventure with minimal technicality and risk as long as you ride in control. The route is normally done in one long day, starting and finishing in La Paz. The first part is asphalt with very cold weather, and you will pass through a drug checkpoint. After a short break, you will reach the beginning of the Bolivian jungle and the start of the most dangerous part of the road: a narrow dirt road cut precariously into the side of the mountain with sheer drops of 1,000m+ to your left. You will ride through mist, low cloud and dust, with cascading waterfalls to your right.

After a massive 3,500m of descent, you will arrive in Yolosa, from where you can drive back to La Paz.

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