El Alto
La Paz Department · Cities
On the rim of the La Paz bowl, above 4,000 m, El Alto is a city in its own right, one of the largest in the country and the heart of urban Aymara culture. Ride up by cable car for the view over La Paz and Illimani, get lost in the Feria 16 de Julio, one of the biggest markets in South America, and discover the cholets, brightly coloured buildings inspired by Andean weaving. On Sundays, don't miss the cholita wrestling.
4,050 maltitude
0 to 1 dayto spend there
High altitude. Above 3,500 m, altitude sickness (soroche) is common. Arrive gradually, drink plenty and take it slow on the first day.
Things to do
- Feria 16 de Julio, a giant market (Thursdays and Sundays)
- Cholita wrestling, mostly on Sundays
- The cholets, Freddy Mamani's colourful architecture
- The view over La Paz and Illimani from the cable car
What to eat
- Api con pastelA thick hot drink of purple corn and cinnamon, with a cheese pastry dusted with sugar. The market breakfast.
- AnticuchosMarinated beef heart skewers grilled on the street at night, with potato and a spicy peanut sauce.
- ChuñoPotatoes freeze-dried in the sun, an Andean technique thousands of years old. A surprising taste, worth trying at least once.
Tip. It's colder than La Paz and you feel the altitude: avoid going up on the day you arrive. The market is very crowded, so keep your things close. La Paz's international airport is in El Alto.
Also here
- Crafts and markets Feria 16 de JulioOn Thursdays and Sundays, miles of stalls in El Alto selling everything from car parts to cholita clothes. Visit without anything valuable.
How to get to El Alto
La Paz Road (bus, car) · 15 to 30 min
Mi Teleférico (red, yellow or blue lines from La Paz) or minibus.
The cable car is the easiest way, with a superb view over the city.
Photos of El Alto
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More places in this region
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