La Paz

Things to do

• Mi Teleférico, the urban cable car network
• Witches' Market and Calle Jaén
• Plaza Murillo and San Francisco church
• Rodríguez market and the flavours of La Paz
• Killi Killi viewpoint at sunset

What to eat

• SalteñaBolivia's pastry: slightly sweet dough with a juicy filling of meat, potato and olives. Eaten in the morning, without spilling the juice!
• AnticuchosMarinated beef heart skewers grilled on the street at night, with potato and a spicy peanut sauce.
• Plato paceñoA typical La Paz plate: corn, broad beans, potatoes and fried cheese.
• Api con pastelA thick hot drink of purple corn and cinnamon, with a cheese pastry dusted with sugar. The market breakfast.

Also here

• Festivals · UNESCO AlasitasThe miniatures fair: people buy small versions of what they wish for (a house, a car, banknotes, a diploma) and have them blessed for Ekeko, the god of abundance.
• Festivals · UNESCO Gran PoderLa Paz's great folk parade: thousands of morenada, caporales and diablada dancers cross the city in gold-embroidered costumes.
• Festivals Ñatitas festivalAt La Paz's general cemetery, skulls decorated with flowers and sunglasses are honoured and thanked for their protection. A striking tradition, to be respected.
• Crafts and markets Alpaca and llama woolWarm jumpers, scarves and ponchos for the Altiplano. In La Paz, Sagárnaga and Linares streets are full of them; check that it really is wool.
• Crafts and markets Witches' MarketLinares and Jiménez streets in La Paz: herbs, amulets, llama foetuses and offerings for Pachamama, prepared by the yatiris.
• Myths and legends EkekoA small moustached man loaded with bags of food, banknotes and miniature objects, Ekeko is the Aymara god of abundance. People offer him a cigarette and trust him with their wishes, especially during Alasitas.
• Myths and legends Illimani and MururataMountains are achachilas, protective ancestors. It is said that Illimani, in a fit of jealousy, knocked off Mururata's head with a sling: that's why its neighbour has a flat top.

How to get to La Paz

• El Alto 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.

• Valle de la Luna Road (bus, car) · 30 to 45 min

  Minibus from the centre, or taxi.

• Cochabamba Flight · 45 min flight

  Daily BoA flights (several a day) to El Alto airport.

  You land straight at 4,000 m: worse for acclimatisation.

• Rurrenabaque Flight · 40 to 50 min flight

  BoA and EcoJet flights (small planes, often full: book ahead).

  A spectacular flight over the Andes.

• Valle de las Ánimas Road (bus, car) · 45 min to 1 h

  Puma Katari bus or minibus to Chasquipampa and Ovejuyo, then on foot; or a tour.

• Sucre Flight · 55 min flight

  BoA flights.

• Death Road Bike · Full day

  Mountain bike tour with an agency (transport, bike, meals). Bus back to La Paz in the evening, or stay in Coroico.

• Choro trek Road (bus, car) · 1 h

  Minibus or taxi to La Cumbre, start of the trek.

• Trinidad Flight · 1 h flight

  BoA flights.

• Uyuni Flight · 1 h flight

  BoA flights almost every day.

  Saves you a night on the bus.

• Tarija Flight · 1 h flight

  BoA flights.

• Santa Cruz Flight · 1 h flight

  Very frequent BoA flights.

• Cobija Flight · 1 h 05 flight

  BoA flights almost daily from El Alto airport.

• Chacaltaya Road (bus, car) · 1 h 30

  Minibus tour from La Paz (often combined with Valle de la Luna).

• Huayna Potosí Road (bus, car) · 1 h 30

  Transport included in the guided climb.

• Tiwanaku Road (bus, car) · 1 h 30

  Minibus from the La Paz cemetery area, or a tour.

• Huatajata Road (bus, car) · 1 h 30

  La Paz – Copacabana bus (get off at Huatajata).

• Riberalta Flight · 1 h 30 flight

  BoA flights, not every day.

• Viscachani Road (bus, car) · about 1 h 30

  Minibus from El Alto towards Patacamaya (Viscachani stop).

• Condoriri Road (bus, car) · 2 h

  Private vehicle or agency.

• Takesi trek Road (bus, car) · 2 h 30

  Minibus to Ventilla, then up to the start of the trek.

• Comanche Road (bus, car) · 2 to 3 h

  Car with driver or tour from La Paz.

• Coroico Road (bus, car) · 3 h

  Minibus from the Minasa terminal (Villa Fátima).

• Jesús de Machaca Road (bus, car) · about 3 h

  Bus from El Alto via Viacha.

• Yunga Cruz Road (bus, car) · about 3 h

  Transport to the start of the trek, arranged by the agency.

• Copacabana Road (bus, car) · 3 h 30 to 4 h

  Tourist buses and minibuses from the cemetery area (Av. Baptista) or through an agency.

  Keep your documents with you: you get off the bus at Tiquina.

• Sorata Road (bus, car) · 3 h 30

  Minibus from the cemetery area.

• Oruro Road (bus, car) · 3 h 30 to 4 h

  Buses every 30 minutes.

• Chulumani Road (bus, car) · about 4 h

  Minibus from Villa Fátima, in La Paz.

• Curahuara Road (bus, car) · about 4 h

  Bus towards Tambo Quemado / Arica: get off at the turn-off, then take a taxi.

  Combine with Sajama park.

• Sajama Road (bus, car) · 4 h 30

  Bus towards Arica (Chile), get off at the Sajama junction, then a taxi. Easier by car or on a tour.

• Cochabamba Road (bus, car) · 7 to 8 h

  Day or night buses from the Cochabamba bus terminal (many companies, every hour). A “cama” (sleeper) bus is best at night.

  A beautiful climb up to the Altiplano. Travel by day to enjoy the views.

• Charazani Road (bus, car) · 8 to 10 h

  Bus from La Paz's cemetery district, few departures a week.

  Long road, partly unpaved.

• Potosí Road (bus, car) · 8 to 10 h (overnight)

  Night bus.

• Uyuni Road (bus, car) · 9 to 11 h (overnight)

  Tourist night buses (Todo Turismo, Trans Omar…) from the La Paz bus terminal.

• Rurrenabaque Road (bus, car) · 12 to 15 h

  Night bus from the Minasa terminal (Villa Fátima).

Photos of La Paz

More places in this region

• El AltoThe big Aymara city on the Altiplano, right above La Paz: a giant market, cholets and cholita wrestling.
• Valle de la LunaMoon-like clay formations in the southern suburbs of La Paz.
• Valle de las ÁnimasA forest of earth spires on the edge of La Paz, bigger and wilder than the Valley of the Moon.
• ChacaltayaA former ski area at 5,400 m: the highest view of the Cordillera Real.
• Huayna PotosíA 6,000 m peak known as one of the most accessible, with a guided 2 or 3-day climb.
• Cordillera Real: CondoririGlacial lagoons and snowy peaks, two hours from La Paz.
• TiwanakuUNESCO-listed pre-Inca site: the Gate of the Sun and the Kalasasaya temple.
• Uru community of IruitoAn Uru community on the Desaguadero river, keepers of a very old lake culture.
• Jesús de MachacaAn Aymara Altiplano village and its 1706 church, south of Lake Titicaca.
• Comanche and its Puya raimondiiA forest of Puya raimondii, the world's largest bromeliad, on the Altiplano.
• Viscachani hot springsWarm-water baths on the Altiplano, on the road to Oruro, about 1 h 30 from La Paz.
• SorataA quiet village at the foot of Illampu, a base for treks.
• Charazani and ApolobambaLand of the Kallawaya Andean healers (UNESCO), with hot springs and great treks.
• Death Road (bike)The world's most famous mountain bike descent: from 4,650 m to 1,200 m in a day.
• Choro trek (Inca trail)Three days on a pre-Hispanic trail, from the snows of La Cumbre down to the Yungas forest.
• Takesi trek (Inca trail)Two days on one of Bolivia's best-preserved Inca trails, down to Yanacachi.
• Yunga Cruz trekThe wildest pre-Hispanic trail down to the Yungas: 4 to 5 days below Illimani.
• Coroico (Yungas)A hilltop village in the subtropical Yungas: coffee, waterfalls and pools with a view.
• Chulumani (South Yungas)A small South Yungas town among coffee, coca and cloud forest, away from the crowds.