With a back-drop of snow-capped mountains, including the ‘guardian of the city’, Mount Illimani, La Paz is a thriving, bustling city; a juxtaposition of high-rise buildings, modern bars and restaurants, & Spanish churches, plazas and side streets.
Beyond its colonial-era centre, La Paz offers a number of unique attractions. Shopping is a particular delight. The strangely sinister Witch’s Market hosts an array of goods used in traditional medicines and spells, while for more traditional souvenirs there’s Sagarnaga Street, where traders show off vibrant Andean textiles and handicrafts.
Just outside of the city is the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), a lunar-esque landscape of canyons and pinnacles. An easy half-day trip from the city centre, there are two short trails which take visitors to different viewpoints.
In and around La Paz, Bolivia
About an hour north of La Paz you can hike on the Cordillera Real mountain range, a 200km long mountain chain that divides the Bolivian Altiplano and the Amazon. A network of Inca trails runs through the range, linking several of its most prominent peaks. Treks range from a relatively easy three-day hike on the Takesi Trail to a summit trek up the 6,000m Huayna Potosi – a comparatively accessible non-technical summit climb. The best time for trekking is during the dry season (May to October).
Two hours west of La Paz is one of Bolivia’s most treasured sites. The pre-Colombian ruins at Tiahuanaco were once the spiritual, agricultural and political centre of the Tiahuanaco culture. Here you’ll see enormous carved stone structures, gateways and temples.
