Top 10 things to do in La Paz

Things 10 things to do in La Paz

1. Cholito wrestling.

Ladies of La Paz get mean and wrestle every Sunday afternoon.

It’s best to get a taxi to and from the neighbourhood – read more in Kat’s blog.

2. Witches’ market

The ‘chifleras’ or witches are on Calle Linares, close to the main downtown centre of La Paz.

Here you will find everything from herbal Viagra to dried llama foetueses (buried under new houses for good luck) to cat claw ointments.

Witch market, Bolivia

3. Valle de las Animas

A spectacular place to walk – think enormous spikes of stone with narrow valleys to walk between them. Head to Ovejuyo part of the city, in the south, and walk for hours and hours in this amazing valley.

 4. Climb Huayna Potosi

Close to La Paz, this 6,000m+ mountain is fairly straightforward and can be tackled by experts and novices alike.

There are great views over La Paz, the Amazon and the Cordillera Real from the top.

Group tour to climb Huayna Potosi.
5. Traditional music

Head to ‘Ojo de Agua’ bar for traditional music, live and direct. Only beer is served in this La Paz favourite.

6. The world’s most dangerous bike ride

A 3,600m / 11,800ft descent, 64km/40 miles from high altiplano to warm tropics – this is a daring bike ride for any level of rider.

It’s about 90% downhill, with some flat parts and a few uphills, and takes a day in total, with 4-5 hours in the saddle.

Start on dirt roads and then enter the muddy tropics, with 1,000m sheer drops on your path. Most of the cars and trucks that used to use this road now use a new route, and so bikers can enjoy the trail even more.

7. Get high

Perfect for acclimatization, take one of the two ‘high’ teleferico routes for breathtaking views, in more ways than one.

Cable Car Teleferico, La Paz, Bolivia

The cable cars are cheap (around Bolivian 3 per ride) and the red or yellow routes both arrive at more than 4,000m. Perfect for acclimatising, offering great views over the city and over to the Cordillera Real.

8. Calle Jaen

Much of the colonial parts of La Paz have been destroyed or modernised, but Calle Jaen has kept to its roots.

Mysterious legends abound here, as well as museums and houses of interest, and from the top of the street you’ll get a great shot of the street and the hills of the city in the background.

Some hip coffee shops and restaurants are here, and it’s a 3 minute walk to another top spot, Plaza Murillo, with the cathedral and palace.

 9. More markets!

Take your pick. Real life La Paz? Go to Mercardo Rodriguez (on Illampu with Rodriguez calles).

More more more? Then it’s Mercardo 16 de Julio, which sprawls for many blocks from Plaza 16 de Julio, selling everything from animals to electronics. Can get busy!

10. Eat well – Gustu

Firmly behind the Bolivian gastronomic movement and recently voted in the Top 50 Latin America Restaurants.

Gustu also trains chefs, and if you like food and have time, you’ll love this place.

Contact us for more.