La Paz...
Highest capital city
in the world
Overview:
The city of La Paz - founded in 1548 under the name of La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de la Paz (The city of our Lady of Peace) - sits at a breathless altitude range varying from 3,000 to 4,100 meters above sea level which makes it the highest capital city in the world.
Due to this fact is often referred to as the city that touches de sky.
As a mother of fact, Bolivia has two capitals, being La Paz the legislative seat of the government and Sucre the legal capital.
La Paz at down. Bolivia
First thing you will notice as soon as you arrive is the thin air that characterizes de Altiplano, so be prepared to feel the altitude.
Best course of action is to take it easy for the first two days or three to complete the acclimatization process.
Most common syntoms of soroche or high altitude sickness include shortage of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of apetite, changes in the sleeping pattern or even nausea or vomiting.
How to overcome it?...
By following a few simple guidelines you will be back on your feet in no time and ready to explore the magnificent Altiplano...
- Drink LOTS of liquids. Hot, sweet tea and coca leaves tea as locals do
- Get plenty of rest
- Avoid depressants such as alcohol
- Avoid sleeping pills or narcotics of any kind
- For headache use a mild analgesic such as aspirin or similar
- Do not try to go any higher until your body acclimatizes to the altitude
Read more about at High Altitude Medicine Guide.
With over one million inhabitants La Paz is a very picturesque city. More than half of the population are of Quechua and Aymara ancestry, so don't be surprised if you don't listen to Spanish language as much as you would do in other parts of South America.
Being Bolivia the most indigenous country in the continent, many customs, traditions, dances, songs and religious beliefs interact here conforming the authentic culture of the Andes.
La Paz. Aymara Woman Dancing Morenada
La Paz Attractions:
Most of the city's attractions evolve around colorful marketplaces, architecture and museums in the vicinity of calle Jaén. Don't miss the church and convent of San Francisco (1549) and Sagárnaga street.
For a quick look check this map of La Paz..
- Witches market (Mercado de Brujas). To find traditional indigenous medicines and potions
- Black Market (Mercado Negro).
- Flower Market
- National Museum of Art
- Musical Instruments Museum]
- Colonial Museum or Casa Murillo
- Museo de Metales Preciosos
- Museo de la Coca (Coca leaves Museum)
Just outside la Paz there are a number of nearby attractions to be explore before moving to the sub-tropical Yungas, or the village of Rurenabaque - gateway to Madidi National Park - in the Bolivian share of the Amazon rainforest, or to the massive salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, near the border with Chile.
- Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna). Extraordinary rock formations and moon-like scenery created by erosion
- Mallasa. It has the highest golf course in the world
- Chacaltaya. Idem for the highest ski run
- Lake Titicaca. Cradle of the Inca civilization. Highest commercially navigable lake
- Tiwuanacu (Tiahuanaco). One of the oldest pre-Columbian civilizations
- Coroico. Cycling down from La Cumbre to Coroico attracts many international travellers
Average temperature in winter ranges from around 15 degrees Celsius (59F) to 22 Celsius (72F) in summer, which is also the rainy season - it rains just about every afternoon.
There are several micro-climates due to the city's different levels of altitude: El Alto (4,100 m), where the airport is located, downtown is about (3,650m) and Aranjuez, located at 3,300 meters above seal level.
How to Get There:
By Air:
Coming from abroad or any main city in Bolivia you will get to El Alto Airport, not far from downtown.
By Train:From Arequipa, Peru.
From Arica or Carama, in Chile.
From Villazon, Argentina to Oruro and then bus connect to La Paz.
If you are in neightboring countries you can get international bus services from/to:
Arica (8 hours) or Iquique (12 hours), Chile.
Cuzco, Peru (around 17 hours), with connection to Puno (8 hours).
Lima, Peru (27 hours).
Buenos Aires, Argentina (50 hours).
Where to Stay:
- Hostal la Posada de la Abuela Obdulia: Linares # 947, La Paz
- Residencial Rosario: Illampu 704, La Paz 12446
- Jatatal Hotel: Avda. Costanera San Buenaventura, La Paz
- El Rey Palace Hotel: Av. 20 de Octubre 1947, La Paz 10727
- Hotel Calacoto: Calle 13 # 8009 & Sanchez Bustamante, Calacoto, La Paz 8009
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