22 Essential Things to See and Do in La Paz

There are plenty of different museums to check out in La Paz, more than can be mentioned in this brief article. Whether your interests lie in indigenous crafts, pre-Colombian gold artifacts, the sacred coca leaf or modern art, you’re bound to find something of interest in La Paz.

There aren’t any Michelin Star restaurants in La Paz… yet. What can be found instead is an amazing array of local eateries, delectable street food, traditional breakfast treats and upscale international restaurants that prepare high-quality tucker for a fraction of the cost back home.

The La Paz Golf Club is the highest tournament standard course in the world. Aside from this claim to fame, it’s also an extremely well-maintained establishment with luscious green thoroughfares flanked by leafy green pine trees, all under the watchful gaze of the city’s guardian angel, Mount Illimani.

Tourists aren’t allowed inside on tours anymore, so don’t even try. But the prison can still be viewed from the outside and women and children can regularly be seen going in to visit their beloved incarcerated relatives.

It won’t exactly be Barca vs. Real Madrid, but a game at the city’s Estadio Hernando Siles is a great way to spend an afternoon. The best match to watch is an El Classico between the two top teams, Bolivar and Tigre. This is when club loyalty reaches a fever pitch and the atmosphere becomes electric.

La Paz has been declared by Lonely Planet and other renowned publications as having the best nightlife anywhere in the world. From cozy pubs to pumping all-night dance parties, there’s somewhere to wet the whistle for everyone in this enticing hedonist’s paradise.

Get a taste of the real Bolivia at Mercado Rodriguez where locals frantically snap up huge quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables for rock bottom prices. La Paz’ biggest outdoor food market is busiest on weekends and provides a real insight into Bolivia’s hectic and largely unregulated day-today commerce.

Fancy a bit of adventure right in the heart of downtown La Paz? Then check out Urban Rush, a crazy abseiling experiences that sees brave tourists leaping down the face of a 17 story hotel that overlooks the central Plaza San Francisco. Punters can even don a ludicrous Spider-Man outfit for an outrageously instagrammable photo opportunity.

Just above the city center lies a charming lookout that has been largely neglected in recent years, particularly since the arrival of the moving mirador known as Mi Teleferico. Nevertheless, Mirador Kili Kili still offers excellent views of the entire center in a peaceful and relaxing setting.

Home to the Government Palace, the House of Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Municipal Government House, Plaza Murillo is the most important political site in the country. This grand, leafy plaza is a pleasant place to relax for a while, despite the relentless flock of pigeons that seem to cover every square inch.

Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, the San Francisco Basilica is La Paz’ numero uno Catholic church. Inside is a worthy museum that holds various religious relics, some spooky catacombs and a bell tower that can be climbed for unbeatable views of the center.

San Francisco is the city’s biggest and most important plaza. Situated right in the heart of downtown, this massive open space is a popular meeting point and landmark, not to mention the site of regular passionate demonstrations.

La Paz is home to the world’s highest and longest cable car transportation system. This impressive mega-project currently has three lines which stretch from the southern end of the city all the way up to the neighboring satellite city of El Alto. Riding in one of its modern, comfortable cabins offers unbeatable views of the city and surrounding mountains. Best of all, at only BOB3 (US$0.43) per ride, it really is the best value thing to do around town.

Learn about Bolivia’s version of witchcraft with a trip to the intriguing and somewhat unnerving Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market). Here you’ll find an impressive array of natural remedies for almost any ailment, as well as elixirs, potions, voodoo charms, and even the powerful hallucinogenic, Ayahuasca plant. Most visitors remember the Witches’ Market for its selection of dried out llama fetuses, which are traditionally buried under buildings as sacrifices to the appease the gods. Magic spells, curses, and fortune readings are also available on request.

Cholita wrestling is perhaps the quirkiest event in La Paz. Indigenous Aymara women, known locally as Cholitas, demonstrate feats of incredible physical prowess in a WWE inspired free-for-all, all the while dressed in their traditional pollera skirt and derby. Many of their opponents are men (perhaps representing their husbands) who they overpower with a stunning display of athletics in a brutal, yet hilarious fashion. This crazy event takes place every Sunday from 2PM in El Alto.

Known locally as Mercado 16 de Julio, the market in the neighboring city of El Alto is said to be the biggest in South America. Its bustling street stalls stretch on for miles across a whole suburb and sell absolutely everything imaginable – including the kitchen sink. It’s held every Thursday and Sunday and is best reached via the red teleférico line which terminates right outside the market. Pickpockets abound here so keep a close eye on your stuff.

If hurtling down the World’s Most Dangerous Road on a mountain bike sounds a little bit crazy, that’s because it is. It also happens to be one of the most popular tours in Bolivia, with around 25,000 riders tackling the treacherous road each year. The trail starts at a high mountain pass, two hours’ drive from La Paz, and descends into the lush semitropical jungle of the Yungas region. The views are stunning and the adrenaline is pumping.

Calle Jaén is a delightfully quaint cobblestone street which features La Paz’ best preserved colonial architecture. This peaceful pedestrian-only thoroughfare feels light years away from the congestion of downtown La Paz, despite the fact it’s just a five minute walk from Plaza Murillo. Take a gentle stroll through Calle Jaén and you’ll come across four of the city’s best museums plus some cool bars, restaurants, and cafés.

Chacaltaya was once a ski resort for La Paz’ elite until climate change came along and melted its glacier. The ski lifts have long since closed down, but it’s still a great place to visit for its stunning views of Mount Huayna Potosi, La Paz, and even as far as Nevado Sajama on the Chilean border. Another cool thing about Chacaltaya is that you can easily reach an altitude of 17,700 feet (5394 meters) with only a little bit of walking – a personal record for most people.

The Tiwanaku empire is thought to be one of the oldest and most powerful in South America with their major city lying just two hours drive from La Paz. This huge archaeological site is of profound cultural and religious significance to Bolivian pre-Colombian history. Considered by some to be the ‘Stonehenge of the Americas,’ these impressive ruins are set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cordillera Real mountain range and feature an impressive array of sculptures and impossibly large stones.

Known as Moon Valley in English, it’s not hard to see how this geological oddity got its name. This moon-like landscape is less than an hour’s drive from downtown La Paz and makes for a perfect half-day trip to escape the big city and discover some of Bolivia’s incredible natural landscapes. The site features a gentle walking trail which winds through a series of fantastically eroded rock formations.

Like hiking? You’re going to love Palca Canyon. It’s hard to believe this relaxed, nature lover’s paradise is just an hour’s drive from the city center. An easy hike goes down from the nearby town of Palca and enters into a stunning canyon, all the while under the watchful gaze of the ominous Mount Illimani. While you’re there, check out Valle de las Animas (Valley of the Spirits), an incredible natural labyrinth which has eroded into a cliff face. There’s also a trendy, new-age eco-resort modeled on a Buddhist Stupa that offers psychedelic ayahuasca ceremonies.