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La Paz Tours & Travel Guide
The beautiful city of La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, towards the southeast of Lake Titicaca, along Choqueyapu River. This bowl-like depression of the city is surrounded by huge mountains of the Altiplano. Situated at an elevation of 3,650 m, it has the honor to be the highest capital city in the world.
The small city is full of exciting activities and amazing spots that are a must-visit during La Paz Bolivia tours. To choose from the various attraction points becomes very difficult, especially when you are on a short trip. Here are a few places that are the most amazing and not to be missed during your La Paz tour.
1. The Witch Market
Situated between Santa Cruz in and Sagarnaga, this tourist attraction is a gem. Run by Yatiri, the local witch doctors, the mysterious place is famous for selling dried Llama fetuses. It is a ritual to bury these fetuses as an offering to the goddess Pachamama in the foundation of new buildings to ensure the safety of the construction workers.
The Yatiri can be seen everywhere around the area due to their black hats and coca pouches. You will get all types of potions, medicinal plants, dried frogs, and other magic related ingredients. Moreover, they offer you amulets, powders, and talismans to give you fertility, luck, and beauty.
2. Valle De La Luna
The Moon Valley is a maze of giant spires and canyons, formed due to persistent erosion of mountains through rains and strong wind over thousands of years. The rock formations are reminiscent of the moon's landscape and present a colorful scene because of their mineral content. You will see a colorful pallet variety from beige to dark purple and many more. Choose from the two circular walking tracks to walk on the moon, each has a different view-points.
3. Basilica of San Francisco, La Paz
This Catholic Church, located in the center of the city, is under the advocacy of Francis of Assisi and is an important historical landmark of the city. The name is due to its location, which is Plaza San Francisco, that is the home to this beautiful tower. This church was originally built between the 16th to 18th centuries, but the tower that you see today was added later by the end of the 19th century.
4. Calle Jaen
The cobblestone street is lined with vibrant and bright colored houses from the 16th century. Considered to be the finest colonial street in the city, this place is full of entertaining spots, cafes, boutiques, etc. The most important characteristic is that it is home to the most important museums of La Paz like the Museo del Litoral Boliviano, Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas, and Museum do Pre Metales Precioso.
5. Mi Teleferico
The best way to enjoy the beauty of the fascinating valley is by lying through the mountains around it. The colorful cable cars are a traffic-free and efficient way to take you through the city. Opened in 2014, there is always some planning and construction is going on for new routes for the aerial cable car system. There are 10 stations, served by three lines to take you through and out of the city.
La Paz has some amazing cultural aspects that you would rarely find anywhere else in the world.
Witch Market is an important cultural component of the small city as it can offer customers unique witchcraft ingredients like a bottled aphrodisiac, dried frogs, and every type of witch herbs. Bolivia's witchcraft tradition dates back to more than a thousand years, but this mysterious market is still popular among tourists. Choose an unusual souvenir for your loved ones. Various types of amulets and talismans are especially popular among tourists.
La Paz celebrates various festivals throughout the year. One weird annual festival is the "Day of the Skull." There is a tradition in the locals to keep the skulls of their deceased relatives at home in special boxes. They are believed to be the strongest guard for them against evil spirits. On this festival day, people take the skulls in their boxes and go to the cemetery to get blessings from the priest. Skulls are decorated with flowers, fabrics, hats, etc.
Fondness of local people for coca leaves is another tradition that seems odd to many tourists. Officially declared as a soft drug, the legalization and use of coca leaves is prohibited in various countries around the world, but like all other Bolivian towns, in La Paz, it is legal to consume coca. Locals use this plant as a tonic and simply chew the leaves.
No trip is complete without tasting the local cuisine of the destination. Not discussed much, Bolivian food is one of its kind. Whether you are eating from some street food stall or some five-star restaurant, there is a specific punch to the Bolivian food that will give you an out of the world experience.
The fast city has thousands of food street stalls as people here love to eat on the go in their busy schedules. Usually, mornings and evenings are the most popular times for street food as Bolivians like to have a proper and large sit-down meal for their lunch. Breakfast pastry, Tucuman, choripan, anticucho, tripa, and sandwich de chola are some popular street dishes.
If you are interested in sitting down and have a decent Bolivian meal, then El Pueblito is a good option, offering most of the Bolivian dishes. Reasonable price, large portion, and comfy atmosphere makes it an ideal choice. Other good options include Coroico in Sur, El Vagon Del Sue, Villa Serena, and Marrakech are some popular names.
Due to high altitude, La Paz has a high mountain climate with wet summers and dry winters. Rains are not frequent but mostly occur from December to March, with January being the wettest of all. Winter between May and August is the dry time, with June and July being the driest in absolute.
The beautiful city is an all year round destination, but the best season to plan La Paz Bolivia tours is between April and October with a clear sunny sky and pleasant temperature.
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