Based in 3,600 meters above sea level, breathlessness is part of everyday life in La Paz. The city with almost 1 million inhabitants is full of surprises and adventures. English is not wildly spoken but people are extremely friendly. There are so many things you can do in the city but here are the top 3 must do for me. I’ve selected my favorite things to do in La Paz that are unique and adds something special to your adventures.
- The moon valley( Vale de la Luna)
Valle de la Luna is only about 10 km south of La Paz. The area there used to be a mountain, but during the centuries it was eroded by wind and weather and transformed into a breathtaking valley with sharp, odd formations piled high on top of one another. If you have a great imagination you can see animals and people shapes formatting into the rocks
How to get there:
If you are on a budget the best way to get to the valley is by public transportation.
The cheapest option is to get to the end of the teleferico green line and from there take a taxi or colectivo (colectivo is a minivan type of bus with nonspecific stops and time) toward Malalsa and just ask the driver to make a stop at the entrance. On the way back you would have to walk across the road to the intersection and wait for another colectivo to come by. I don’t remember the number of the bus but they would tell you if it’s going to the teleferico station.
- The dead road (Camino de la muerte)
For the most adventures people, one of the best things to do in La Paz is mountain biking the dead road. The road is considered to be the most dangerous road in the world. It is a narrow dirt rocky road that starts at 4700m/15400ft altitude in La Cumbre and goes down to 1100m/3600ft at Yoloso. The road is about 67km long and depending on your speed could take the whole day. At the end of your journey, you will be served early dinner and allowed some time to use the pool and take a quick shower. It is an unforgettable experience and I would recommend to anyone, even for those who are not big on cycling.After couple hours of research and reading reviews I choose https://xtremedownhill.com/ ( Please note that I do not get paid to promote the company, I just picked it because was the best price and quality at the time)
- Visit a Witch Market.
One of the biggest cultural shock in Bolivia is a visit to the Which Market. The locals still practice old shamans rituals and habitats. Their biggest belief is in Pachamama. Walking around the Witch markets you can witness some really unusual things. Apparently, the locals believe that if they bared a lama(offering to Pachamama-Mother Earth )….on the ground before building a house will bring them luck and prosperity. Also for sale was powdered dog’s tongue, which can be secretly added to a man’s food to make him loyal to his lover like a dog is to its master.
