La Paz


Few cities in the world have as spectacular a setting as La Paz. The cosmopolitan city is one of contrasts – the modern
metropolitan city meeting its colonial architecture and hundred-year-old markets, and how its European influences
contrast with its mostly indigenous inhabitants.
At over 3500m above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world and allows itself some incredible Andean
views. Imagine a city tucked away in narrow canyons, with churches and offices dwarfed by the magnificent icebound
peak of Mount Illimani rising imperiously to the southeast.
With some of the continent’s most notable restaurants, La Paz’s foodie scene is on the rise - the city also has an increasingly cosmopolitan range of European-style restaurants, both in Sopocachi, and also on trendy Calle Tarija, just off the end of Linares. In stark contrast to neighboring Argentina, restaurants begin serving dinner at around 7 pm. Like most things in La Paz, the city is the perfect place to experience both Indigenous and European culture, with many restaurants catering to both or using indigenous ingredients and cooking styles with European presentations and twists.
Today La Paz is a growing city that is expanding in many directions, and it remains vibrant with a mix of customs from numerous eras. Indigenous culture is still very prevalent in La Paz, unlike many other South American metropolises, and while La Paz has never had an influx of immigrants, it still features unique neighborhoods with plenty of diversity. This makes La Paz a truly vibrant city with a South American flavor all its own. Visitors can enjoy both the old and the new when it comes to culture, visiting one of the city’s many ingenious communities, markets, restaurants, and shops or opting to experience the modern like museums, malls, or nightlife in the city.
With unparalleled access to the Andes Mountains, La Paz is the perfect starting point for so many of Bolivia’s most thrilling adventures. Enjoy mountainous terrains when you go rock climbing at one of the hundreds of outdoor sports and traditional climbing routes right in the heart of downtown. In neighborhoods like Aranjuez on either side of Avenida Hernan Siles Zuazo, there are tons of walking trails with rock climbing routes, as well as easy access to some great mountaineering views. If you’re up for a more challenging hike, climb to the top of Huayna Potosi. At 6,088 meters (20,000 feet), it’s one of the most popular climbs in South America.
Surrounded by the Andes Mountains and with 137,000 observations of fauna and flora, La Paz is a capital city with much to experience when it comes to natural beauty. From wandering through the otherworldly craters of the Valley of the Moon to climbing the great peaks of Monte Chacaltaya, La Paz always delivers on altitude and sweeping natural beauty. Hike up to one of the many viewpoints in the city and take La Paz’s snowcapped mountainous terrain and out-of-this-world landscapes.
When booking a vacation to Bolivia, we’ll keep your travel goals in mind. Whether you’re looking to experience the art
and culture of La Paz, experience the salt flats of Salar De Uyuni, or enjoy lake life in Lake Titicaca- Bolivia has
something for everyone and our travel designers are eager to craft the perfect trip for your luxury tour of Bolivia.
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Bolivia’s dry season runs from May to October, mostly falling during the southern hemisphere winter. This is the perfect
time for hiking and other outdoor pursuits, especially in the Andean zone, though the highlands will be cold and
overnight temperatures can drop well below freezing at altitude.
Mercado de las Brujas Visit the infamous Witches’ Market (Mercado de Brujas) where you can buy all sorts of potions , herbs and dried llama fetuses to ward off bad luck. The market is the best place to discover herbal and folk remedies, plus a few more unorthodox ingredients intended to please the various spirits of the Aymara world. It’s a colorful neighborhood to explore with plenty of opportunities to explore even if you’re not shopping for wizardry. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes in this area.
Calle Jaén Museums Calle Jaén is the most well-preserved colonial street in the city, dating back to the 1700s, and it makes for a lovely place to stroll and take photos of its cobblestones and colorful buildings.It’s also home to many of La Paz’s museums, including the Museo de Metales Preciosos, where you can see pre-Columbian silver and gold artwork, and the Casa de Murillo, which is where the revolutionary leader Pedro Domingo Murillo lived, making it one of La Paz’s most historically-significant tourist attractions.
Hike Through The Valley of the Moon The Valle de la Luna, or Valley Of the Moon, is a unique outcropping of rocks approximately 5 miles from the center of La Paz. Named for its out-of-this-world landscapes, the Valley of the Moon was formed through the erosion of nearby mountains. This erosion formed tall spires made of mostly clay and sandstone, which are still eroding to this day. The valley has two trails that will make you feel like you’re on the moon, throughout the site, taking around an hour each.
Enjoy views from El Alto Take a picturesque cable car that runs from the city center to El Alto, where you can enjoy amazing views of La Paz and snow-covered peaks. The most popular spot is El Alto, an indigenous town with a bustling market and hilltop views of La Paz. There’s also a viewpoint in the south of El Alto called vista which is a great place to hang out and eat some street food.
Gustu Celebrated as one of the best restaurants in South America, Gustu has been drawing a crowd since it opened in 2013. It was founded by Noma’s Claus Meyer, a Danish chef and entrepreneur. Gustu offers a high-end tasting menu as well as single dishes. All of the ingredients are sourced locally – and there are plenty of ingredients to source. Bolivia has more than one thousand varieties of potato and a dizzying array of fruits, vegetables and herbs not grown anywhere else in the world. The restaurant is headed up by Marisa Taha, a young Bolivian chef who has worked in the Gusto kitchen for years.
Proyecto Nativa Proyecto Nativa is the most recent addition to the Atix Hotel and a gift to La Paz’s fine dining scene. The restaurant is located at the top of the hotel and led by a team of passionate Bolivian chefs. Using only fresh, seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, the chefs have designed an exciting menu inspired by the culinary traditions of Bolivia. Expect to see unique ingredients and contemporary twists to traditional dishes. The atmospheric restaurant and attentive staff make this the perfect spot for a romantic meal.
Ali Pacha Ali Pacha offers plant-based fine dining, with options for a three, five or seven-course vegan tasting menu. Sustainability is of upmost importance to the chefs at Ali Pacha. They are committed to using ingredients in a way that is respectful to both the natural environment and the farmers/producers. For Ali Pacha this means avoiding over-produced ingredients and instead taking advantage of Bolivia’s incredible vegetable diversity.
Atix Hotel Since opening its doors in 2016, Atix has quickly established itself as a major player in Bolivia’s luxury travel scene and a prominent feature of Bolivian architecture. Boasting an eccentric modern facade and a range of eclectic artwork from Bolivian artists, this quirky five-star hotel offers unbridled opulence while paying homage to the country’s distinct cultural heritage. There are 53 rooms split over five size categories, all with top-quality beds, good-sized desks, comfortable chairs and windows that open. Larger corner suites have small balconies decorated with cool, very colorful artworks. Guests can also indulge in a fine-dining, in-house restaurant, sip on cocktails in their trendy top-floor cocktail bar, or take a dip in their stylish indoor infinity pool while enjoying the beautiful Bolivian capital of La Paz.
MET Hotel La Paz Overlooking the Andes mountains and with panoramic views over the city, the MET Hotel combines contemporary design with a strong reference to Bolivian culture in this vibrant concept that feels right at home in the cool Calacoto neighborhood. The property hosts 76 guestrooms which include a penthouse suite. Modern accent décor pieces such as the pillows celebrate the rich weavings from the Jalq’a culture in Southern Bolivia and the bedroom rug patterns take inspiration from local historic textiles from Tiwanaku, an ancient city and sacred site consisting of former pyramids and enclosures, gateways, and monuments located in western Bolivia near the southeast shore of Lake Titicaca.
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