Things to Do in La Paz

To the south of Plaza San Francisco, lies the city’s famous Market District, home to the remarkable Mercado de Hechiceria or Witches’ Market. Here, all manner of Aymara charms, amulets and ghoulish animal parts are on display in what has to be the world’s weirdest market.

Few cities can match La Paz when it comes to views. And the Parque Laikacota has astonishing panoramic views of Mt. Illimani, and the city stretched out below.

The peña is where you can catch some uniquely beautiful Andean folk music and dancing. As with all things ‘typical’ and ‘traditional’, it can be a bit hard to find the real thing, although there are a number of places around the Market District. As anywhere, check the local to foreigner ratio for a more authentic experience.

For cyclists, extreme sports fans and adrenaline junkies, there’s only one way out of La Paz, and that’s the ‘Death Road’. Running from about El Charro (4700 meters up) down to Coroico far below, this winding, pot-holed stretch of track was found to have a higher fatality rate than any other road. Go with a reputable company or guide, keep your wits about you, and it’s an amazing ride.

Many of the city’s finer colonial townhouses can be found on or around this street to the north of the city center. In addition to attractive architecture, there are also four fascinating museums that provide an insight into various different aspects of Bolivian culture and history.