Quick Guide to 2 Days in La Paz, Bolivia
La Paz is a beautiful city with great culture and food. I had two lovely days here and could have added a few more.
Table of Contents
Transportation
La Paz is quite hilly and people use cable cars to get around. The cable cars are easy to navigate and can take you around different parts of the city. Here is a glimpse of the routes.
I walked mostly in La Paz. It is quite hilly and I found myself huffing a few times. On the major streets, people are promoting their businesses. If I had time, I would have entered some of those establishments, particularly the hair and nail salon to show my support.
Safety
I felt safe in La Paz and even walked solo at night. There are food carts around with lines of people which made me feel a bit safe. It should be noted that even though I felt safe, always have your guard up. There are streets with limited lighting. Additionally, a few weeks before my trip, some people were robbed close to my hostel. With that said, never wear anything flashy or appear flashy. Be vigilant of your surroundings.
Day 4: February 16, 2024
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Destination
1. Red Cap Walking Tour
The Red Cap Walking Tour was a fun and exciting way to get to know the city. There are no free tours in La Paz due to capitalism. A former president was a dual citizen of Bolivia and the United States. He introduced capitalism to the country and now taxes exists in Bolivia. The tour is $3 and it is used to pay taxes for running the tour. This is perhaps the cheapest option one can get in La Paz.
The guide was fantastic. He was knowledgeable and fun. He accepts tips for the tour.
During the tour, he took us to the following sites: San Pedro Plaza, Rodriguez Market, Witches Market, San Francisco Plaza, and Plaza Murillo. Below are a few highlights.
- San Pedro Plaza
The guide told us about the jail across the plaza that blends in with its surroundings. He talked about how the gangs run the jail ceil. Prisoners can live comfortably or close to a normal life if they have money. Tourists used to go there to experience prison life until they started to be scammed. For example, tourists would pay $100 to stay in jail but have to pay $20,000 to get out. This is no longer a tourist attraction.
- Rodriguez Market
Rodriguez market is a produce market where women sell their goods. Our guide told us that locals have their go-to person to buy from. There are only women who sell here and they can be great therapists.
- Witches Market
Bolivians believe in providing offerings to Mother Earth. In the witches market, there are displays where people can make offerings for Pachamama. There are figurines of everything. These figurines are supposed to represent what you want out of life. If you want a house, you purchase a house figurine. If you want a car, you will purchase a car figurine. Then you put it on a display and throw candy, and flowers, and sprinkle alcohol over it to offer Pachamama so that she would grant you your wishes. In reality, there are people in Bolivia who specialize in it and they are the people you go to in order to make the offering and blessings to Mother Earth in order for it to come true.
- San Francisco Plaza
This is the main plaza in La Paz and also where protest takes place. Our guide told us about the 2003 gas war. Locals were protesting regarding privatizing natural gases. They were furious with President Evo Morales and protested in front of the square. The president used military and violence towards its citizens. The police vowed to protect the people so they fought the military. Many have died here and bullets are still visible in the plaza.
2. La Paz Food and Beer Tour
La Paz Food and Beer Tour is operated by the same company, Red Cap Walking Tour. The tour is $32 and are introduced to 6 dishes. Most of these meals are normal-sized dishes. The tour was small. It was one guide, me, and 3 other girls. We enjoyed the food and learning about our cuisine.
Where to Eat
Lunch: Yati Restaurant Cafe Bar
→ Calle Tarija #229, La Paz, Bolivia
Yati is a hip bar and restaurant located on the trendy street of Tarija. They serve westernize cuisine such as sandwiches, burgers, and pastas. I ordered the classic burger thinking that it was just a small basic burger. Instead, it was almost the size of my head. They even added an egg to my burger even though the description did not mention it. With my burger, it came with a side of fries. I also ordered a beer. Needless to stay, I did not finish my meal. All of this was only 56BoB or $8USD. The food was delicious and filling. The restaurant also has complimentary WIFI and definitely a vibe place to be.
Coffee Break: Alexander Coffee
→ Potosi 1091, La Paz, Bolivia
I have no desire of getting lunch but I met a wonderful person on my walking tour. She did not have lunch so I accompanied her to a cafe. Her husband is from Bolivia and it was her first time visiting. She told me about Alexander Coffee, which is Bolivia’s version of Starbucks. Unlike Starbucks, Alexander has a full coffee, juice, and food menu. I ordered a smoothie and sampled my new friend’s food. Delicious! We ended our meal with a tres leches. Now, I have to go to a food tour on a full stomach. Epic Fail!
Dinner: Food Tour
As mentioned earlier, I did a food tour that served six local dishes. The first place we went to was the food hall in Mirador Del Mercado Lanza. We had the fried cheese empanada with powdered sugar. To accompany our meal, they had a traditional spiced purple and white corn called api. It was a warm beverage and warmed me up. Both are a must-try. My favorite place we stopped by was a small shop. I think there were only 4 small tables and they served Anticuchos. Anticuchos are grilled beef heart. These came with potatoes. Absolutely delicious. You can see many carts selling these. On our tour, we also had a dish with dried meat, eggs, potatoes, cheese, and corn. We also had a soup that tasted like pea soup. The last meal we had was a stew that had a variety of things that could be found in the kitchen. We ended our meal with a singani cocktail. Singani is Bolivia’s liquor. There is a lot of food so pace yourself.
Day 5: February 17, 2024
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Destination
1. Valle de La Luna
Valle de La Luna is a beginner-friendly hiking trail located just outside of La Paz. Its name is derived from its rock formation that gives it a moon atmosphere. To get to the hike, you will need to take a taxi, uber, or a driver. Most people hire a driver to wait because taxis and Uber are very limited at the hike. I decided to take an Uber. My Uber ride was 41BoB and the ride took about 25 minutes. The hike was about 45 minutes long. Once I was done hiking, I ordered an Uber. It took about 20 minutes for a ride to confirm. The driver texted me letting me that he was on my way and to wait for him. The ride back was about 48BoB and took 45 minutes.
2. Cholita Wrestling
Cholita wrestling is a popular entertainment in Bolivia. Women are dressed in their traditional garment which includes puffy dresses and bowl hat. While dressed in this attire, they wrestle one another. The show was $13 and went on for 2 hours.
Where to Eat
Lunch: La Cueva
→ Calle Tarija Esquina 4 Corners,, Murillo, La Paz, Bolivia
I went back to Calle Tarija and stumbled upon La Cueva, a Mexican restaurant serving tacos and quesadillas. The food is not authentic but it was not terrible. I ordered nachos that came with ground meat, pico, and cheese. I also ordered a margarita. For both, I paid 68BoB or $9.83.
Dinner: The Carrot Tree
→ Guachalla 453, La Paz, Bolivia
The Carrot Tree has amazing reviews so I decided to check them out. They have 2 locations, including one near my hotel. The restaurant was charming with multiple rooms. Their menu was rather large. I decided to order the cajan chicken pasta. It was delicious but too spicy for me. I ordered a chilcano drink and had to take a sip in between every bite. My bill came out to be a total of 85BoB+tax or $12.29. While I enjoyed the food, I ended up getting severe food poisoning that left me bed-bound for 2 days. Thankfully, I always bring medication for times like this.
