La Paz, Bolivia is the world’s highest capital city and one of the undiscovered gems of Latin America.
Skyscrapers, cathedrals, Andean culture, protests, huayno music, and bizarre markets all mingle in La Paz to create one of the most dynamic and explosive cities in the Andes. The city sits in a sunken valley at an altitude of 9,500-12,000 feet. Half of the population of 1.5 million sits in the old city at the bottom of the valley, while the rest live in ramshackle housing the above plateau called El Alto. The snow capped peak of Illimani (21,122 feet) stands tall above the city.
History
La Paz was founded in 1548 by Alonso de Mendoza on the site of an older Aymara village called Chuqiyapu. It was named Nuestra Senora de La Paz, Our Lady of Peace, after the Spanish had defeated the Incas in Peru. The city sat on a major silver and gold thouroughfare en route to the coast. Gold was even found in the Choqueapu River that runs through La Paz.
Attractions
Mercado de los Brujas/Witches Market - La Paz’s vast witches market centers around the intersection of Calle Linares and Calle Sagárnaga. Here you will find shops and stalls filled with the goods the curanderos, or healers or shaman. Armadillos, dried llama fetuses, jewelry, coca leaves, the San Pedro cactus, and odd potions and statues dominant several large city blocks in one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. This is a can’t miss sight.
Plaza San Francisco - This large plaza south of Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz is filled with statues and surrounded by some of the most important buildings in La Paz is one of the first stops many take in the city and a central point of orientation. Indigenous people and tourists crowd here to sell various items like watches, maté, salteñas, books, and everything else. This is the city’s cultural hub and many significant events have happened here.
Museo de la Coca - The museum dedicated to truth about the coca leaf, a strong part of Bolivia’s history can be found not far from Plaza San Francisco atLinares 906.The museum has diagrams and detailed history of the leaf including its uses and information on cocaine and abuse.
Plaza Murillo - This square dates back to 1549 and the cobblestone streets that surround it hold posh hotels, nice restaurants, and impressive architecture in the Palacio de Gobierno (or Government Palace), Palacio Legislativo (or Legislative Palace), Catedral Metropolitana, and Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre).
Mercado Negro
La Paz’s Mercado Negro, or Black Market, is a sprawling maze of oddities. See teenage models hawking laundry detergent beside butchers chopping up the innards of a fresh killed pig. It’s one of the most fascinating Andean markets anywhere for the shear range of items sold. Entire streets are filled with produce, household goods, CD’s or Coca leaves. Start at the intersection of Calle Max Parede and Calle Graneros.
Hiking
Short and extremely steep paths lead up out of the city to the surrounding hillsides giving excellent views of downtown and Mount Illimani
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