La Paz Attractions
San Francisco Church
The San Francisco church was originally built in 1549, but collapsed due to a heavy snowfall in the early 1600s. The church was rebuilt in the mid-18th century and is now the most beautiful church in La Paz. The area the church is located in is the area in La Paz where there are the most tourists, so there are also some pickpockets in the area. So watch out for valuables!
- See AbbreviationFinder for commonly used abbreviation of city La Paz, Bolivia. Also includes meanings of the same acronym.
Plaza Murillo
Plaza Murillo is a lively square in the city center. Here are as many pigeons as in St. Mark’s Square in Venice, and a beautiful fountain. The square is surrounded by colonial architecture. This is a nice place to relax on a lazy morning.
Koka Museum
The Cocoa Museum is located in Calle Linares 906 and is one of the few museums of interest to most people in La Paz. The museum gives a review of the importance of the Coca in Bolivian culture, historical development and the US war on drugs.
Museo Nacional de Arte
The National Art Museum contains classic national art over three floors. And the paintings of, among others, the famous Melchor Pérez de Holguin are in the perhaps finest Baroque building in La Paz.
The address of the Museo Nacional de Arte is Calle Socabaya 432.
La Paz Zoo
The zoo is located south of the city in the Mallasa district. Here, bears, monkeys and other animals belong to this part of the world. Unfortunately, the animals live in somewhat poor environments. But it is exciting to see animals you are not so familiar with before. And rumors indicate that efforts are being made to make the environment better for the animals. You will find the zoo along the Rio Abajo road, in Zona Sur.
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku are ancient Incaruins on Lake Titicaca. Tiahuanaco was an important Native American town, but there is some uncertainty as to which people lived in the city. The scholars contested whether it was the ancestors of the current Aymara people or the ancestors of those who founded the Incarik who lived in the city of Tiwanaku.
The town is south of Lake Titicaca, but historically it was most likely sea all the way to the city. The ruins show traces of highly developed architecture. It is estimated that Tiwanaku was founded around 200 BC, and that it had its heyday around the year 600 AD.
Valle de la Luna
The Valle de la Luna or lunar valley, freely translated, is located about 10 km south of the center of La Paz. This is a valley with special mountain formations in the colors beige and light gray. Valle de la Luna is known for providing optical illusions when walking in the area.
Cinemateca Boliviana
Cinemateca Bolviana is the most modern cinema in La Paz, showing both international feature films and Latin American films. All films are broadcast in the original language. The cinema is in the city center and the address is Calle Oscar Soria.
Poker
Poker is getting bigger and bigger in La Paz, not least for the city’s upper class. There are several poker clubs in town. At Plaza Avaroa in the center is the club “American Hold Em”. In Zona Sur, the club is called “21”. It is mainly played Texas Hold’em.
La Paz Tourist
Tourists come to La Paz for a variety of reasons, but most seek enough for the wonderful scenery this country offers. Here you can climb peaks over 6000 meters without being experienced mountaineers. And if you are interested in ancient Native American culture, La Paz is also an excellent starting point.
La Paz is a buzzing city that tourists should definitely explore further, but remember that you are in a country and a city of high political temperature, so be careful.
Peñas
Also, take the opportunity to see one of the many dance shows appearing around La Paz. These are called Peñas and consist of traditional dance and music. Many of the places that arrest Peñas also serve traditional food. Huari in Calle Sagarnaga 329 and Marka Tambo in Calle Jaen 710 are good places.
Below you will find suggestions for tourist excursions from La Paz.
National Park of Mallasa
A public park that takes a few dollars in entrance fees. Here it is also possible to rent barbecue cabins at a reasonable price. Many Bolivians gather here on Saturday and Sunday to grill and play football, volleyball and basketball.
La Muela de Diablo
La Muela de Diablo means “Devil’s Devil”. This is a distinctive peak that can be seen from across the city and it is quite properly shaped like a tooth. If you take a taxi to where the road ends, you spend about an hour to the top.
Huayna Potosi
This mountain is characterized as the world’s easiest 6,000-meter summit to climb. It is located a few miles north of La Paz in the Cordillera Real mountain range. Several tour operators in La Paz arrange two and three day trips up here.
Chacaltaya
This is a mountain peak at about 5400 meters above sea level. You can take a taxi almost to the top. The last hundred altimeters go up in about half an hour.