January 3 – January 6: La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, certainly won’t win the title of the most beautiful city in the world, but it holds the record for being the highest capital in the world. Set at an average altitude of 3,650 meters, this city can be quite literally breathtaking. Home to approximately 816,000 people, it is the third-largest city in the country. La Paz is close to several interesting landmarks and makes a good base for exploring Bolivia.

• 9 pm: Departure from Cusco. The seats in the bus recline to almost horizontal, making sleeping somewhat possible. I’ve certainly had worse overnight bus rides (India, I’m looking at you).
• 5 am: Arriving in Puno, Peru. Puno is the main city on Peru’s side of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. We had a break for breakfast and a morning tour to the floating islands on the lake. These islands are made by indigenous people using a mix of totora reeds and their roots, and it was interesting to see how these people live on the lake.
• 8 am: We continued our journey toward Bolivia. At 10 am, we had a brief stop at the border, where we got our stamps—very fast and uncomplicated.
• 1 pm: Arrival in Copacabana, Bolivia’s main town at the lake (much smaller than Puno). We took a short boat tour to the “Isla del Sol,” where we saw indigenous people living on a natural island and visited an ancient Inca temple, the “Temple of the Sun.”
• 4 pm: 3rd part of the bus journey. We changed to a smaller bus now, as several people had “hopped off” the bus by this point, either in Puno or Copacabana.
• 9 pm: Exactly 24 hours later, but with several breaks, we arrived in La Paz. The bus even dropped everyone off at their respective accommodations!

Navigating around La Paz is done either on foot or by Uber. The touristic centre is quite small and quite walkable. Due to its geographical location in a deep valley and on surrounding mountain slopes, a subway network is not possible here. However, in 2012, local authorities installed an extensive network of cable cars, known as Mi Teleférico, which now connects the city in all directions. This system has become highly appreciated, as some journeys that previously took an hour or more can now be completed in less than 20 minutes. The stunning aerial views also provide a unique perspective of the city, making the cable car ride an attraction in itself. With over 10 lines stretching across La Paz and even to neighboring El Alto, the cable cars have not only made commuting more efficient but also reduced traffic congestion, becoming a symbol of innovation for the city.

• Death Road (Yungas Road): Famous for being one of the most dangerous roads in the world, in the 80s and 90s, this road claimed about 200 – 300 lives per year due to accidents! Nowadays, the road is much safer, and tourist companies offer an adrenaline-filled bike ride down the mountain. This seems to be the Nr. 1 tourist attraction of La Paz, yet I decided to skip this one because the idea of a mass grave being turned into a tourist magnet just didn’t feel right to me.
• Tiwanaku: Explore the ancient pre-Columbian archaeological site located near Lake Titicaca. Visit the famous Sun Gate and other fascinating structures that reveal the mystery of the Tiwanaku civilization.
• Guided City Tour with Moon Valley: Take a walking tour of La Paz’s highlights, including the Plaza Murillo, San Francisco Church, Witches’ Market, and the city’s colorful streets. The tour will also visit the surreal landscape just outside La Paz, where wind and water have eroded the earth into unique formations resembling a lunar surface. Surely, all of this can be done on your own, but the tours are cheap and I highly appreciated the added info from a local guide, as well as the comfort of all transport between spots being organized.
• Charquini Lagoon Hike: Hike to Laguna Charquini, located at an altitude of around 5,000 meters, offering stunning views of the surrounding Andean mountains. This high-altitude trek takes you to a peaceful lagoon, surrounded by dramatic landscapes and providing a challenging but rewarding adventure near La Paz.
• Multi-Day Jungle Trip (Madidi National Park): Take a guided multi-day trip to the Madidi National Park, a biodiverse jungle in the Amazon Basin. Explore the lush rainforest, spot wildlife, and learn about the ecosystem and indigenous cultures. I did not do this one, so I can’t share info about it.
• Multi-Day Trip to Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni): Embark on a 3- to 4-day trip to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Marvel at the vast white expanse, explore nearby deserts, visit the train graveyard, and enjoy surreal landscapes, especially at sunrise and sunset. This is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Bolivia, and this is my next stop, so more info about it on the next page 🙂

Pictures of La Paz and the surrounding Points of Interest: