La Paz
touches the clouds; the city is located in an Andean valley at 3,300 to 4,100 meters
above sea level.
It is quirky and dizzying, not only for its altitude, but for its people,
architecture and culture.
I entered
this extraordinary city via the flat sparse plains of the sprawling city of El
Alto.
El Alto is
at a dizzying height in itself, at over 4000 meters I was certain there was no
more oxygen in the air.
Or at
least it was not enough to breathe.
The first thing
I saw outside was the huge peaks of the Andes, rising even higher than the
airport.
The
imposing showy and snowy Mt Illimani (6402m) loomed in the background while I
tried to acclimatize.
After the
cold but gorgeous welcome it was time to descend to the sensational surprises
of the valley below.
The La
Paz’s buildings cling to the sides of the canyon and spill spectacularly
downwards.
Where To
Go In La Paz - The Capital Of Bolivia
The
judicial capital of Bolivia is Sucre but Nuestra Señora de La Paz (the full
Spanish name) is Bolivia’s largest city and the center for commerce, finance
and industry.
And it is
also the governmental capital.
The nearby
El Alto is the Aymara capital and the two are among the highest cities in the
world.
El Alto is
also an eclectic mix of indigenous people and migrant workers.
It’s
streets and markets are filled with people wearing different traditional
costumes and speaking many of Bolivia’s indigenous languages.
La Paz
must be savored over time, the altitude requires acclimatization and the city
is a huge mix of different cultures that must be taken in with time.
There is a
lot to see, the churches, interesting museums with object from the pre-Conquest
era, picturesque landscapes, colorful markets, delicious cuisine and a
beautiful colonial part of the city are few among many.
In the
Calle de las Brujas, or Witches Street, you can find a market full of handmade
souvenirs, Andean artisan wear and spells and potions for Aymara rituals.
The people
themselves are fascinating, traditional clothing can be seen everywhere, the
traffic is a jumble and everyone is very proud to be Bolivian.
How To Prepare To Your Visit To La Paz
To be
found everywhere is the mate de coca or coca tea that is recommended by
everyone and guaranteed to take the high altitude sickness and breathlessness
away.
The
altitude of La Paz is well within the zone where altitude sickness could
be a problem, especially for those arriving from at or near sea level.
On your
first night in La Paz you are likely to find difficulty in breathing and wake
up panting for breath, even when lying down.
Take it
easy when walking around town and if you are young and healthy don't be lured
into a false sense of security, active people and sports players can get
altitude sickness while those far less healthy can have few symptoms.
Since La
Paz is sky-high, warm clothing is desirable most of the year, at least in the
evenings.
Despite
being only 16 degrees south of the equator, it does occasionally snow a little
in the highest parts of La Paz yearly due the height.
Snowfall
would be much greater were it not for the extreme dryness in the winter, and snow
in the summer happens on occasion every few years and is actually not that
rare.
Frost
happens every month in the highest parts as well, it is good to
remember that the highest parts La Paz has an "equatorial tundra"
climate, in which it does snow, and in the middle a temperate climate where
there are frosts often but no snow (except on rare occasions).
While the
lowest parts have a subtropical climate in which snow is extremely rare and
there are very few yearly frosts.
The sun,
and its UV rays are harsh at the altitude and it is good to remember to wear
sunscreen.
I got
burned and the skin peeled of my nose and cheeks, even though I did wear
sunscreen.
So, don’t
forget to apply it often if you are staying outside.
