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Heading to La Paz and fascinated with what to do in La Paz in 3 days? Don’t fear, on this article, I’ll share our itinerary for 3 days in La Paz plus some superb day journey concepts from La Paz, so hopefully, you’ll find some concepts and inspiration to your upcoming journey to Bolivia!
Before we begin with the perfect issues to do in La Paz, I needed to share some essential and helpful info to your journey to Bolivia:
Useful hyperlinks (so you will discover them multi function place):
Where to remain: hostel – Selina (e book right here) or tremendous good resort – MET (e book right here)
Teleferico tour round La Paz – e book right here
Street meals tour of La Paz – e book right here
Bike tour to the well-known demise street – e book right here
Things to know earlier than going to La Paz, Bolivia
Passport management actually takes some time
Bolivia doesn’t have nice worldwide flight connections – after we went there simply after the covid restrictions have been lifted, there have been solely two worldwide flights per day going to and from Bolivia. One was to Lima, one other one to Bogotá. On prime of that, there have been days when there have been no flights in any respect.
It’s additionally might be a bit tough to enter Bolivia: those that require a visa on arrival should spend a few hours within the queue! Even in case your entry was simple (e.g. no visa required), you possibly can nonetheless spend good 10-Quarter-hour on the passport management counter. Depending on how many individuals are within the queue in entrance of you, that may be hours. If you wish to save time, e book a seat in entrance of the airplane so that you’re one of many first ones to depart the airplane!
Have your bookings and paperwork prepared
Since there is no such thing as a working wi-fi on arrival and most nations don’t have good roaming agreements with Bolivia (in Peru, we had limitless knowledge and requires £6 a day with Vodafone), it’s very tough to retrieve your paperwork, resembling insurance coverage, resort bookings and return tickets (additionally vaccination certificates and PCR checks – however which may change quickly).
Make positive to avoid wasting them in your cellphone (take screenshots or simply save them within the recordsdata), as all these paperwork will probably be checked!
Cash is the king in Bolivia
You can extract cash from the ATM within the airport in La Paz, and I positively advocate doing so. While there are locations like fancy eating places and inns that settle for playing cards, money is the king in Bolivia. You will want it for getting issues in small outlets, paying for taxis and consuming out.
Altitude illness in La Paz – how dangerous is it?
Despite the truth that we got here straight from Cusco in Peru (are you additionally going to Peru? Check out our 5-day itinerary for Peru right here), we have been nonetheless hit arduous by the altitude illness in Bolivia. Not as arduous as throughout the first days in Cusco, however nonetheless, we had a little bit of a headache and have been strolling very slowly, because it was arduous to stroll round.
However, after a couple of days in Bolivia, we felt significantly better and didn’t really feel the altitude, even in El Alto. We have been capable of go to the gymnasium at our resort in La Paz and even go for a swim.
Where to remain in La Paz
We booked Selina La Paz for two nights (regardless of solely needing it for about 16 hours), however it was solely £18 per night time for a personal room, so we didn’t hesitate a lot.
If you want fancy hostels, I positively advocate Selina! However, take into account that it could be just a little noisy there on Fridays and Saturdays, as there’s a busy nightclub. If it’s worthwhile to get up early, maybe, it’s not the most suitable choice. Some different inexpensive inns in La Paz are these:
If you want consolation, contemplate staying within the South of La Paz, in a leafier neighbourhood, e.g. Achumani. The finest inns in La Paz are positioned there, e.g. MET resort, the place we stayed for two extra nights.
Day 1 in La Paz: Sopocachi and Achumani. Trying out the well-known Gustu restaurant
Arriving at El Alto Airport
We landed in La Paz round 3:30am. Since there aren’t too many worldwide flights arriving in La Paz (as of now, you’ll be able to solely fly there from Lima or Bogota, we flew from the latter), it’s very seemingly that you’ll land in La Paz very early, simply le we did.
On the one hand, it’s excellent, as a result of you’ve the whole day to spend in La Paz. On the opposite hand, for those who haven’t had an opportunity to sleep within the airplane (s), you’ll arrive exhausted. Since passport management takes fairly a little bit of time (I’ve written about it in a separate paragraph proper at first of this put up), you’ll solely get to town centre of La Paz at 5:30am and even 6:00am.
Since we had to purchase a SIM card and surprisingly, the method took a bit lengthy, we arrived simply after 6am.
Exploring Sopocachi
After arriving at our ho(s)tel, Selina, we went straight to sleep and slept till 11am (for about 5 hours), which gave us sufficient vitality to outlive the day!
Selina is positioned in Sopocachi, among the finest areas to remain in La Paz for younger folks. All the nicest bars and low locations are positioned in Sopocachi. There are additionally a couple of avenue meals markets and eating places and it’s very to town centre – you’ll be able to stroll there in 30-40 minutes. Well, technically, it nonetheless IS town centre.
The solely draw back is that Sopocachi is fairly congested – it’s extremely arduous to get on the market throughout the rush hour.
We went for a stroll round Sopocachi, took some photos and noticed a lot of the roads just about caught with visitors round 12pm on a weekday and that received us a bit nervous since we needed to get a taxi to go to a restaurant later to get there at 1:30pm. We ended up being 20 minutes late for our reserving as a result of we waited for a taxi for ages after which there was an excessive amount of visitors on the street! When planning journeys to a different a part of La Paz, it’s value conserving that in thoughts!
Visiting the well-known Gustu restaurant
Gustu is positioned within the South of La Paz, which is a extra prosperous space of town. It’s a restaurant that was opened by a co-founder of the well-known Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark. Noma is without doubt one of the finest eating places on this planet – it constantly takes the primary spot within the rating of the world’s prime 50. Hence, we had fairly excessive expectations for Gustu – and it didn’t disappoint!
We ordered a 3-course menu, which ended up costing round £22 ($27) per individual, and it was value each penny! You can select a starter, foremost and a dessert and all of the dishes have been very distinctive. We relied on the assistance of the waiters to elucidate us the menu as we couldn’t recognise a lot of the elements. Among the dishes, there have been native river fishes from the Bolivian a part of the Amazon rainforest, numerous distinctive herbs, greens and fruits and even alligator carpaccio!
The drinks have been additionally superb. Overall, it was an important expertise and I might positively advocate you to go to Gustu. Make positive to e book it upfront, because it tends to get totally booked fairly typically! You can e book a desk utilizing this hyperlink:
Walking across the metropolis centre of La Paz
After consuming in Gustu, we took a taxi again to town centre, which took round Half-hour.
In town centre, we visited Plaza Murillo – a stunning sq. with a whole lot of avenue distributors. Then we went to Calle Jaen – one of many only a few protected streets in La Paz, the place it’s not allowed to demolish buildings and make just about any visible adjustments to the streets. Calle Jaen is unquestionably the prettiest avenue in La Paz, so head there for some stunning pictures. There are additionally a whole lot of good streets and locations not too distant from Calle Jaen.
On Calle Jaen, we discovered a stunning little tour company, the place we booked some excursions for the upcoming days in La Paz (a meals tour and a teleferico tour of town).
Mirador Kili Kili
We didn’t spend an excessive amount of time within the metropolis centre this time as we have been fairly drained and hit arduous by the altitude regardless of arriving from Cusco the identical day.
Before heading again to the resort, we determined to go to the perfect place to see La Paz from above – mirador Kili Kili! It’s not too removed from Calle Jaen – you solely must stroll for about 20-25 minutes, nonetheless, the final 5 minutes require fairly a steep stroll up. It took us a bit longer to stand up than Google Maps predicted, as we needed to cease to catch our breath each couple of minutes, however in the long run, we made all of it the way in which up!
The view from Kili Kili is basically gorgeous – you’ll be able to see the 360 panorama of La Paz, and it’s particularly fairly throughout the “Golden” hour when the sunshine is the prettiest or throughout the sundown. There aren’t too many issues to do up there moreover simply strolling round and taking pictures, nonetheless, there’s a grocery store proper subsequent to the doorway to Kili Kili, the place you should buy some snacks and drinks.
Where to have dinner in La Paz
If you aren’t too drained, I like to recommend strolling again to town centre and going for dinner on the restaurant referred to as Manq’a. This restaurant was once a part of the highest 50 eating places in Latin America, and it specialises in Bolivian delicacies. The costs aren’t too excessive and the meals there may be good! They even have an in depth listing of snacks and drinks which might be positively value making an attempt!
Day 2: Exploring La Paz or taking a day journey
On the second day in La Paz, you’ll be able to both keep in La Paz and proceed exploring town or take one of many day journeys and both go to Copacabana (lake Titicaca) or to one of many mountains, or, alternatively, possibly you are feeling match to go to the well-known demise street biking journey?
Here are a number of the finest excursions you’ll be able to take from La Paz
Private tour to lake Titikaka (requires minimal two folks) – it is possible for you to to see some of the stunning and largest lakes on this planet.
The well-known bike tour to the demise street (it’s a descent from over 5k over the ocean degree), however it’s nonetheless a really difficult tour, because it requires excellent bodily situation.
Beautiful Palca Canyon Tour with an non-obligatory cease at Valle de las Animas
Chacaltaya & Valle de Luna Tour (be sure that to deliver heat garments, as Chacaltaya was once a ski resort)
Condoriri and the lagoons full trekking tour for trekking lovers
The well-known Huayna Potosi mountain trek – all the way in which as much as 5000m above the ocean degree with gorgeous views (difficult)
If you determine to spend a day in La Paz as a substitute…
In our case, the excursions for lake Titicaca weren’t out there on that day on account of a scarcity of guides and vacationers as effectively and I had some odd points with my knee, so I couldn’t go on any excursions that concerned a whole lot of strolling (not even mentioning trekking), so we determined to remain in La Paz as a substitute.
We spent the morning and early afternoon strolling across the space, the place our resort was positioned – the upscale space of Achumani. This space is far better than the centre of La Paz and likewise, it’s a lot simpler to breathe there, because it’s additionally decrease than the remainder of La Paz. There are loads of outlets and cafes and you may simply simply stroll round, discover the outlets and sit down for a espresso for a few hours in Achumani.
We additionally went to the restaurant referred to as Ancestral for lunch. We didn’t have a reservation, however that they had some free tables, so we might simply stroll in. Ancestral is a steakhouse, and it was fabulous. I can positively advocate it! If it’s a weekend, I positively advocate calling beforehand and securing a desk for lunch.
Heading to town centre & Mercado de las Brujas
After lunch, we determined to take the teleferico to town centre to go to the well-known Witches Market or Mercado de las Brujas. Unfortunately, on account of covid, a whole lot of stalls have closed for good, so we initially even struggled to search out the market. We needed to ask round the place Mercado de Las Brujas was as a result of we simply couldn’t discover it within the place the place it was marked on Google Maps. As it turned out, it was simply all the way in which down the road. Basically, as of May 2022, it consists of three stalls that promote every part you want for numerous rituals. They even promote new child llamas and llama foetuses that cling exterior the stalls (they appear surreal and even a bit terrifying).
Inside, they promote numerous teas, soaps and candies which might be produced for various causes, e.g. to assist discover a job or love or get wealthy, amongst different issues.
Food tour of La Paz
Finally, within the night, we had our meals tour of La Paz. It turned out to be a personal tour only for the 2 of us however it was even higher that method! Our information introduced us to the primary meals market of La Paz, Mercado Lanza. When you enter the market, it’s worthwhile to climb two flights of stairs to the second and third flooring, the place a lot of the meals stalls are based mostly. There are so many meals stalls and most of them promote numerous Bolivian dishes. We had an opportunity to strive a few them they usually have been fairly distinctive!
After that, we headed to a restaurant, the place we had a tasting of 5 extra widespread dishes in Bolivia, resembling Fricasé, Sopa de Mani, Chairo and others!
This tour positively helped us to know Bolivian delicacies even higher and take a look at some widespread dishes locals eat every single day. We additionally found Mercado Lanza and the insane number of meals choices there, which was very spectacular! If you’re concerned with taking a meals tour of La Paz, you’ll be able to verify the costs and availability right here.
Day 3 in La Paz: Teleferico tour of La Paz, yet another go to to Mercado Lanza, Ice Cream from the Netflix Show and the flight to the following vacation spot
Teleferico tour of La Paz
On the final day of our three days in La Paz, we lastly determined to take a sightseeing tour. We booked a Teleferico tour of town (you’ll be able to discover the provision right here)
I can positively advocate this tour as a result of our information Maria was very educated and good, her English was nice and likewise, this tour could be very inexpensive – we paid simply $10 per individual! That additionally consists of all of the tickets for Teleferico, so that you gained’t must spend anything. Maria informed us extra in regards to the Cholitas (ladies in conventional Bolivian attire) and Cholets (a word-play for Cholitas + Chalets), which rich Aymara (indigenous folks) of El Alto and La Paz construct for themselves. There can be a really attention-grabbing tour of the perfect Cholets in El Alto, together with visiting a celebration – you will discover out extra right here > – you’ll be able to take it a day earlier than on even in your first day in La Paz. If your flight is late, you’ll be able to in all probability take it in your final day in La Paz as effectively, so long as you don’t keep on the get together for too lengthy!
La Paz has a really attention-grabbing historical past and so does El Alto – there are such a lot of attention-grabbing information about each of those cities!
Trying Sopa de Cardan and Helado de Canela
After the tour, we determined to go to Mercado Lanza one final time and attempt to discover the well-known bull testicle soup of Bolivia – Sopa de Cardan. This soup could be very widespread in El Alto within the mornings, however we managed to search out it in Mercado Lanza within the afternoon as effectively. We shared one massive bowl between us and likewise had an area drink with a non-alcoholic beer Bicervecina (it tasted like butter beer within the Warner Bros Harry Potter expertise).
From different vacationers in our morning tour, we additionally discovered about a avenue meals documentary on Netflix, which featured a number of the most attention-grabbing avenue meals spots in La Paz. We had already visited a few of these locations and the opposite ones have been all off-bounds apart from the ice cream locations close to the cemetery in La Paz. This ice cream place serves a really distinctive cinnamon ice cream (it’s not truly ice cream, extra like a sorbet) – and it’s purple!
The afternoon in La Paz
We spent the afternoon strolling across the metropolis centre, and tried the final of the dishes beneficial to us by the locals – the normal pasties – Salteñas. There are loads of spots serving salteñas within the coronary heart of La Paz, nonetheless, we discovered a restaurant referred to as Paceña la Salteña, which specialises in them. I picked a vegetarian one and Jose received a meaty one – each of them have been very liquid inside and tasted like soup, which was fairly distinctive. When consuming a salteña, it’s very straightforward to make a large number, so be sure that to watch out when consuming it!
We additionally went to a shopping center referred to as Las Torres and spent a while in Juan Valdez cafe there. It was additionally very attention-grabbing to see how a Bolivian shopping center appears to be like like.
After that, we went again to our resort MET to begin packing and attempt to get some sleep earlier than our flight at 3am. As I discussed earlier than, the 2 worldwide flights that depart from La Paz, each depart at night time, one at 3:30am, and one other one a bit later, so it’s arduous to determine whether or not to go to mattress early and attempt to sleep 3-5 hours earlier than the flight or stay awake in any respect and sleep at your remaining vacation spot as a substitute. Taking a taxi to El Alto airport at night time additionally implies that there gained’t be any visitors, so it is possible for you to to get there in simply 20-Half-hour, relying in your location! In our case, it took round 28 minutes to get there from the Southern a part of La Paz
Summary of La Paz in 3 days: the perfect issues to do
Alright, to summarise, listed here are a number of the finest issues to do in La Paz in 3 days:
- Definitely take a Teleferico tour of town as a result of it’s superb and you’ll be taught a lot about La Paz and perceive the tradition lots higher.
- Visit Mercado Lanza and take a look at native avenue meals – you’ll be able to both do it your self or as a part of a meals tour of La Paz, which I additionally actually advocate
- Visit Mercado de Las Brujas – though it’s fairly small now, it’s nonetheless very distinctive
- Take some pictures on the Calle Jaen – the one protected avenue within the metropolis
- Go as much as the Mirador Kili Kili to see the perfect views of La Paz and El Alto
- Try a set menu in Gustu and benefit from the uniqueness of the flavours
- Have a celebration in a Cholet
- Walk round and go to some hipster espresso outlets in Sopocachi
- Head right down to the South and discover the leafiest and poshest elements of La Paz (you may get there by teleferico as effectively)
I hope you discovered this put up helpful and in case you’ve any questions, ship me a DM at @lizatripsget on Instagram!
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