La Paz is the capital of Bolivia and the largest city and has a population of approximately 1 million. Bolivia is the most Indian country in South America and here you can experience the language (primarily Quechua), culture and customs first hand.  La Paz is a city that touches the sky, located high above the sea level it sits in a bowl surrounded by the high altiplano, resulting in varying elevations from 3000 to 4100metres. The always snow covered and majestically overlooking the city is the towering triple-peaked Illimani. The city’s main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado.

See:

• The cathedrals and churches - are an integral part of the culture and one of the most famous of these is the Iglesia de San Francisco, founded in 1549, which shows an interesting blend of Mestizo and Spanish architectural styles.
• Museo Costumbista Juan de Vargas – is a museum which contains some superb dioramas of the city; the Casa de Murillo Museum with carved furniture, colonial paintings, coins and silver, the Museo de Metales Preciosos Pre-Columbinos, which houses three impressively presented salons of pre-Conquest silver, gold and copper works.
• Calle Sagarnaga – is one of the main tourist streets and has a number of little shops where you can find many types of Bolivian memorabilia. The most items tourists find interesting here are the silver and textiles which are inexpensive and good quality.

Experience:

• The incredible geysers in the early morning mist in the desolate region of southern Bolivia with the largest salt flats in the world to some spectacular high mountain lakes with pink flamingos in Salar de Uyuni.
• The Markets which around the streets that offer huge variety of potions, delicately crafted silver jewellery and sweets amongst much more. The Witches Market has unusual ingredients for folk-medicine remedies of various ailments and is a very interesting place to browse in.
• A meal at one of the many restaurants that offer many types of cuisines from Mexican to International to fast food chains. La Paz is a big fishing community so you will find seafood is on most menus. Enjoy a popular dish which is clams cooked in their shell, fish tacos, tamales, lobster and marlin.

Secrets of the City:

• Little villages near Cochabamba are worth a visit where you can also enjoy many culinary delights especially if you’re there during a food festival.
• The views of the city harbour are unforgettable; enjoy these from one of the cafes overlooking these wonderful views.