Meet Bolivia
A colorful country awaits you...
A country rich of national treasures and cultural highlights. Discover the beauty of its landscape such as the rainforest of Amazonia, the Andes, the savannah of Gran Chaco, or Lake Titicaca.
The country is located right in the heart of South America. Bolivia borders Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the east and southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest and Peru to the northwest.
The territory is divided into 3 zones: The highest point is over 3000 m above sea level and is located between the two major Andean ranges: the Cordilleras Occidental and Oriental, which have some of the highest peaks in America.
The sub-Andean zone is between the highlands and the lowlands and includes the valleys.
The plains cover 59% of the national area and are located north of the Eastern Cordillera, which stretches from the foothills of the Andes to the Paraguay River. It is a land of plains and plateaux, covered by vast forests rich in flora and fauna.
10 things to do in La Paz
1. Avenida “16 de Julio” or “Paseo del Prado”: A colorful promenade in the heart of the city, where most of the city’s skyscrapers are located. It is the city’s most important avenue. In between the buildings, there are beautiful houses from the early 20th century, one of which harbors the museum of modern art. From one end to the other, the promenade houses the monuments in honor of Bolívar in the extreme north; to Christopher Columbus in the center and to José Antonio de Sucre in its southernmost part. At both ends of the Prado, there are two beautiful fountains that are a common meeting point for youth.
2. San Francisco church and convent: This building dates back to 1549. The church and the convent were built with cut stone. At the beginning of the 18th century, snowfall destroyed the church. The current church and convent, also built with cut stone, date from the middle of the 18th century. The baroque façade of the San Francisco church was built around 1790; the tower was built in 1885. The baroque interior has three naves, which are separated by a barrel vault and a semi-circular dome, with four windows in the transept. The church was concluded in 1753 after 40 years. The church’s altarpiece is famous for its fine details covered in gold leaf. The church also has an art gallery with a valuable collection of works of art from the renaissance, mannerism, baroque, mestizo and neoclassical currents.
3. National Museum of Contemporary Art: An ongoing exhibition of the work of contemporary Bolivian artists. Location: 16 de Julio avenue.
4. Viewpoints: The most spectacular view of the city is when going down the highway that connects the municipality of El Alto to the municipality of La Paz. On a clear day, this northwest view with the Illimani snow-capped mountain (6,450 m) in the background is absolutely spectacular. The Laikakota park located in the city center offers beautiful panoramic views of downtown La Paz from the southeast. The Montículo park is another beautiful place in the Bohemian Sopocachi neighborhood where the city can be viewed from a southwest perspective.
5. Witches’ Market: This unique market is located in the old part of town, between the colonial Sagárnaga and Linares streets. The market derives its name from the sale of traditional cures from the Kallahuaya Culture. At the same time, this area is the city’s handicraft market. The most outstanding handicrafts are the colorful wool weavings from different regions of the Bolivian Andes; the crafts in silver and pewter; the alpaca wool and leather garments and an endless variety of attractive objects for visitors. Location: Sagárnaga and Linares streets.
6. Nuestra Señora de La Paz cathedral: The cathedral was built in 1831. Architect Manuel Sanguja was responsible for the project of the new Cathedral. When he died, the works were entrusted to Antonio Camponovo who prepared the final plans. The church is of a neoclassical style, with the façade divided into two bodies. On the inside, there are five doors, the one in the middle flanked by three Corinthian columns. The cathedral has a sacred art museum in the Socabaya street. Location: Murillo square.
7. Casa del Marqués de Villa Verde "Museum of Ethnography and Folklore”: Built in 1776 and 1790. The inner porch has a semicircular arch, the jambs of which are decorated with a braid from which flowers and pomegranates are hanging. The outside balcony that used to be part of another house that has meanwhile been demolished, is made of wood and dates from the 17th century. It has fine carving and carved doors from the same century. The museum was remodeled and opened to the public at the beginning of 2005. It holds a collection of samples from the lowland, valley and Andean cultures of Bolivia. Location: Ingavi street, on the corner with Jenaro Sanjinés street
8. Achocalla: A municipality that borders on La Paz in the southwest that harbors a beautiful natural lagoon. A recreational site where people from El Alto and La Paz like to spends weekends.
9. La Cumbre: At almost 4,500 masl, this is the passage from La Paz to Sud Yungas, Nor Yungas and Alto Beni. It is also the starting point of the Inca roads, e.g. Takesi, down from the highlands to the warm regions.
10. Laja: This is the village where the city of La Paz was founded originally by Spanish Captain Alonso de Mendoza on 20 October 1548. The church on the central square is decorated with interesting altarpieces and paintings, including a magnificent silver altar front of the neoclassical style. It is an interesting example of a mix of styles. On the outside, the dome still has part of its green-colored tiles which probably came from the Jesús de Machaca region.
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