La Paz means “The Peace” and was created as a Spaniard Army Headquarters to keep the ambitious Spanish capitans from fighting each other.

In the late XIX century after a civil war between north and south (the new oligarchy and the ruling class of Sucre), the capital was transferred to La Paz and started growing as the political and economical center of the country. Later, the capital was taken back to Sucre but the government stayed in La Paz and the economical center migrated east to the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

La Paz and El Alto together is the largest population in Bolivia with almost 2 million people. Quite chaotic but extremely colorful and interesting, La Paz provides to the visitor a vivid experience and a cultural shock. Described as ”a market on top of another market”, you can find people selling almost anything in markets and streets. For those interested in the cultural side of the city, there are enough museums, galleries and cultural centers to keep you busy for several days, so we have chosen the best representative museums, some areas of the colonial neighborhoods in downtown, a couple of splendid colonial churches like San Francisco and one of the myriad markets.

Itinerary:
D1. Full day city tour of La Paz city.

Driving:
Trekking: Short hikes