Coca Museum

Exploring the Coca Museum is best done with a little preparation. Housed in a humble yellow building near San Pedro Market, the museum sits above a lively street layered with markets and cafes. Most travelers find the experience even more rewarding with a flexible schedule—early mornings tend to be quieter, and afternoons can get busy as curious crowds gather. The museum is compact but rich in content, so a relaxed pace lets every exhibit tell its story.

• Best time to visit: Morning on weekdays for fewer crowds
• How to get there: Walking distance from the Witches' Market and central La Paz; accessible by taxi or minibus from most city locations
• Accessibility: The building is small, with some stairs; not ideal for strollers or wheelchairs, but families and older visitors often manage with some patience
• Average visit duration: 1 to 1.5 hours covers displays and gift shop browsing comfortably

Every corner of the Coca Museum brims with surprises. The well-organized displays reveal the plant’s role in Inca rituals, highland medicine, and today’s ongoing social battles. Detailed dioramas and centuries-old tools paint a vivid picture of life for coca farmers. Thoughtful infographics unpack how the leaf differs from its infamous chemical cousin, cocaine. For a deeper understanding, travelers linger near the colorful wall tapestries—some woven from actual coca fiber—illustrating ancestral uses that persist in the Andes. A quick visit can even end with a cup of coca tea in the tiny onsite café, stirred with tradition and a hint of spice.

• Key sights: Historical artifacts, indigenous tools for ceremonial coca use, museum maps showing global coca trade routes
• Unique experiences: Try locally brewed coca tea in the attached café; ask for a guided tour to unlock hidden details in exhibits
• Photo-worthy locations: Mural at the entrance, displays of traditional Andean clothing set among stacks of coca leaves
• Cultural and historical facts: Exhibits highlight how coca has shaped both indigenous identity and international law, with real stories of local growers and healers