First-time travelers
La Paz greets first-timers like a double shot of good espresso—intense, bracing, a little surreal. Thin air and wild color; laughter and horns ricocheting off canyons. Life perched nearly four kilometers above sea level leaves no room for half-measures.
At first, nothing feels quite real. The city tumbles down steep slopes, market stalls spill into dizzying alleys, and murals climb every available wall. Find your feet by wandering El Prado, the city’s heartbeat, where suits and cholitas sweep side by side through the chatter of shoe-shiners. Snack on salteñas—sweet, steamy, gone in two bites—sold by grinning vendors at Plaza Murillo.
Altitude and Awe
Breathe slow. That’s not just advice, it’s necessity. The thin, bright air makes legs heavy and lungs burn. Pace yourself—sip coca tea in Café del Mundo, where stories mingle in Spanish, Aymara, German. Listen to the rattle of cable cars overhead, or better yet, board the Teleférico. Glide above rooftops painted blue, green, brown; kids play fútbol high on tar-black rooftops.
It’s easy to get lost, hard to stay lost for long. Calle Jaén’s cobbled lane feels frozen in time, lined with colonial houses, tiny museums, and the faint echo of revolution. Pause and watch afternoon light soften on the brick-red spires of San Francisco Church.
What to Remember
- Spend time acclimating—walk, don’t rush
- Order api and pastel from a street stall for breakfast
- Take small bills; vendors rarely have change
- Greet with a smile and a simple ‘buen día’
La Paz is not a city of quick wins. For every surreal view, there’s a moment of real kindness or surprise. Return the city’s honest energy and you’ll find its pulse beneath the surface—messy, joyful, unforgettable.
