Tips La Paz

By far the largest colorful event of the year in La Paz is Carnaval in February. Aside from brightly attired folkloric dancers on parade and water, colored flour and foam games, you'll see colorful characters such as the Pepino, whose harlequinesque costume is unearthed to initiate festivities. Aside from playful tricks on the crowds, the Pepino must marry during Carnaval, and at the end he will be buried anew.

For Andean folkloric music and dance, peñas (music clubs) like Huari on Calle Sagarnaga 329 or Marka Tambo on Calle Jaen 710. Popular clubs include the lively Mongo's on Hermanos Manchego 2444 and La Gitana bar and club on Calle 8 de Calacoto in the South Zone of La Paz.

La Paz is a departure point for a variety of unmissable day trips such as Lake Titicaca and the Aymara ruins of Tiwanaku. One of the most popular excursions is the infamous Death Road (actually the North Yungas Road), a popular mecca for thrill-seeking downhill biking enthusiasts which takes you through waterfalls and along sharp curves with steep drops.

You'll be able to find both Bolivian and international food in La Paz. If you're looking for something light, don't miss the salteño empanadas. Other things you can try are Humitas, corn and cheese wrapped steamed in corn husks, and Charque de Llama, dried llama meat. Characteristic drinks to try include Paceña Beer, Chicha de Mani (a peanut soft drink) and Api (a sweet corn drink with cinnamon).

The climate of La Paz is generally dry and cool year-round, although temperatures can vary widely throughout the day. There is a rainy season from November to March, with January being the wettest month, when there is a danger of mudslides.

At up to 13,313ft above sea level (in the El Alto area where the airport is located!), La Paz is the world's highest capital. This means that your greatest threat is altitude sickness- your best bet is to schedule in a couple of days to acclimatize before planned activities and if need be, head to the pharmacy for altitude pills or a personal mini-oxygen tank. Taking Ginko Biloba pills a few weeks in advance of your trip could be a great help.

As in Peru, you need to beware pickpockets and bag-slashers as well as the common trick where a person spills (or spits!) something on you and another picks your pocket while you clean it off or look around for the source. A rising scam in La Paz is thieves posing as plain-clothed police officers- be safe and do not hand anything over to someone not properly identified.

The main bus terminal is in Central Park, although buses arriving from Lake Titicaca on the route overland from Puno Peru normally stop at a plaza near the city cemetery (Cementerio) farther to the west. You'll find yourself quite close to Pirwa La Paz!
If you're flying into La Paz, the official taxi rate from the airport into the city center is Bs 60, about US$9. Make sure to use an official taxi (reliable companies include Magnifico, Gold, and La Paz Taxis) and agree on the price before getting in.