Bucket list Bolivia

The Teleferico

is quite a different but brilliant solution for the city of La Paz which lies in a valley surrounded by mountains and barely no street without inclination. Always present in the skyline of La Paz the "Illimani" which with its 6464 m is the highest mountain near by. Sure you can book trips to Illimani to go up or around which we left this time to some extreme athletes :)

Back to the Teleferico...Right now there are 4 lines connecting the different angles of La Paz with the suburbs and there are planned to be built more. A kind of romantic thing is to take the red line at sundown up to the "Alto" and back. You´ll have a wonderful view above the city at sunset ...our neighbours even brought wine into the cabin.

Mercado de las Brujas

the most centric and touristy thing is the "mercado de las brujas" where you can find next to the obligatory ponchos, bags and hats, all sorts of strange things for all the aches that you probably can imagine. Most disturbing for me the dried lama babies...

Valle de la Luna

is a little park in the south of La Paz where you can take a walk (30 min round walk) in the afternoon admiring the strange formations of stones. Actually this valley reminded me more of the the “Bryce canyon” in the United States than of the moon.

Mercado del alto

a giant market in the Alto of "La Paz" held 2 times a week. If you want you can find anything there... just take care of your bag!!

The Death Road

Yes, we managed to be cool and did something even athletes have on their list. We rode down the death road by bike. If you are an outdoor fan and even if you are not that’s something you should consider to do while staying in La Paz.

Their are many agencies selling you trips to the death road and you can choose between several bikes from "normal" until "almost flying". I heard that even some people bring their own bikes with them?!?...for us a normal/cheap bike was totally ok. Even if the trip is around 5 hours it will only be downhill.

On the tour everything you need is included such as bikes, clothes and food...so relax and enjoy the abyss.

who knew that in first row "Our Lady of Copacabana" is a Patron Saint of Bolivia and name giver of the little town on the shore of the Titicaca Lake and not only a quarter of Rio de Janeiro.

The quiet but enchanting little city lies around 160 km far from "La Paz" and is the gateway to famous Titicaca Lake (which means grey panther) and "Isla del sol". Eat out in one of the many restaurants or bars and try trout, it´s delicious :)

Boats leave from Copacabana each day to the "Isla del sol" and to less known "Isla de la luna". You can either book a round trip or spend a night at "Isla del sol" and go on a hiking tour the next day if you like.

1,5 hours away from La Paz lies the pre-Columbian archaeological site Tiwanaku which can be visited throughout the year. On the winter solstice it hosts a unique ritual and a great party of the native people from this zone.

By now it got a little bit more popular so you meet people from all over the world there coming together to celebrate the first rays of light that dawn brings. Everyone will raise their hands up into the air to catch the first ray of light which is breaking through the mountains on the horizon of the 21st of June. Celebrating that the days are getting longer again. As soon as the sun warms the cold hands and bodies people start playing instruments, dancing around and burning sacrifices in the great fire in the middle of the place, praying for their families, their health, for work and money.