At 3,640m La Paz is the worlds highest city. For me, the altitude made it difficult to walk, especially uphill. Despite being at high altitude in Cusco, I still found it challenging. As Bolivia is relatively small compared to the other South American countries, getting the night bus was easy. It was super cheap ($80 BOBs or Bobbys!) and was only 9 hours. This meant arriving in La Paz at 06:30.
As it was so early I wanted to find a hostel that would have a bed ready. After reading reviews I decided to head for Wild Rover, even though I promised myself I would never return to a Wild Rover after my Huacachina experience. I was actually pleasantly surprised, it was not too crazy and the rooms were far away from the bar so you could get a decent sleep. It was also clean and the beds were comfy! It is also super sociable which makes it easier to make friends as a solo traveller.
For those who have not experienced a Wild Rover- you should, even if for one night. Picture drinking games, free shots and dancing on the bar, what’s not to love. If you love it that much then you can also volunteer behind the bar for 2 weeks.
In terms of sightseeing, the best way to see the city is by cable car. You can get a cable car up to El Alto which is the nearest district to La Paz. If you happen to be there on a Sunday then there is a flea market to visit, which pretty much sells everything. I found it a little overwhelming as I was clearly the only gringo around. If you do go to El Alto, then watch your bag as pickpocketers are rife.
La Paz is unlike any city I have seen, the culture is very much present. Most of the local women are dressed in traditional dress. It is also clearly the poorest and busiest city in South America, the traffic is crazy! It has a real charm and the people are warm and welcoming.
There are many markets in La Paz where you can buy pretty much anything Alpaca. The most touristy one is the witches market which is supposed to be full of ointments and potions, but I could not find any of this stuff!
La Paz is a beautiful old city, there is a stunning street to visit called calle Jean which has many colonial buildings. The other main thing to do is to see the ‘Cholitas’ which is female wrestling. This was the most bizarre evening of my life. The evening starts which a bus from the city to El Alto. You are then led into a sports hall with a wrestling ring in the middle.
After about 30 minutes of waiting and the suspense building, the Cholitas emerge from behind the scenes. The Cholitas are female wrestlers who are from 16-18 in age and dressed in the traditional Bolivian dress which consists of 2 long plaits (good for grabbing) and a big floaty skirt, not your average wrestling attire!
The wrestling lasts for about an hour and a half and you get to watch 5 different cholitas. The cholitas and referee are comedy gold, they are hilarious and really stir up and involve the crowd. The wrestling is only on certain days of the week so do your research and definitely go!
In terms of restaurants and bars, I spent most of my time eating and drinking in the Wild Rover bar, which you can also visit without being a guest. I found one really good vegetarian restaurant which was called ‘Bolivia Green Kitchen’, it was cheap and had lots of options.
Of course Wild Rover is not the only hostel in La Paz, there are many to choose from. I also spent one night at the ‘Capsule hostel’ before a flight for some good rest. This hostel has capsule beds which have a TV, charging points, special lighting and a mirror!
If you can withstand the altitude, I would suggest 3 nights in La Paz. It is like no city I have ever seen before, it really is a unique and special place.
Romy's Roamings 