Exploring La Paz

La Paz is a city that unfolds vertically, so we set out to explore it than from above. We spent the morning riding the Mi Teleférico, a series of 10 gondola transit paths gliding silently over the sprawling red-brick buildings that cling to the valley walls. From that vantage point, the scale of the city becomes clear—dense, dramatic, and framed by the peaks of the Andes. We’re used to gondolas of course, but using them as a transit system in the absence of snow was a new experience!

Back on the ground, we were guided through the colonial streets of the old town, where narrow lanes open into lively plazas. At Plaza Murillo, the political heart of Bolivia, we saw the facades of government buildings and a steady rhythm of daily life—locals passing through and a plethora of pigeons.

We visited the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, which houses collections of textiles, featherwork, ceramics, and intricate masks.

We wrapped up the day at the Mercado de las Brujas (the witch’s market). Stalls were filled with dried herbs, potions, and traditional remedies, alongside offerings used in Aymara rituals—everything from amulets for luck to more curious items like dehydrated llama fetuses meant for spiritual protection.Read more