La Paz and surrounding area

Standing at 3636m above sea level (higher even than Lhasa in Tibet), La Paz is cupped in the palm of two magnificent mountains and surrounded by the high Altiplano. Its poetic title of “the city that touches the sky” is well earned. Located on the La Paz River, the city was founded by the Spanish in 1548 and its strategic location along the trade routes between the Bolivian silver mines and the ocean helped it to flourish and grow. You could take a city tour to have a look at the colonial center and then the witches market with its strange and macabre charms. You could also take a half day trip to Chacaltaya, the highest ski slope in the world at over 5000m.

Another popular excursion is a half or full day trip to the nearby ruins of Tiahuanaco, believed to be the capital of the pre-Inca civilisation. Bolivia's largest archaeological site, Tiahuanaco’s origins have been dated from some time around 500AD and by 1000AD and its cultural influence had spread as far as northern Chile, Peru and into north-western Argentina. The site bears testament to a powerful civilisation and the remarkable stonework indicates that the local masons may have passed their skills onto the later Inca civilisation. The huge monolithic structures fit together perfectly, without the need for mortar and many of the blocks, such as the magnificent Gateway of the Sun, (see below) are covered with finely detailed carvings of condors, elephants and the Sun God, Viracocha, who Aymara legend believes rose from the deep waters of Lake Titicaca to create the earth, stars, sky and mankind.

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