Bolivia – Valle de la Luna and La Paz

Last year I visited La Paz on my way to the Uyuni Salt Flats, but for only like half a day. I walked around a bit and rode the cable-car system, but that was about it. I remember thinking that the city looked really cool geographically, but that I was not all that drawn to it.

This time around I went back specifically to do the Death Road, but also got to spend more time exploring the country’s capitol a little bit more and I must say… I liked it much better this time around.

Cholita Wrestling: See my other blog post, but Cholita Wrestling is basically WWE style wrestling with Bolivian women dressed up in traditional clothes. It’s definitely worth going to.

Death Road: Riding the Death Road was something I was keen to do for a while and I am super glad I did. Please read my blog post to come for more specific details, but know that it was an awesome trip!

Valley of the Moon: I decided to take a double-decker bus tour of the southern valley of La Paz to get a different taste of what the city is all about. I had only spent time in the historical part of town, and while nice, I got bored of it quickly. Plus, La Paz is huge and it’s always nice to get the full perspective of a place.

The tour also made a step to the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) which I had heard was pretty cool… sure enough it is. The valley is basically an area of clay mountain that has been, and still is being, eroded away. This has resulted in some otherworldly formations which are each unique and picturesque. It was really nice to remove myself from the clustered main part of La Paz and to get out into more natural areas. A visit to this site is highly recommended.

Finaly playing a proper game of chess... I'mma school that kid! — Finaly playing a proper game of chess… I’mma school that kid!

Food: I enjoyed the variety of food that I could get in La Paz. Being in any place for a while can lead to getting into a food rut, and one of my favorite parts of travelling is the variety of food that can be tried. My favorite place this trip was a Cuban restaurant called Sabor Cubano. I love Cuban food and sadly cannot get it in Cusco.

Parks and Chess (!): There were some nice parks in the city. The Parque Urbano Central was really big and had lots going on. The best part, without question, was going up to the main lookout area and finding a human size chess set!!! I love chess and still play daily, and to find a set of this type was basically a dream come true. My travel friend, Tak, was kind enough to indulge me a game, and some local kinds got involved, too. Awesome moment for me!

The Landscape: The city is one of the modern urban wonders of the world for a reason. The views are stunning and she landscape very beautiful. Definitely a unique place to be.

Hiking Opportunities: There are some great hiking opportunities in Bolivia thanks to it being located right in the Andes… Huayna Potosi is 6,088 meters high (19,973.75 feet!!!) and relatively easy to hike. I am totally going back to hike it someday.

Again, my expectations going back to La Paz were to enjoy the Death road and see what the city had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised at how many nice things I found to do on this second trip and it really changed my perception of the city. I think that the hiking and exploring more of the southern valley would be my missions for future visits.