backpackindians: La Paz Diary

City Experience:

La Paz is highest Altitude Capital of world. City is divided in "El Alto" and "La Paz". El Alto is on flat top of Andes mountains at 4000 meters altitude and largest city of indigenous native Americans in the world. Population of El Alto is 1 million and growing.

La Paz is on mountain slopes and in the valleys. My Canadian friend described La Paz a "hole". Many questions came in my mind when I first landed on El Alto Airport. Major, big and old cities of world were built on river or sea fronts so how come a big City like La Paz sustained itself on such a high altitude? How water requirements of large population are fulfilled? No large scale vegetation is possible here so where does the food come from?

Living in city provided all the answers. People eat a lot of meat so vegetable is not that a necessity. City grew recently after modern means of transportation became available so food was transported from planes. Water is provided from the numerous small rivers flowing in city, source of water is from the snow clad mountains of Andes. Rains are frequent, so pure and clean water is abundant in the city. Electricity network was good that provided enough means to keep the home warm.

My work requirements kept me travelling between La Paz and Santa Cruz frequently. Every time I landed in La Paz; altitude sickness bothered me for first day in city. Coca leaves are easily available, locals can be seen chewing them and it helps to maintain energy level in Andes heights. I liked coca tea though, the small tea bags of coca tea can be bought from grocery stores. Coca leaves makes life easy at high altitudes but still it is in UN's list of prohibited plant.

City Tour:

I boarded the City Tour bus from plaza Isabela de Catolica. There are two routes for Bus. One is Central City route and other is Zona Sur/Valle de la Luna tour. Each cost 60 BOB per person. Bus halts at one location for 10 minutes.