Mi Teleferico in La Paz, Bolivia

Public transportation using cable cars in the highest capital in the world, La Paz, is certainly quite interesting. When you consider the fact that city is literally built on the sides of a mountain as well as a dense population, getting around the city wasn’t easy until the cable car system was built. Now, instead of winding through narrow streets with steep inclines, people soar over the rooftops to one of the different destinations. There are 3 interconnected lines, just like most transit systems, with red, yellow, and green lines. Although it is a method of transportation that allows citizens to move throughout the city, it is also an incredible way for tourists to truly see this amazing city from a different standpoint.

Colorful Buildings
Riding in the Cable Cars
Rugged Scenery
One of the Few Bridges

During our trip to La Paz, we took a combination of the yellow and green lines as a round trip that let us see a majority of the city. Between all of the lines, there are a total of 11 stations or stops that you can enter or exit from that each head to different areas within the city. The cable cars run between 5:00 am until 10:00 pm and, although we only went during the day, the views would be amazing in the evening as well. One of the things that stands out as you ride above the city is that La Paz is a very colorful city with interesting architectural details.

Interesting Architecture
One of the Green Line Stations
Mountainous Backdrop
City Sprawling Across the Valley

La Paz is certainly an fascinating city with very friendly people and is definitely worth visiting if you are going to Bolivia. If you do visit La Paz, we’d recommend taking time to see the Valley of the Moon in addition to riding on Mi Teleferico as the cable car system is known. Seeing the city from the heights of the cars is certainly one of our favorite memories of our time in Bolivia. We also took a couple of day trips from La Paz to do Death Road as well as went to Tiwanaku, Copacabana, and Lake Titicaca where we went to Sun and Moon Island.

Above the Rooftops
Heading Towards the Station
Great View of La Paz

 

La Paz – City in the Clouds

In many ways it is hard to describe the city of La Paz, Bolivia. It is a city of contrasts built literally on the steep hills of the Andes mountains. It is considered to be the highest (unofficial) capital in the world at 3,660 meters (12,000 feet) and many tourist suffer the effect of altitude sickness when visiting, although we were fortunate to not have any problems adjusting to the altitude.  There are some very nice areas with beautiful homes and modern skyscrapers, but the majority of the city is still living in poverty.  It is very much like any major city in a developing country that has pockets of wealth, but most people are in need of necessities.

Flying into La Paz
City of La Paz
Soccer (Futball) Field in La Paz
Walking the Streets of La Paz
Moon Valley

The best way to see the city is to take the cable cars that carry people over the rooftops of the city.  When you consider that the cities buildings are literally built on the canyon walls and the city itself spans a 600 meter (2,000 foot) altitude, having cable cars is an obvious way to scale the heights.  There are plenty of taxis, shared taxis, radio taxis, and dishonest taxis, but navigating the traffic of the city can be difficult at best.  So the cable cars serve as an airborne transit system taking you from the center of the city to the top of the surrounding suburbs.  It is the one thing that you must do when you visit La Paz.

View from the Cable Car
View of La Paz
La Paz Spread Across the Hillsides
Amazing Views of La Paz

One thing that you will quickly notice when you visit any city in Bolivia is that there are a lot of dogs roaming the streets.  Many, but not all, of them have owners who simply let them out in the morning and allow them to wander the streets to find their own food and then open their doors to them when they return at night.  There are packs of dogs protecting their territories brutishly punishing any dogs who attempt to cross into their neighborhoods.  And during the heat of the day, there are dogs sleeping in any shaded area that can be found.  It seems as though everyone has come to a happy coexistence as the people seemingly ignore the dogs around them and the dogs pay no mind the people unless they happen to set their food down momentarily unattended.

Hiding from the Heat
Do You Have Something for Me?
Walking Bridges through Moon Valley
Another View of La Paz
Statue in La Paz

One of the more interesting things that we saw while in La Paz was the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley).  It is a fascinating natural landscape that very much looks like it could be in outer space.  There was even an Aymara, the local tribe of the La Paz area, musician standing on the peaks of one of the giant pillars playing a flute and a banjo-like instrument.  It was a little odd, but at the same time very interesting.

Entrance to Valle de la Luna
Us Enjoying Moon Valley
Musician Playing Flute
Incredible Landscape in Moon Valley
Breathtaking Views

With its proximity to Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku, Uyuni Salt Flats, and the Amazon River, La Paz is an ideal starting point for any Bolivian adventure.  Be sure, though, to take time to explore La Paz itself, with Mt Illimani looming in the distance, it is definitely worth it.  We had been warned several times before heading to Bolivia to be wary of petty theft and pickpockets.  We always take normal precautions such as only going to out-of-the-way places during the day and trying not to act like a tourist, but we found everyone to be very nice and had no incidents while were there.  It was definitely an interesting city to visit.

More of Moon Valley
Mt Illimani
Colorful La Paz
Amazing Backdrops
Simply Amazing

 

High Altitude Adventure

We spent the last day and a half in La Paz enjoying a little bit of luxury after a week in Cochabamba. Tomorrow we head to Lake Titikaka followed by a trip down “Death Road” to the Yungus Jungle. We’ll be home by the end of the week and finally be able to truly share what an amazing trip this has been. Here are a few photos from La Paz, the highest city in the world with unbelievable views, although we’re still trying to catch our breath 😉

La Paz from the Gondola
Amazing Valley of the Moon
Valley of the Moon, such an Amazing Natural Wonder
Top of the Valley of the Moon
Beginning our Trek through the Valley of the Moon