La Paz is a city unlike any other. Nestled high in the Bolivian Andes at over 3,500 metres above sea level, it quite literally takes your breath away. But beyond the altitude, it’s a place that captivates with its culture, history, and one of the most incredible urban transport systems in the world the Mi Teleférico cable cars.

We only had a couple of days in La Paz, but if time had allowed, we could have easily stayed longer. Between soaring above the city in its famous cable cars and diving into the history and traditions on foot, our time in Bolivia’s de facto capital was short but unforgettable.

La Paz’s cable car system isn’t just a tourist attraction, it’s the world’s highest and largest network of urban cable cars, transforming the way people move around this chaotic yet beautiful city. For a few Bolivianos, literally pence you can hop in a gondola and glide above sprawling markets, colonial buildings, and the dramatic Andean landscape.

We rode several lines, each offering a new perspective on the city. The Red Line took us over the tightly packed houses of El Alto, where markets sprawled endlessly below. The Yellow Line provided breathtaking views of the snow capped Illimani Mountain, a constant guardian over La Paz. The efficiency, affordability, and sheer fun of this transport system make it a must do experience. Plus, it’s an easy way to get around without battling the chaotic streets below.

While the cable cars gave us a bird’s eye view, our walking tour brought La Paz to life at street level. Our explained the Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas), where stalls overflowed with medicinal herbs, talismans, and the infamous dried llama fetuses offerings for Pachamama (Mother Earth). Here, traditional Andean beliefs merge seamlessly with Catholicism, a reminder of Bolivia’s deeply blended spiritual history.

We also learned about the way Bolivian women dress to impress fertility. The cholitas, indigenous women dressed in wide skirts (polleras), embroidered shawls, and bowler hats, wear their attire with pride and purpose. Their bowler hats, originally introduced by the British in the 1920s, are positioned at different angles to signal relationship status perched straight for married women, tilted for those who are single. It’s a fascinating expression of culture, history, and identity.

La Paz is a city where the past and present coexist in a way that seems unnatural but it works for them. Spanish colonial influences blend with deep rooted Andean traditions, and you see it everywhere from the architecture to the street art, to the way people greet each other with a mix of Catholic and indigenous blessings.

Our time in La Paz was short, but it left a lasting impression. The combination of soaring above the city in cable cars, walking through its vibrant streets, and discovering its cultural layers made it one of the most intriguing places we’ve visited.

If you’re planning a trip to Bolivia, don’t make the mistake of thinking La Paz is just a quick stopover. Give it time, breathe in the altitude (slowly), and let the city’s magic unfold around you. We certainly wish we had more time here.

The post La Paz A City in the Clouds Soaring Above and Exploring Below appeared first on Tantrumming Trailblazers.

After leaving the high altitude shores of Lake Titicaca in Puno, we boarded a bus bound for Copacabana, Bolivia. Copacabana is a curious little town part backpacker haven, part religious pilgrimage site. But for us, it was a place to pause. We skipped the chaos of the main streets and instead found a quiet spot by the lake, soaking in the peacefulness away from the bustle. The food was simple but delicious, and best of all, ridiculously cheap. It was the kind of place where you could sit back, breathe in the mountain air, and just exist for a little while.

The next afternoon, we packed up again and caught the evening bus to La Paz. What should have been a fairly standard journey turned into something far more memorable.

A few hours into the trip, we reached the Strait of Tiquina, a narrow waterway that separates the two parts of Lake Titicaca. This is where things took an unexpected turn. Instead of a bridge, buses and larger vehicles cross the strait on massive wooden rafts yes, actual wooden rafts, bobbing along the water, carrying fully loaded buses.

We were told to disembark and take a small passenger boat across while the bus made its own precarious journey. As we watched our bus creak its way onto the raft, the guide casually remarked, “If the raft doesn’t sink, your belongings will be waiting for you on the other side!” A comforting thought, indeed.

The crossing itself was short but surreal. The raft, powered by a tiny outboard motor, wobbled across the water while we nervously watched from our much more stable passenger boat. Thankfully, our bus did make it safely across, and we continued our journey.

As we rattled through the Bolivian countryside late into the night, the road twisted and turned through the mountains. Then, as we descended into La Paz, the view was nothing short of magical. The city is built inside a vast basin, with countless lights twinkling like stars on the steep hillsides.

Despite it being 10 PM, the city was alive. Markets still bustled, food stalls sent plumes of steam into the cool night air, and colectivos (shared minibuses) zoomed past as if rush hour never ended. La Paz doesn’t seem to sleep it just hums with energy at all hours, far too much for a tired Englishman who could only think about a bed..

We finally arrived at our accommodation, exhausted. The journey had been anything but ordinary. I mean where else do you see floating buses on wooden rafts and the breathtaking cityscape that are so amazing.

As I pen this out we only have a short time La Paz, and we but we cannot wait to see what else this chaotic, vibrant city has in store.

The post Crossing the Water on a Wooden Raft Our Journey from Copacabana to La Paz appeared first on Tantrumming Trailblazers.