The city
Climbing the valley.
Rômulo Gama Ferreira from Vitória-ES — CC BY 2.0 · Ana Luz MH — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Elemaki — CC BY 3.0 · Edgar Claure — CC BY-SA 4.0
La Paz's best-known viewpoint, on a hill east of the centre, giving a sweeping panorama of the whole city: red brick houses filling the valley and climbing its walls to the plateau rim, downtown skyscrapers, the big football stadium and colourful cable cars crossing above. On the horizon rises snowy Mount Illimani with its three summits, and on clear days other peaks of the Cordillera Real appear. The lookout is decorated with arches and walls of coloured tiles that frame the view like a painting. It has history too: from this hill the indigenous leader Túpac Katari besieged La Paz in 1781, and panels on site tell the story. The best times are a clear morning or sunset, when the city glows and then lights up. A taxi up is easier than climbing the steep steps. La Paz sits at about 3,600 metres, so take your first days slowly and drink plenty of water.
Climbing the valley.
Three summits.
Framing arches.
Villa Pabón district, east of central La Paz
On a clear morning to see Illimani, or at sunset for the city lights; a taxi up is best.
