Surrounded by the peaks of the Andean Plateau and overlooked by the 6402m Mt. Illimani, La Paz is a truly breathtaking city whose buildings sprawl across the surrounding canyon, reaching altitudes of up to 4100m. While the sight of the city is reason enough to visit, La Paz holds a number of attractions sure to keep tourists fascinated. Take a walk along Calle Jaen, a colonial street lined with museums, explore the city's cathedrals or wander through some of the colourful markets, including the 'Witches' Market' where llama foetuses and dried frogs can be found for sale.
On the shore of Lake Titicaca lies the original Copacabana. For centuries, this small Bolivian town has been a sacred destination, with pilgrims flocking to visit the famed Camarin de la Virgen de Candelaria, a statue considered to have miraculous powers. Visitors to the town can see the renowned figure in one of the oldest churches in the country and take in stunning views on the Cerro Calvario hill, a climb which includes Stations of the Cross often frequented by the faithful. The town has numerous festivals where local Aymara women take to the streets, dancing in their traditional colourful dresses and bowler hats.
The largest island on Lake Titicaca, the “Island in the Sun” is an ancient holy Inca site with over 80 ruins dating back to the 15th century AD. The rocky piece of land can only be explored by foot and there are several walking tracks to help visitors get around. Among the Inca monuments, tourists will find the Inca Table, a platform thought to have been used for human sacrifices; the remains of a two-story palace; and a set of rock impressions dubbed The Footsteps of the Sun. The island also boasts an Inca gold museum and a spring that the Spaniards thought to be the fountain of youth.
As previously described
