La Paz

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court. La Paz was established in 1548, and is located in the Andes. Altitude of the city ranges from about 4058 meters (13,313 feet) above sea level in El Alto (where the airport is located) to 3100 meters (10,170 feet) in the lower residential area. It the highest national capital in the world.

The sight from the air as one flies into La Paz is incredible. First, one sees the sprawling shantytowns of El Alto, slowly giving way to the sight of La Paz itself, clinging tenuously to the sides of what looks like a large gash in the earth.

One of the most spectacular displays of ancient ritual of the Bolivian holiday of Yintip Raymi, or the Solemn Feast of the Sun. This is a large, elaborate sun ritual thousands of years old. This festival, which takes place on June 24, was brought back to life in 1944, on the summer solstice. It will help give you a real taste of the distinct culture that thrives here. Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara, the pre-Inca language, are all spoken in Bolivia. But in fact, only about 60% of the population is Spanish speaking. The language barrier, which can become a barrier for Bolivian tourism, can be dealt with easily by hiring a tour guide.

Lake Titicaca holds a great deal of meaning to the Aymara Indians as well as their descendants. This desolate lake is a deep and intense dark blue color. Being a body of water in the mountains, it is subject to rapid changes in weather. Many modern descendants still practice the tradition of weaving the feather light boats out of reed, which they use to traverse Lake Titicaca and travel to the islands of the Sun and the Moon, as they have for hundreds of years. One of the amazing facts of this country is that more than half of the population of Bolivia still adheres to traditional ways of life.