La Paz has over 120 different tour companies, and tourism as an industry is growing immensly. This is due in part to an effort by the government to fund projects to make the city cleaner, more attractive, and tourist-friendly. The recent financial stability of the country has also helped to calm tourist fears and encourage more affluent tourists to visit the city.

The following are some good suggestions for what to do there . . .

The Markets which stretch upwards and across a number of streets offer a huge variety of goods for everyday needs, as well as a section known as the "Witches Market," which has unusual ingredients for folk-medicine remedies of various ailments. At the Witches' Market, one can buy a bizarre assortment of goods including amulets, potions, delicately crafted silver jewelery, sweets and dried llama fetuses. (in center)

The Cathedrals and churches are an integral part of the culture and should be visited to gain an understanding of the impact of the Spanish Catholic culture on the city. One of the most famous of these is the Iglesia de San Francisco, founded in 1549, which shows an interesting blend of Mestizo and Spanish architectural styles.

The city of La Paz is best "walked" to appreciate the changes that have occurred from the early establishment of the city. La Paz has a number of museums, including the Museo Costumbista Juan de Vargas, which contains some superb dioramas of the city; the Casa de Murillo Museum with carved furniture, colonial paintings, coins and silver; the Museo de Metales Preciosos Pre-Columbinos, which houses three impressively presented salons of pre-Conquest silver, gold and copper works; the Museo Tiahuanaco, with a replica of the Tiahuanacu semi-underground temple that contains the 16-ton statue of the Pachamama (or mother-earth goddess).

Calle Sagarnaga, one of the main tourists streets, has a number of hostals, hotels, internet cafes, and many little shops with economic prices, where you can find just about any type of Bolivian memorabilia. The most popular items for tourists to buy, and the cheapest for their quality, are silver and textiles.

Do's and Dont's for tourists to La Paz

Don’t look for sweaters made of Vicuna wool- Vicuna is an endangered species and products made from it are no longer available. Don’t wear shorts in town. Except in expensive hotels and restaurants, don’t tip; Bolivians will consider you to be a silly gringo throwing money away. 

Do try to learn some Spanish - it's the only way to really get to know the people and culture, not to mention the fact that you will know what is going on around you more than those that don't speak the language. If you know a bit of Aymara, even better - you can really get to know the locals in La Paz! Do bargain and barter when shopping for things - people will almost always tell you a higher price than what they are willing to sell something for.

Around La Paz is the aptly named Valle de la Luna, which is an eroded hillside maze of miniature canyons and pinnacles 11km (7mi) east of the city; the spectacular Zongo Valley, 50km (31mi) north of the city, which has ice caves, turquoise lakes and the peak of Huayna Potosí (the high mountain visible in the background of many city photos); and the historical ceremonial center of Tiahuanaco, 70km (43mi) west of the city on Lake Titicaca, which is Bolivia's most important archaeological site.

Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is also near La Paz. Around the shoreline and islands on the lake, primitive indigenous villages and small towns can be seen. The reed boats made by the indigenous people and many of ther ceremonies are popular sights for tourists.

Further south of La Paz is the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world. Tourists can take a jeep tour around the salt flats, to some spectacular high mountain lakes with pink flamingos, and to see incredible geysers in the early morning mist in the desolate region of southern Bolivia.

• For a list of hotels, click here.
• For a list of tours and travel web sites, click here.