La Paz Natural Atracctions
Natural Atracctions in La Paz
- Coroico
- Cotapata Park
- Iskanwaya Ruins
- Curva
- Sorata
- Chacaltaya snowy mountain
- Valley of Zongo
- La Muela del Diablo
- Valle de La Luna
- Cañon de Palca
- Valle de las Ánimas
Coroico – SubTropical Jungle – Adventure
Descending to an altitude of 1.782 meters above the sea level, at 95 kilometers from La Paz city, there is Coroico, one of the main towns, which is within the Province of Nor Yungas and one of the main tourists attractions of La Paz.
The semi-tropical climate of the area and the beautiful scenery provide the perfect combination for visitors to have a great and unforgettable experience, visiting also the Cotapata Park, walking through the Road of Choro, taking baths at some of the local resorts, observing the fauna and flora of the place, while enjoying to typical music and folklore of the area.
At some of the surrounding areas there are a few small communities of African-Bolivian residents, specially in the towns of Tocaña, Chijchipa and Mururata, which are often visited mostly because of the very unique dances and rituals that they practice there, such as the Saya (Filed Master’s Dance), the Semba (Fertility Dance), The Mauchi (Funeral ceremony) and there is also a Black-African King, a descendent of Bonifacio Pinedo, Julio Pinedo, who was crowned king in 1992.
Cotapata Park – Ecological Tourism
This is an area that has an exceptional diversity of ecological systems; the National Park of Cotapata has several snowy mountains, glaciers and lagoons atop of high mountains, rivers of great flow, waterfalls, prairies from the high Andes, bogs, marshes, peat mosses and misty and humid forests.
Iskanwaya Ruins – Archaeological Ruins
The Ruins of Iskanwaya, belongs to the pre-colonial culture of the Mollo people, and these ruins bear testimony of a city that in the past used to have 75 buildings constructed with blocks of slate stone and joined with mortars made of mud and constructed around patios that have a trapezoid shape. This construction dates back to 800 years A.C.
Curva – Traditional Medicine Center
The town of Curva is located at the bottom of the snowy mountain of Akhamani, which is part of the Apolobamba Mountain Range. The homes of the area were constructed with mud walls and adobe blocks. Curva is considered to be the capital of the “Kallawayas” (Traditional medicine doctors) and of natural medicine and mystic and esoteric believes in general.
Sorata – ( Snowy Mountains )
At about 148 kilometers from La Paz and at a height of 2.711 meters above the sea level, there is the head or beginning of the Valley of Sorata. Because of its particular Pre-Hispanic style and due to the construction of very irregular blocks, this town has been classified as a typical-colonial town, and it has been described by writers as “paradise on earth”, mostly because of the huge diversity of landscapes which seem tom resemble a fusion of various ecological systems.
Its geographic characteristics have provided the means to construct a few roads for trekking, biking and to travel on 4x4 vehicles. Visitors can also visit other interesting attractions such as the “Gruta de San Pedro” (San Pedro Grotto), and also the various rivers of the area, the “Camino del Oro” (Road of Gold), etc.
Sorata is also the best staring point for the adventure to ascend the snowy mountains.
Chacaltaya ( Snowy Mountain )
At 30 kilometers from the city of La Paz, at a height of 5.200 meters above the sea level and at about an hour traveling by asphalted highway, there is the Chacaltaya Snowy Mountain. The “Club de Andinismo Boliviano” (Bolivian Andes Club) has a look-out point installed at the summit of this mountain.
In the Chacaltaya there is a great area of to rest and adapt to the climate better, so that travelers could then continue their trip into the mountain range. There is also the Laboratory of Cosmic Physics and it could be easily accessed, because of that it is constantly visited by tourists who want love snow and the beautiful scenery of the lagoons of the Andes.
This area is also connected to the Valley of Zongo and from the summit to the valley, visitors can descend with bicycles, the total distance is 4.000 meters. In order to appreciate the Chacaltaya better, we advise visiting this site between April and October.
Valley of Zongo – Natural Attraction
At over 3.000 meters above the sea level, there is the Valley of Zongo, which has a huge variety of ecological areas. An interesting characteristic of the zone are the homes made of stone, adobe and with roof made of straw, all of which provide a very picturesque aspect to the town.
La Muela del diablo ( The Devil’s Molar )
Towards the South end of La Paz and at a height of 3.825 meters above the sea level, there is “Muela del Diablo” (The Devil’s Molar), a natural attraction which has unusual geologic formations inside of it caused by the constant erosion and the rain.
The Devil’s Molar is an extinguished volcano and from a distance it seems like an old molar or large tooth of some sort that has been cracked and damaged by tooth decay, and because of the red soil of the area, it has been named the Devil’s Molar. Up close it resembles a petrified dinosaur; a head can clearly be seen, including its feet and legs, and 6 large spikes on its back and tail.
The summit is a large flat surface; that has been considered a type of altar by local residents. During the month of August there are five festivities or offerings to the Achachilas (gods), who must be pleased in order to have a good harvesting season. This place can only be visited on foot and the actual walk is about 12 hours long.
Valle de la Luna ( Valley of the Moon )
Also located towards the South end of the city, at about 5 kilometers from La Paz, “el Valle de la Luna” (the Valley of the Moon). The area’s scenery is formed by rocky formations, which gives an eerie sensation of being in another planet or the moon. The odd characteristics of the rock formations, produced by the erosion, continue to amaze and capture visitors from all ages.
On the road to the “Cactario” (Cactus Field), there is a small park with a large array of species of cactus. This is the most perfect place to go for long walk or to ride bicycles.
Cañon de Palca ( Palca Canyon )
Located at 30 kilometers, Southeast from the city of La Paz, there is a picturesque little town called Palca. The canyon, which bears the same name, has an amazing view of the Illimani. At every step there are rock formations that look like gothic cathedrals and obelisks, which have been formed by the water.
The canyon of Palca is at a height of 200 meters above the sea level, it begins in the entrance of the town of Ovejuno, that area is known as “Cumbre de las Animas” (The Summit of the Souls).
Valle de las Animas ( Valley of the Souls )
At 25 kilometers from the city of La Paz there is the “Valle de las Animas” (Valley of the Souls), which has a beautiful landscape filled with rock formations and clusters of naturally formed columns. The vegetation is scarce and there are some areas with straw or gleanings, with some low bushes, which in combination with the rock formations, provide a wonderful appearance to the whole scenery.
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