The streets are steep and narrow and permanently clogged with minibuses. Futuristic teleféricos zip around the skyline. Roofs are splashed with colour. Beautifully adorned traditional cholitas share the pavement alongside the “modern woman”. Bright sprawling markets are full of gossiping (or sleeping!) caseras. Endlessly enthusiastic ‘zebras’ roam the city centre over which presides the majestic Mount Illimani. And this great big melting pot of madness is nestled amongst a sandy cave-like moonscape.

Welcome to La Paz! A beautiful chaos.

Being that La Paz is about a hilly a city as they come, I found the best way to appreciate the City of Peace (literal translation of La Paz) and its beautiful surrounds is from the many viewpoints throughout the city.

Viewpoint 1: Tupac Katari

Of course you can taxi to any of the viewpoints but I enjoy doing as the locals do and finding my way there on public transport. Using PT, get on a minibus that says Llojeta and get off when you see the Collegio Boliviano Japones (huge sign on the wall on the left side of the road). Note - don’t look the college up on Google Maps or maps.me - it’s in the wrong spot by more than 1km. Then get on the ‘fancy’ yellowy orange bus (where you have to wear a seatbelt and are forbidden from drinking from your water bottle) going up the hill and get off at the last stop. From there take a hard left up the hill to the lookout.

The view from Tupac Katari

If you’re up for a small hike (it’s tough at these altitudes!) you can then walk for 25 minutes to the top of the yellow teleférico and you’ll be in a different city altogether - welcome to El Alto aka The Height. You’ll get great views even from the teleférico station but a much better place is...

Viewpoint 2: Mirador Autopista

My favourite! From the station catch the silver teleférico to the end of the line. Then take a short walk so you’re standing pretty much under the red teleférico (Google Maps will give you the exact location).

Viewpoint 3: The Teleféricos

It should be obvious by this point that the teleféricos themselves make excellent viewpoints (my favourites being the green and yellow lines). It's the red line you need if you want to photograph La Paz's most colourful neighborhood Barrio de Alto Chullahuma (Alto Tejar).

On the yellow line

On the green line looking back over San Miguel , La Paz's fanciest neighborhood

Also on the green line

On the red line admiring Barrio de Alto Chullahuma

On the blue line above El Alto on market day (Thursdays and Sundays)

So much color!

Viewpoint 4: Killi Killi

This is usually the first one to appear, and seems to be the highest rated according to the World Wide Web. Unfortunately we had a miserable day when we visited but the views were nearly 360 degrees.

Looking south, towards Zona Sur

Viewpoint 5: Pampahasi

Again this viewpoint was visited on the same miserable day but it has a great view of downtown, particularly El Prado’s tall buildings following the lines of the valley (as opposed to in a cluster like most CBDs).

While it’s not an official viewpoint these photos were taken nearby Parque de las Cebras in Sopocachi.