La Paz Travel Guide

The Museo de Instrumentos Musicales sits in the historic centre of Sucre, Bolivia's constitutional capital, celebrating Latin American instrument culture. Hundreds of traditional Bolivian and Andean instruments fill the galleries: charangos, quena flutes, panpipes, colonial harps and pianos, including rare 18th- and 19th-century pieces and manuscripts. The displays trace the arc from indigenous ritual music through colonial fusion to modern Bolivian folk — cueca and bailecito included. Live demonstration sessions often bring a charango player into the galleries, and the static exhibits spring to life. Set among Sucre's white colonial courtyards, it is a must for music lovers and anyone seeking the soul of Bolivia.

Moon Valley is a strange and spectacular natural landform near La Paz—countless tall, sharp pinnacles, gullies and bizarre rocks formed by long erosion of clay and sandstone, a bleak, bizarre, moon-surface-like landscape, hence the name 'Moon Valley.' Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) lies just outside La Paz. The landform was shaped over ages as clay- and sandstone-rich strata were eroded and washed by wind and rain: vast earth layers were cut into countless upright, cone-shaped earth pillars and peaks, deep gullies and strangely shaped rocks, densely layered, in grey-white and ochre hues, a bleak, bizarre, spectacular scene. Standing within, you see only bizarre sharp peaks and gullies, barren and strange, as if on the moon or another planet—hence 'Moon Valley.' Trails wind through the landform for close views of these erosion wonders. This moon-like landform is a unique, fun natural sight near La Paz. Note altitude. Admire Moon Valley with curiosity. At altitude, watch for altitude sickness, sun protection; stay on trails, watch your step and safety, don't climb fragile earth pillars, mind children; protect the landform; civilized visiting.

The Church of San Francisco in La Paz is the city's most representative colonial religious building, located in the old center at Plaza San Francisco. Founded in 1549 by Franciscan friars, it is one of La Paz's oldest churches. The present structure was rebuilt in the 18th century in a Baroque-Mudejar style, with a facade carved from a single block of andesite that blends indigenous motifs with Spanish Baroque in a quintessential \"mestizo Baroque\" style. The interior features a vaulted nave, gilded altars and religious paintings of solemn grandeur; the adjacent convent cloister now serves as a museum of colonial religious art and furniture. The church and its plaza are the heart of La Paz's urban and religious life.

Plaza Murillo is the political heart of La Paz, ringed by the Presidential Palace, the National Congress and the cathedral. Named after Pedro Domingo Murillo, a forerunner of Bolivian independence, the leafy square teems with pigeons, street performers and vendors — a distillation of daily life in this high-altitude capital. The changing of the guard is a regular sight. The old town's cobbled lanes, the Witches' Market and the San Francisco church are all within walking distance, making the square the perfect introduction to La Paz.

Managed by the Central Bank of Bolivia, La Paz's Museo de Oro gathers pre-Columbian gold and silver from the Andean world — ritual objects of Tiwanaku cultures, Inca-era jewelry and ceremonial metals whose refinement dismantles any colonial notion of 'primitive' societies. The galleries are compact but concentrate the story of Andean metalworking. Security is strict, photography is normally prohibited, and passport registration is required at entry — a small price for a masterclass in how the Andes conceived wealth before conquest.

The Museo Casa de Murillo stands on Calle Jaén, La Paz's best-preserved colonial cobblestone street, where several museums line up side by side. Pedro Domingo Murillo, a central figure of the 1809 La Paz revolution and a martyr of Bolivian independence, is traditionally associated with this house. Rooms recreate colonial-era domestic life with period furniture, religious paintings and household objects, while the courtyard and wooden galleries typify Andean colonial residences. Step outside and the rest of the Jaén museum quarter awaits in both directions.