La Paz

La Paz, the city that touches the sky, is an apt description. Located high above sea level, at an altitude of 3,660 metres (12,008 ft), it is the world's highest capital city. he city sits in a bowl surrounded by the high altiplano and as it grows climbs the hills, results in elevations from 3000 to 4100 m. Overlooking the city is towering triple-peaked Illimani, always snow covered and majestic. La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital. As of the 2001 census, the city of La Paz had a population of 789,585[2], and together with the neighbouring cities of El Alto and Viacha, make the most populous urban area of Bolivia, with a population of over 1.6 million inhabitants.

La Paz is the cultural center of Bolivia. Some of the notable sites are the marketplaces. These are located across the city and you will certainly run through one at some point. Also, the city is home to hundreds of museums and locations such as the Cathedral of San Francisco (where the saint is buried), the Metropolitan Cathedral (home of Sucre's remains), the Quemado Palace (executive building), the Congress (which one may attend sometimes), the Jaen Street (preserved from its Spanish days, home to 10 museums), the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), the Muela del diablo (Devil's Tooth), the Cine-Teatro Municipal (built in the 19th century), the largest state University (Universidad Mayor de San Andres), the General Cemetery (where many of Bolivia's presidents are buried), the house of Simon Bolivar, the Devil's Tooth (geological formation, hiking site), and many more.

The city is located near many natural and ancient ruins as well. Many tourists chose to take day trips to the Tiahuanacu ruins, which are thousands of years older than Machu Picchu itself and of the same magnitude. Such is the interest in these ruins, that Chilean and Peruvian trips almost always include this site, even though it is in Bolivia. Another day trip visit tourists usually include is the Lake Titicaca and the lakeside city of Copacabana (its cathedral is visited by many Bolivians to see the Virgen de Copacabana figure, deity of the Lake).