Our full-day Urban Trek starts at 08:30 am when we take a “minibus” to the cable car station from where we soar up to the heights of El Alto. Once there, we visit the Antonio Paredes Candia Art Museum to see works by some of Bolivia’s most famous painters and sculptors. Next, it’s off to to the village of Viacha to meet the Comca Sisters, a community-based women’s project working to conserve traditional wool-dying skills among rural to urban migrants. On the way, keep your eyes peeled for the bizarre cholets, fantastic event locales created by El Alto’s rising merchant class.
At the Comca Sisters project, we will try our hand at dying alpaca andf sheep’s wool using coca leaves, onion skin, purple corn and many more. After the workshop, we enjoy a delicious traditional lunch. Next, prepare to be dazzled by the views of the Andes and the sights of La Paz as you walk down through the “Hanging Neighborhoods” that surround the city. To top it off, we take a “micro” (a local bus, think old-school Bluebird school buses painted a rainbow of colors) to the heart of the markets area, where we’ll visit five different markets before finishing up our journey at the Witch’s Market.
Program Details
Duration: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Difficulty: 1 – Light walking, level terrain
Itinerary: La Paz – El Alto – La Paz
Highlights: La Paz Cable Cars, Water Tower Museum, COMCA Textiles Project, City Markets & Foods, La Paz History & Culture
Price: $85/per person min. 2
Inclusions: Bilingual guide, Andean snack, lunch, local transport, wool dying workshop
* Click here for details on program difficulty level
