Experience the best of El Alto

El Alto grew from a small settlement on the plateau into a large city, and it now sits on the rim of the valley that holds La Paz. Many residents are Aymara, and the city's streets are loud, colourful and busy. The Feria 16 de Julio is a large street market where traders sell clothing, household goods and food.

From the edge of El Alto the land drops steeply into La Paz, a city in a canyon far below. Behind it the snowy peak of Illimani rises above 6,000 metres, and the grassy Altiplano runs west toward Lake Titicaca, a few hours by road. The pre-Inca ruins of Tiwanaku lie about 50 kilometres west, on the same plateau.

Food here is hearty Andean fare: chuño, freeze-dried potato, in soups, grilled meats and salteñas, baked pastries filled with juicy stew. Coca leaves are brewed as a tea in both cities. Nights stay cold all year, and the rainy season from December to March brings afternoon storms, while June and July are dry and clear.