Travelling is not just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle which we all wish we had. Some people travel with family or friends but there are also people who like to travel solo. Moving across the globe with minimum material goods on your back sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Travelling is far from free, instead, it is pretty expensive for people, especially in their early 20’s. If you have meager resources, are not too big on materialistic goods and want to experience something different, something refreshing, La Paz is the place for you!
Check out: Best Hostels in Cusco or Sucre
With that, let’s delve into the best hostels to stay at in order to make the most of your trip without damaging the bank too much. Here’s a list of hostels which will make your trip to La Paz the best it could be while not requiring you to break the bank.
Loki Backpackers La Paz
HostelWorld (*8.9) Booking.com (*8.5)
Map Starts at ($1o) for 1o bed-dorm
Loki Backpackers La Paz is a hostel service which you might’ve heard of if you’ve been exploring South America. This place is a work of art to say the least. They’re infamous for their raving parties but let me tell you, they’re not just about the parties. The interior is to die for!
The highlight of Loki Backpackers is a sky bar on the top floor of the 9 story building, overlooking all of the city and a great view of the mountain Illimani. This place is the extrovert’s paradise! The frequent theme parties allow you to meet other travelers from around the world and just mingle over cocktails.
The hostel offers extravagant facilities of billiards table, ping pong table, Netflix/cinema room, book exchange and an all you can eat BBQ in our downstairs patio. Free and reliable/fast wifi is free throughout the building from receptions to rooms to the bar. Moreover, they’re extremely mindful of the night dwellers and so the facility of breakfast is up until 1pm. To top it all off, Loki is located in a safe neighborhood with great sights and attractions surrounding it.
Wild Rover Backpackers Hostel
HostelWorld (*8.9) Booking.com (*8.6)
Map Starts at ($10) for 20 bed-dorm
**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (Nov.)
If you’re looking to stay at a place which is comfortable but not comfortable enough to let go of the party you have traveled thousands of kilometers for, Wild Rover Backpackers Hostel is the place for you. The hostel hosts fun activities every night which makes its environment much more sociable and friendly.
With that, the food is pretty great as well. The hostel serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and our favorite, drinks! To top it all off, it also has an Irish Bar. Moreover, the hostel provides rooms which are spacious as well as cozy and interestingly, have the facility of backpack lockers available to keep your goods safe and sound. The area is surrounded by CCTV cameras and hey, they have free Wi-Fi! Furthermore, the hostel also provides a lounge area where you can watch TV or a movie in your sweats and even read a book.
Address: Calle Comercio 1476, La Paz, Bolivia
The Adventure Brew Hostel
HostelWorld (*8.1) Booking.com (*8.3)
Map Starts at ($20) for 8 bed-dorm
This place stands true to its name. It allows you to have adventures which definitely involve beer. The hostel offers a section which goes with the name “Venture Underground Bar” with various facilities involving pool table, TV and a DVD player. Not just that, they have a bar situated on the rooftop of the building so now, you can drink your life away with the beautiful views of La Paz.
In addition to that, they offer a particularly unique service of a “Beer Spa” which is an outdoor spa that involves the beer from their own brewery. This spa is not only a fun experience but is excellent to give you that holiday “glow” to rave about, back home. The place is not just limited to beer lovers but is also great for those travellers who’re looking to meet new people over good beer.
Hostel Sol Andino
Starts at ($27) for single room
If you want a place away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still having that Bolivian touch, Hostel Sol Andino is for you. Although it is located in central La Paz but it’s a peaceful, quiet, cozy space for you with spacious rooms, free Wi-Fi and friendly staff. With that, the hostel also provides transportation to the bus terminal or even the airport at a meager fee.
The only drawback of the hostel is that it doesn’t possess a lounge or what we call, a living room which is why it becomes difficult for travelers to socialize.
Address: Calle Aroma 6, La Paz, Bolivia
Arthy’s Guesthouse
Starts at ($11) for 4 bed-dorm
Arthy’s Guesthouse is cheap and homely. Despite being situated on the busiest streets of La Paz, it manages to ooze calmness and peace for the guests. The owners are friendly and make you feel at home.
This hostel offers free breakfast and Wi-Fi. The rooms are spacious and provide blankets as well as hot water bottles at night. The best part about this place is that they have a sunny patio, which looks just like your lounge back home, where they have an insane collection of board games and book exchange!
Address: Avenida Montes 693, La Paz, Bolivia
Hostel Estrella Andina
HostelWorld (*9.1) Booking.com (*8.5)
Map Starts at ($49) for double private
This place works as a backpacker haven in La Paz. It is a sight to be witnessed as well. They’re economically priced with modest rooms and pleasant staff. The hostel’s terrace provides for a picturesque view of La Paz. Not just that, they also have a great courtyard for you to unwind and truly experience the city. In addition to that, the breakfast buffet is served on the terrace with free Wi-Fi for you to keep your Instagram updated and at par.
The location of Hostal Estrella Andina provides it an edge over the other hostels around the city. It is located at the prime location of only 50 meters away from the Witches market and 500 meters from San Francisco Church providing you the perfect opportunity to explore La Paz on foot.
Now that your accommodation is all settled and decided, let’s talk about Food! The good old Food which brings the real joy in our lives. La Paz is flooding with great eateries. I don’t want to miss any of them, so I’ve got a little list for you to carry with when you land in La Paz, because why not?
- ALI PACHA
Ali Pacha offers gourmet vegan options. It is one of the most recognized eateries in La Paz as of its distinct dishes which are prepared with exotic herbs from around the country.
- KEN CHAN
If you’re feeling sushi a bit too much, Ken Chan is the one to go to. There are various Japanese options in the city but nothing comes close to this masterpiece.
- DELHI CURRY LOUNGE
Who doesn’t like a bit of curry and spiciness? Don’t disappoint your taste buds and hit the Delhi Curry Lounge for some great Indian food. The restaurant offers a wide range of vegan options as well. The food is authentic as it is prepared by Punjabi cooks. The food is not just scrumptious, it also comes at a low cost especially if you’re going for lunch.
- CAFFÈ ITALIA
Pizza, pizza, pizza! Pizza is always the answer. Don’t deprive yourself of great pizza even in La Paz. The taste is authentic and definitely to look out for. The pizzas here are Wood-fired and crispy making you asking for more. They’re mainly known for their mozzarella pizza so look out for that bad boy!
- LUCIERNAGAS
If you really want to experience the local cuisine, go for Luciernagas. It has the best Bolivian food which will get you hooked. There are multiple options around the city but none comes close to this food haven.
- PRONTO DALICATESSEN
It’s an eccentric place with distinctive décor. The menu consists of fusion dishes which sound bizarre but taste like nothing you’ve ever had before.
La Paz is the capital of Bolivia which is a land-locked country in South America. It is the third most populated city of Bolivia with 789,541 residents as of 2015. This beautiful city is a hiker’s dream. It is surrounded by high mountains of the Altiplano. It is looked down upon by the towering triple-peaked Illimani. La Paz is considered the highest capital city in the world as it sits 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level. It experiences rainy summers and dry winters to the extent that Illimani’s peaks are always snow-covered.
With mountains, La Paz is also loaded with fantastic museums and cultural centers. Not just that, in it resides state-of-art cathedrals, churches and palaces. To name a few infamous tourist attractions are:
- Museo Nacional de Arte (National Art Museum)
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología (National Museum of Archeology)
- Museo de Historia Natural (Natural History Museum)
- Mercado de Brujas (Witches’ Market): This market offers herbs and other remedial items, hence, the name.
- Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
- Museo San Francisco Cultural Center
- Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
- San Francisco Church
- Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace): The president of Bolivia resides here.
- Parque Urbano Central (Central Urban Park)
Moreover, La Paz is reputed for its wide range of festivals which take place all around the year. These festivities are not just religious but also include some relating art and even music. In addition to that, it also has proper transportation channels which include highways, airways, buses, and cable car systems.
This article probably made you help your vacation destination. You must go once a year. So if this all this information made you motivated to go to La Paz, then pack your bag and be sure to check these places out!
Author Bio:
Judy Robinson is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger. She loves to write on healthy lifestyle, fitness 101 and DIY related topics. Follow @judyrobinson for more updates.