Cables car pass each other above the Bolivian capital (Image: Getty)
At 12782 feet above sea level, the Bolivian capital, La Paz, is the world’s highest city. It’s so high, it’s 394 feet higher than Japan’s Mount Fuji.
The high-altitude capital is way higher than any other on earth; Quito, Ecuador, is the next highest at 9133 feet above sea level – 3649 feet below La Paz.
Being so far above sea level makes life very difficult for visitors, as oxygen levels are far lower than in any other major city.
It is situated in the Altiplano – an incredibly high plateau that cuts across Bolivia, Peru and Chile. And yet, despite the challenges of living there, La Paz has two million residents.
La Paz has two million inhabitants (Image: Getty)
The city is a haven of bustling streets, with a hotchpotch of different architectural styles. Visitors, once they’ve caught their breath, can enjoy the Plaza San Francisco and the vibrant market area.
Calle Sagárnaga is the city’s main tourist street, and is colloquially referred to as “Gringo Alley”.
However, if you want to get away from the tourist traps, head down to Avenida Buenos Aires on a Friday night and get amongst the locals blowing off steam.
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The ramshackle streets of La Paz (Image: Getty)
However, any visit to La Paz is wasted without a trip on the city’s famous cable cars. The Mi Teleferico system carries passengers high over the already lofty city, providing amazing panoramic views of the streets below and the surrounding mountains.
One visitor from the UK who used the cable car said: “Brilliant way to get around town. The tickets are cheap and the cable car system is exceptionally efficient and clean. Great way to see the city.”
Another added: “Awesome! This is the best and safest way to see the whole city of La Paz. It is very well organized and very clean. The views are outstanding. We did the whole trip from the bottom to El Alto and down through the city. Spectacular!”