2019 June: Bolivia La Paz and El Alto
When I arrived in Bolivia, Roberto my driver and partner for the next three weeks was already waiting for me. The altitude of the places to be visited was 80% at an altitude between 3600 m and 4300 m. To avoid altitude sickness, I had already been preparing myself in Germany by temporary acclimatization at home to imitate these altitudes with an altitude chamber, blood oxygen test and the test under load. The evaluations were good, and the risk was negligible. I was well prepared.
La Paz in Bolivia is the highest located capital worldwide and is situated on the plateau of the Altiplano of the Andes at approximately 3,500 m above sea level. And even higher is the city of El Alto located at 4000 meters above sea level, which merges with La Paz. In the background of La Paz, you can see the snowy mountain Illimani at 6,438 m above sea level.
Most of its people are from the indigenous Aymara people. Three days were enough to explore the immense hustle and bustle of the markets in La Paz, the ruins of Tiahuanaco and the Valley of the Moon in the surroundings.