Shopping in La Paz is an enjoyable experience, especially in the local markets where most people do their shopping. The markets are full of vendors selling every type of product imaginable. The colourful markets, teeming with people dressed in traditional Bolivian clothing, exude a sense of the vibrant local culture. You can walk around and point to things you want to buy. After enquiring about the price, you can bargain or just pay whatever is quoted, either way you will be satisfied with your purchases. The markets also have a huge assortment of fruits, all worth a taste.
La Paz is well known for its handmade arts and crafts.
Use this La Paz Shopping Guide to get an idea of the local shopping scene throughout the city. We have also listed some recommended shops. Whilst shopping you should also try out the delicious local cuisine in one of the local La Paz restaurants. Our Bolivia Shopping Guide provides more information on shopping throughout the country.
La Paz Shopping Guide
The Witches Market
The most fascinating, original and well-known Bolivian market is the Witches Market. It is located in the district of Calle Linares in the old part of town. All kinds of interesting and remarkable items are sold here - dried frogs, skulls for spells, snakes' skins, dried llama foetuses, love potions, Bolivian food and drink, herbs and even musical instruments. Dried llama foetuses are very popular among the local people. They are used as religious offerings by devout Catholics.
If you are looking for a good luck charm, you are in the right place. You can buy an amulet with a design that is appropriate to your desire. The sign of an owl will bring you knowledge, a turtle symbolizes a long life, a frog will bring good luck, a snake will bring about progress or help you move in the right direction, the symbol of a puma will help you defeat your enemies, and an amulet with a koa or a dried plant mixed with molasses will ensure a good harvest. There are other nice La Paz souvenirs made of different kinds of stone and some wonderful candies in many different colours and sizes.
Local Handicrafts
If you are interested in local arts and crafts, Sagárnaga Street in La Plaza is the main street for souvenirs and handmade crafts. The street has many cheap lodgings, cafés and small souvenir shops. Tourists will find the best handmade crafts around Calle Sagárnaga, the area behind the Church of San Francisco.
Several small shops and little street stalls here sell colourful alpaca products such as sweaters, ponchos, hats and gloves, which are all of a good quality. You will also find antiques, silver jewellery and textiles woven with ethnic designs. An interesting purchase is a necklace or a pair of earrings made with a special gemstone called bolivanita or ametrine, which is found only in Bolivia. The little stones are peach and lavender in colour. The San Francisco Handcrafts Gallery has a lovely collection of good quality local crafts. If you like the local Andean music, buying a xarango, which is a Bolivian musical instrument, is a good idea.
ComArt, located at Calle Linares 958, is run by the city's only association of organised workers. Whenever you buy something, your money goes directly to the workers, and not to the vendors. You will find fabulous woven goods upstairs and they are of a much better quality than what is sold on the streets. The prices are not very different either, in fact they may sometimes be cheaper. The weavings are attractively mounted on wood panels, ready for hanging.
The Black Market
The Black Market is another local market where everything is said to be smuggled into Bolivia from Chile. If you walk a few blocks uphill from Calle Sagárnaga, past Max Paredes, you will find lots of goods around Eloy Salmón and Calle La Gasca. It is a great place for bargains and even though the goods may not be strictly legitimate, they are extremely popular, even with police officers! Similar products are grouped in the same section. Once you find the right section, you can compare the goods and prices before making a purchase. Keep an eye on your bag and pockets in this area.
Shopping Malls
If you prefer boutique shopping, you can head to Zona Sur, a rich suburb of La Paz. Torre Ketal is an expensive mall located in the Miraflores area. It is a large building, trimmed in red.
