La Paz

Tuesday 22nd March

After a small flight delay leaving Santa Cruz I touched down in La Paz airport at 23:45 and met Neil in the terminal building ... good to see a friend from back home and looking forward to travelling with him for the next 5 weeks.

After getting a taxi downtown Neil checked into his hotel and I checked into the Wild Rover Irish hostel and we both headed back out and went to the Hard Rock Cafe for some food and a few beers.

Wednesday 23rd March

Met Neil in the morning and we both spent the day sightseeing around La Paz ... walked for hours. First we went to one of the many miradors around La Paz to get a view over the city.

Later in the afternoon we walked around the streets and plazas of La Paz. We also walked down to the famous La Paz ´Witch Market´.

Later that evening we walked back down to another Irish Bar to have dinner.


Thursday 24th March

Neil checked out of his hotel this morning and checked into the Wild Rover Hostel. I had an early start today as I was mountain biking down the famous ´Death Road´ outside La Paz. Great day out. We started off at a very high altitude so we were cycling in the clouds and we started our 68km descent on death road. Some fantastic scenery on the cycle down.

After the cycle ... we all had a buffet dinner folllowed by a few hours relaxation in a local hostel.

Friday 25th March

Myself and Neil decided to do a 1 day excursion to Chacaltaya and the Moon Valley south of La Paz. Chacaltaya was great ... we took a minibus up to a height of about 5,000m above sea level and then ascended another 400m on foot. Very hard to breath when climbing at this height .. the altitude is a killer! The day was pretty cloudy so was difficult to take pictures from the summit of the mountain.

After we descended and drove back to La Paz we spent an hour walking around the Moon Valley  ... weird rock formations just south of La Paz.

Later that evening we had a great night out in the bar in the Wild Rover hostel.

Saturday 26th March

This day was a write off! Went out for breakfast with Neil and hung out in the hostel courtyard sunbathing. Spent the afternoon in the bar for the Ireland and Macedonia match and we met up with some other Irish lads. Spent the evening playing pool and having beers in the bar.

Sunday 27th March

We hung out in the hostel for the morning and in the afternoon myself and Neil and a big crowd of backpackers from the hostel got a minibus to a place outside of La Paz to watch ´Cholita wrestling´. The show went on for about 3 hours, and when we got back to the hostel in La Paz, it was straight into the Wild Rover bar for another great night out on the town.

Monday 28th March

Checked out of the Wild Rover hostel and made our way to the airport to catch our flight to Rurrenabaque. 12:00. Will miss La Paz ... had a great few nights out here .. and loads to do.

Santa Cruz

Tuesday 15th March

Arrived into Santa Cruz at 23:30 and made my way to Jodanga Backpackers hostel. I had reservations to stay here for 3 nights for Thursday, Friday and Saturday but they had no beds free for Tuesday or Wednesday so I made my back into the city centre and after trying several places which were fully booked I checked into a Hotel Copacabana and pay Bs160 per night ... I really had no choice unless I wanted to walk the streets at midnight with my backpack! Think I will have to start booking ahead more often especially if I´m arriving so late at night.

Wednesday 16th March

Took a walk around Santa Cruz centre ... the heat here is something else. Really humid tropical weather. Badly needed to get laundry done so I got it sorted today and spend the afternoon walking around the centre taking photos.

Hung out in the Irish Pub on the main plaza which has really good food and is full of ´gringos´.

Later I met up with Adriana and some of her family who I had met at the in Cochabamba last week ... was really nice to meet up with them after the good fun we had at the Carnaval.

Thursday 17th March

Breakfast again in the Irish bar. Loving the food here. Checked out of Copacabana Hotel and took a taxi to Jodanga Backpackers Hostel (80Bs per night). Great hostel and good crowd. Would definitely stay here again but they dont have loads of rooms and its always booked out in advance. Good hostel facilities.

Met a good crowd of backpackers who were all heading out tonight ... was delighted I met up with a nice crowd for Paddy´s day.

Later that evening about 5 taxis were ordered to bring a big hostel crowd out to another Irish Bar about 10 mins drive from downtown. Live music and the place was packed for St Patricks Day celebrations. Great night out.

Friday 18th March - Sunday 20th March

3 relaxing days in Santa Cruz where I really didnt get up to much except hanging out, enjoying the sunshine and meting up with Adriana and her family.

Me, Adriana and her family out for a meal in Santa Cruz:

On Saturday I had a few drinks in the Irish bar in the main plaza and then headed out to the other Irish bar outside the centre but there wasnt much happening so I didnt have a late night. I had to check out of Jodanga Backpackers Hostel on Sunday morning as they were completely booked out and couldnt extend my stay so I made my way back to Copacabana hotel and I checked in for 2 more nights.

I bought my flight ticket to La Paz (685Bs). Had considered getting the bus which I believe is about 18-20 hours but as the flight wasnt that expensive so I decided to take the easier option. I also managed to get a flight for Tuesday evening which would have me in La Paz airport about 22:30. My friend Neil was flying from Dublin to BA and onto La Paz and was expected to arrive around the same time so it made sense to just meet him at the airport Tuesday night.

Monday 21st March

Today I done a day trip to Parque Guembe (90Bs entrance fee and 50Bs in a taxi) which is about a half hour drive outside of Santa Cruz.  

Some pictures of the wildlife in the Parque:

The view from Parque Guembe:

Tuesday 22nd March

Last day in Santa Cruz ... I have to say I could easily hang out here for a few months. Nice town and the weather here is really tropical. I spent the last day with Adriana and her family and made my way to the airport to catch my flight to La Paz.

Will miss Santa Cruz ...