Living In La Paz
Staying Safe
In crowded areas, be careful of pickpockets and bagslashers. A common trick is that one person spills something on your clothes, and while you or he wipes it off, another person lifts your wallet or slashes your bag. Be vigilant and keep a hand on all your bags/belongings at all times. Opportunist thieves will create a diversion and snatch the nearest unattended bag. Don’t wear your jewelry! Try not to carry unnecessary credit cards or too much cash. Just the minimum.
If you are approached by plain-clothed police officers, don't show any valuables or your passport. And certainly don't get in a taxi with them. Undercover police are strictly ordered not to hassle tourists. There have been several cases of muggings and things going missing from bags or luggage after "drug searches." Insist on being taken to the police station before giving them access to your things. If you can, call the 110, which is the Bolivian number for emergencies.
Take only Radio Taxis (they will have the telephone number and their call centre listed on the roof of the cab) to get from one place to another. Gypsy Cabs have no listing above the taxi and have taxi written on the side. They are dangerous to take at night, as many of the drivers are paid to drive tourists to specific locations for muggings. Be especially careful if you are at one of the illegal after-hour bars, as most of the muggings happen in taxis from these locations. Lock the doors and don't allow other people to share the journey with you.
Uber and Easy Taxi are available in La Paz. You can also use safe Radio Taxis such as:
Zona Sur:
Servimovil Sur: 2794747
Magnifico: 2771717
Achumani: 2711717
If you are uptown you can also contact these companies as they usually have Radio Taxis around the area or they can provide you with trusted Radio Taxi numbers.
Technology Devices
Operating (not just bringing) a laptop computer or anything containing a hard drive is a risk. Most hard drives sold today safely work up to 3,000 meters/10,000 ft. La Paz exceeds this by one-third. While you may get by without anything bad happening, the hard drive could be destroyed (disc crash) and you will lose your data and installed software (even after returning to sea level). At the very least, you should back up your data before arriving. The high elevation won't subsequently "stress" the hard drive though, assuming nothing happens during your visit.
Food
Bolivian food is distinctive and is generally good. Dishes are dominated by meat. International- and local-style restaurants are available in La Paz and other main towns. Bottled water and other drinks are available. On average you will be able to find meals as low as $US 5.00 and as high as $US25 and up.
It is not difficult to find ample foods to support a vegetarian lifestyle if you cook for yourself or eat in bigger cities.
National specialties:
Empanada salteña (a mixture of diced meat, chicken, chives, raisins, diced potatoes, hot sauce and pepper baked in dough).
Lomo montado (fried tender loin steak with two fried eggs on top, rice and fried banana).
Picante de pollo (southern fried chicken, fried potatoes, rice, tossed salad with hot peppers).
Chuño (naturally freeze-dried potato used in soup called chairo).
Lechón al horno (roast suckling pig served with sweet potato and fried plantains).
Plato Paceno (its vegetarian)
National drinks:
Bolivian beer, especially Huari, Paceña, is some of the best on the continent.
Singani made from distilled grapes, it can be mixed with fruit juices or sodas.
Chicha, made from fermented cereals and corn, is very strong.
Tipping Formal tipping is haphazard, except in nicer restaurants. Elsewhere, locals leave coins amounting to a maximum of 10% of the total in recognition of good service.