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'''Nuestra Señora de La Paz ''' (English: '''Our Lady of Peace'''), commonly known as La Paz'''{{FULLPAGENAME}}''', is [[Bolivia]]'s third most-populous city,the seat of the country's government and the capital of La Paz Department. It is located on the western side of Bolivia at an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level. It is, de facto, the world's highest administrative capital.
The city sits in a bowl surrounded by the high mountains of the altiplano. As it grew, the city of La Paz climbed the hills, resulting in varying elevations from 3,200 to 4,100 m (10,500 to 13,500 ft). Overlooking the city is towering triple-peaked Illimani, which is always snow-covered and can be seen from several spots of the city, including from the neighboring city of El Alto. As of the 2008 census, the city had a population of 877,363.
=== South towards [[Calamarca ]] / [[Ayo Ayo ]] / [[Patacamaya ]] / [[Sica Sica ]] / [[Caracollo ]] / [[Cochabamba]] (via #1 Panamericana and #4 highways) ===
Hitch the #1 south to Caracollo, then #4 East from there to Cochabamba, more commonly known as "the road to Cochabamba." Get your first ride from the tranca just south of the east end of Avenida Litoral. Ask drivers how to get to Achocalla. On the route to Achocalla, ask to be let off at the tranca near the corner of Avenida Litoral and "the highway to Cochabamba." Start early in the day, as truckers going to Cochabamba leave in the morning.
The first tranca heading south is located in Achica Arriba. Lots of cars and some trucks stop there to eat or for repairs, and of course everyone has to slow down. There is also a gas station just further down the road (though not a very busy one). To get there one can get a van heading to Patacamaya - fare should be ~Bs. 3 (though haggling may well start much higher). These run down Highway 1, many originating from La Ceja. You may also flag one down at the intersection of Tihuanacu and Highway 1, just in front of the Teleférico station 6 de Marzo (though the rush of traffic and excess of buses to other destinations there makes getting one in La Ceja advisable).
Alternately, also at the intersection of Tihuanacu and Highway 1 is a parking lot where lots of truckers wait for cargo. If you head there and chat them up - and are fine waiting until they have the cargo to leave - you could easily find a ride. Most have their destination on a sign in their windshield or on a post at their open cargo beds.
=== West towards [[Copacabana ]] / [[Peru ]] ===
It is quite a long way to exit La Paz in this direction, because you have to cross El Alto as well, which is not reputed to be particularly safe. Below is a combination of buses that works.
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