La Paz – Page 8 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Celebrate Independence Day in La Paz, Bolivia this Tuesday

August 3, 2013 Pirwa

Although independence had been proclaimed much earlier, it wasn’t until August 1825 that the Spanish were definitively defeated in Bolivia and the independent republic was established. This is why Bolivia celebrates more than one independence day. This Tuesday, August 6^th, Bolivia will celebrate Día de la Patria, the anniversary of the Bolivian Republic.

In La Paz, celebrations last for two days filled with patriotic parades, marching bands, street dances and carnivals, and gun salutes. Street venders hocking foods and alcohol add a carnival feel, while the whole town seemingly gathers for the street concert the night before.

Aside from La Paz, the second center of festivities is Sucre, which has already announced the serenata, or outdoor concert on the eve of the 6^th, as well as parades which will begin this Sunday, August 4^th in the 25 de Mayo Plaza in front of the Casa de Libertad. The parades will continue throughout the following days.

While in La Paz, visit us at Pirwa La Paz– we’re enviably located just a block and a half from most backpackers’ point of entry, the La Paz bus terminal, and from Plaza San Francisco, . Some of the city’s best museums and main shopping areas for souvenirs are found just a few minutes further. Besides an unbeatably convenient location, Pirwa La Paz offers affordable lodging in shared dorms, a continental breakfast, free internet + wi-fi, and more. You can even store your luggage for free while undertaking multi-day excursions like visits to Uyuni Salar, Madidi National Park, or mountain climbing along the peaks surrounding La Paz. Or, if you choose to stay and explore all that La Paz has to offer, then let our knowledgeable staff help you plan your stay!

+ Read more

Bolivia Travel: A Day in La Paz

July 17, 2013 Pirwa

Despite the difficult altitude and cold winds, La Paz has a lot to offer young travelers. Don’t just whiz by en route to Copacabana, Uyuni, or the Amazon– stop and explore. Visit the Wrestling Cholitas, browse the Witches’ Market, or learn to mountain climb. If you’re planning on spending some time in La Paz, make sure to check out our recommendations:

All in One Day: Daytrips from La Paz

La Paz offers a assortment of memorable day trips. Among the most popular is the infamous Death Road, where travelers seeking thrills and glory throw themselves into an adrenaline-packed downhill biking adeventure, racing through waterfalls, around takes you through waterfalls and along sharp curves with steep drops.

Active travelers can even tackle some of the the city’s surrounding peaks, from the icy but beautiful Willa Mankilisani, or the Pico Austria summit with its pristine mountain lakes and expansive views. More relaxed trips include a visit to the Ruins of Tiwanaku about 45 miles west of La Paz, horseback riding along the Muela del Diablo (Devil’s Tooth), and walks up to Chacaltaya glacier (for mountain climbers’ views without the actual climbing) together with the Valley of the Moon.

Eating, Drinking & Dancing in La Paz

La Paz offers a surprising amount of international fare alongside Bolivian food. Try the fixed-menu restaurants for a cheap and authentic lunch (under Bs10), but be sure to use common sense and choose notably clean sites. For a snack, salteño empanadas are a must. Another traditional choice are humintas, slightly sweet tamales based on ground fresh corn (rather than dried) and cheese.

Although it costs a little more than the fixed-lunch places try something different at Papaya’s Café in the Folkloric Museum on Calle Jaen and Sucre, where you can try llama burgers and homemade Saya beer. Vegetarians shouldn’t miss Namas Te, which is known for the city’s best vegetarian lunch menus. If you’re eager to try one of the fancier places in La Paz’s burgeoning dining scene, head down Prado, around the Isabel La Católica and Avaroa plazas. Whatever you’re dining on, try washing it down with the peanut drink known as Chicha de Mani, the sweet purple corn drink known as Api, or the local standard, Paceña Beer.

La Paz’s nightlife is varied. Music clubs known as peñas offer folkloric Andean music and dance (try notables like Huari on Calle Sagarnaga or Marka Tambo on Calle Jaen), while modern bar and dance club Mongo’s (Hermanos Manchego 2444) serves up a lively scene where you can meet both locals and travelers. A special mention should be made for the great drinks at Pomp Pomp Salty Man, because with a name like that it’s irresistible.

For affordable lodging, visit Pirwa La Paz, located just a 3-minute walk (a block and a half) from the La Paz Bus Terminal, the TAM airline office, and Plaza San Francisco, which boasts a variety of tourist attractions. Just a few minutes further and you’ll reach some of the city’s best museums as well as the main shopping area for souvenirs. Not only is Pirwa Hostel La Paz comfortable and centrally located, but Daniela and the rest of the staff would be pleased to help you plan your excursions throughout Bolivia, or even show you the town’s nightlife!

+ Read more

10 Years of Pirwa

April 20, 2013 Pirwa

A decade ago, Pirwa Hostels was founded with the dream of creating a welcoming haven where travelers could relax and interact, one providing an experience rather than merely a bed and shower. It all began with only Pirwa Colonial Backpackers hostel in Cusco, but despite these modest beginnings, the Pirwa Family has grown incredibly. As we approach our 10 year anniversary this June, we wanted to look back at some of the milestones along the way.

We’ve grown a lot in the last ten years, improving facilities and services based on your feedback along the way. Today, Pirwa Hostels boasts backpackers’ hostels or Bed & Breakfasts throughout Peru and Bolivia: two in Lima, four in Cusco, two in Machu Picchu, and one each in Nazca, Puno, Arequipa, and La Paz. The Pirwa family has also grown into a one-stop shop offering transport and excursions through our own travel agency, Pirwa Travel Service, whose friendly s staff helps travelers with all aspects of their trip.

There’s also been quite a bit of formal recognition over the years, none prouder than when the agency became an officially recognized Inca Trail operator. Other notable events were Pirwa Colonial winning Hostelworld’s #1 Hostel in Peru award in 2009, and Pirwa Machu Picchu B&B winning Hostelbooker’s Cleanest Hostel award in 2011.

It hasn’t been all work, however. Last year was a blast: We added new activities we hadn’t done before, such as free weekly walking tours of Cusco that always ended with free drinks, and the New Years Party at Pirwa Colonial was the biggest we ever had! Currently, we’re happily planning all of the events for our anniversary week this June- details will be forthcoming soon!

So far this year, we renovated several hostels, so that even after all these years and the memories they hold, they feel new again, and more adapted to the needs of our friends and guests from around the world.

Through hard work, trial and error, and lots of listening, Pirwa Hostels’ founders created something different, and you’ll see them at various events still putting their all into making sure that guests enjoy their stay and have an unforgettable. Were it not for the support of our backpacking and traveling friends, we could never have experienced all of these things. So from all of us to all of you, thank you for the memories. The next decade will be even better- we hope that you’ll experience it with us as part of the Pirwa Family!

+ Read more

Don’t Miss the Colorful Fiesta del Gran Poder in La Paz

April 4, 2013 Pirwa

The dates are set: this year, the Fiesta del Gran Poder (Festival of the All Powerful) festival will fall on Saturday, May 25^th. Aside from Carnaval, this is the city’s biggest celebration of the year- if you’re traveling through South America in May, do what you can not to miss it!

The festival’s roots lie in a painting of the holy trinity with Indian or mestizo features, painted by an unknown artist in the early 17^th century and donated by a novice nun to a La Paz convent upon her entrance to the institution. Over the centuries, the painting would change hands many times while the 2nd figure in its composition, Christ the All Powerful, acquired a reputation for granting miracles. In the 1930s, a church was founded in its name. Over the ensuing decades, a celebration which began as a modest candlelit procession and a few dancers evolved into a huge festival with a riotous street party feel and more than 60,000 performers organized into associations representing La Paz’s neighborhoods and groups.

Brightly attired dancers and musicians take part in parades and processions with representations of the image, showcasing the Bolivian folkloric culture. Many dancers wear voluminous Andean skirts and click matracas along to the music. Others don historically-inspired Conquistador, Inca, slave, and indigenous costumes. Each set of dancers is preceded and followed by its own brass bands.

In spite of costumes averaging 25.5kg, performers continue for 5 hours, following a route along the city’s central streets (in the popular zone) en route to the Hernando Siles stadium. Dancers hope that by promising to perform 3 years, their wishes will be granted by the miraculous image.

Bolivia has a strong folkloric tradition boasting iconic dances such as the Diablada (Devil’s Dance), reminiscent of when Bolivian miners would give coca leaf and other offerings to a diabolical figure- the mines’ guardian- in exchange for safe passage. Another popular dance is the Morenada (Dance of the Black Slave), with exaggerated masks and barrel-shaped attire. Costumes are unique to each dance; for example, in the Waca Takhoris (Dancing Bulls), dancers don the stuffed head and dried pelt of a bull, while many female Tinku dancers wear hats strewn with ribbons.

Travelers’ Tips

Banks will be closed, so make sure you have what you need beforehand.
Book your lodging in La Paz early to avoid escalating prices or unavailability.
Streets around the city center will be closed and congestion will be high- move around by foot if possible.
Stake out a spot early along the route. If you don’t mind paying, you can buy a seat in the stadium.
Be wary of pickpockets- secure cash and small electronics in inner pockets and take care of them.
Study up: Check out our earlier posts for info on crossing the Peru – Bolivia border and preventing altitude sickness.
At La Paz’s high altitude, don’t forgo the sun protection!

Find Pirwa La Paz!

Visit our hostel in La Paz we offer a variety of economical shared dorms with enough space for you and all of your travel mates!

+ Read more

Christmas in La Paz

December 21, 2012 Pirwa

You won’t see Christmas lights adorning most homes and buildings. As in Peru, which we’ve written about a number of times before, in Bolivia the manger scene is the center of celebrations rather than a Christmas tree or other decorations. Family mangers may have clay or wooden figurines, while community mangers may even use real sheep, donkeys, and people. The Andean Christ, more often referred to as the niño manuelito, appears in the manger on midnight of Christmas Eve.

The traditional dinner, and the explosion of booming fireworks and large firecrackers known as mata suegras (mother-in-law killers) knowset off throughout the cities, also take place on midnight on Christmas Eve, as this is the main day for South Americans, rather than the 25^th. The day is mostly celebrated at home with family, though the most devout will attend midnight mass, perhaps bringing the baby Jesus an offering representative of their profession (little shoes from a cobbler, a little bread loaf from a baker). Aside from the Christian elements, there is also a pre-Columbian side to the celebrations that are reminiscent of a harvest festival of thanksgiving to the mother earth.

Despite the rising popularity of turkey, the most traditional dish for Christmas Eve is picana, which is a stew of varied meats, vegetables, and potatoes cooked with wine and beer. The next morning, Bolivians traditionally tuck into some hot chocolate and perhaps some bunuelitos fritters or the fruitcake standard, panetón. In Pirwa La Paz, we’ll be celebrating together on Christmas Eve, so feel free to stop by if you’re an orphaned traveler looking to share a Bolivian Christmas Eve dinner!