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-   -   Santa Cruz or La Paz? (https://www.fodors.com/community/south-america/santa-cruz-or-la-paz-1015181/)

DiannaS May 23rd, 2014 06:23 PM

Santa Cruz or La Paz?
 
I am not looking for museums or night life, but between SCruz and La Paz, which would be more interesting to spend two months? I have a number of volunteer options and I am trying to choose between the two. Which is more interesting, diverse, beautiful, the most enjoyable?

crellston May 24th, 2014 12:28 AM

Visited both last year and whilst both have reasons to visit and a lot to see, all things considered we much preferred La Paz. Santa Cruz was ok but the city itself is a bit bland. It is of course the economic powerhouse of the country and as such, we found it a little more expensive than LP. A good starting place for the "Jesuits Missions Circuit" and Samaipata made a nice weekend break from there.

Staying in la Paz can be challenging for the first few days because of the altitude and because everything seems to be on a steep hill. Lots to see and do and with the high concentration of indigenous people living there, I found it to be the most South American of all titles we visited. Most flights and buses to other parts of the country leave from LP so it is "easy" to get to places like Titicaca, Uyuni, Rurrenabaque, sucre etc so it is a great base for exploring the country.

If you have a choice of city, we found Sucre to be a very pleasant place and stayed longer than planned. May be worth considering. Less challenging than La Paz and more interesting than Santa Cruz

DiannaS May 26th, 2014 07:25 AM

Thanks crellston. I am drawn to La Paz, and hearing that, I think I will choose it over S.Cruz even though I will be in both at some time. I hope it won't be too challenging for altitude as I fly into S.Cruz and over ten months am making my way up in altitude. Good to know about Sucre.


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