El Alto Tour: Explore Aymara Mansions and The Vibrant Economy Through Cholets and Cable Car Rides
4.7
22 Ratings
La Paz
Embark on an exciting tour of El Alto, exploring Aymara mansions and the vibrant economy through cholets and cable car rides. Discover the fascinating history and growth of El Alto's economy through these unique buildings and the events they host.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

The City of El Alto was part of the city of La Paz until the year 1987, since then it is an independent and autonomous city. Thanks to this division El Alto started growing and expanding very rapidly, along with the massive waves of immigration from the rural area and the new socialist government came a big economic growth. This sudden growth made it possible for new designs and structures to be build all over El Alto, it was in this big construction wave that Arquitect Freddy Mamani became well know and sought after for building the amazing structures that we now call Andean mansion or Cholets (mixture between the word Cholo and Chalet). Although the city of El Alto has become more and more modern they have kept their roots and traditions very strong and this can be seen in the rich mixture between the ancient and the modern of the designs of these buildings. Very colorful, bright and unique amazing buildings now decorate the city of El Alto. Another important artist that has become very well known is Mamani Mamani, local painter that makes these very colorful and bright, yet deeply local and traditional designs for his paintings. He has painted a few facades over the city but his biggest project is the WHIPALA COMPLEX, a total of 6 big apartment buildings that have the whole façade painted by Mamani Mamani, the structure is so massive that you can actually see it from the planes when landing or taking off from the El Alto Airport.

What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Driver and local transportation
  • All activities
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Meet in front of the San Francisco Church and go with your guide towards the central station to catch the Red Line cable cars, then switch over to the Blue Line, ride the cable cars and have a birds eye view of a couple of avenues full of Cholets, once of the cable cars you will head over to visit one of these amazing buildings and learn what they are used for and how the El Alto economy has grown so much thanks to theses places and the events that take place in them. Then visit the Mamani Mamani apartment complex \

  • Dress code is smart casual
  • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Plaza Mayor de San Francisco
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz
Departure Point: Tour departs from the San Francisco square, right in front of the San Francisco Church, meeting time is 14:50 to check in with the guide. The church is right on the main Avenue Montes and the corner of Sagarnaga St. Address: Montes Avenue and Sagarnaga Street. San Francisco Church
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(22 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Tzehuajohn_p
May 6, 2024
Many thumbs up - We wanna thank Luis for the most unique adventure of El alto. He made the trip fun and informational.
Review provided by Viator
Juliank255
May 6, 2024
Amazing tour provider in La Paz - We took this tour and the city tour in La Paz with HanaqPacha Travel and both were equally perfect. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, organized and abaolutely proactive theoughout the tours. The tours even took longer than expected because we asked so much and the guides didn't try to cut us off. I would rate this with 6 stars if possible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sara_h
Mar 2, 2024
Not what I expected... in a good way! - La Paz and El Alto are such fascinating cities! Our guide Luis was so knowledgeable, we really learned a lot in just a few hours. I love when tours involve taking local transportation, as well. We took a short ride in a microbus, and then rode several lines of the teleferico to get from La Paz to El Alto. It was fun to see the cities from so high up. We learned that the teleferico exists because La Paz wasn't originally meant to be as big a city as it has become, but some compromises had to be made between the government and transportation unions. It's all very intriguing. The backstory to many elements of the cities make them far more interesting than you might think. I was very pleased with this tour. Great job, Luis!
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_y
Nov 16, 2023
Some of the best photos you may take in La Paz/El Alto - Raphael, was great in taking me up to El Alto and explaining the cable car system. We then jumped in a taxi and went around to see the different cholets with him explaining the significance of each one. This is a great trip for any photographer or person that likes taking photos!!! I could have stayed up in that area for the full day.
Review provided by Viator
Mariejos_w263
Oct 24, 2023
A fabulous excursion for those interested in Andean architecture. - A very original and exciting excursion, thanks to the quality of the explanations given by Fernando, who is an outstanding guide, very attentive and delicate in more than one way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jose_t
Mar 26, 2023
It was more than I... - It was more than I expected, as we not only saw El Alto from the cablecars, but got to walk around and even go into one of the cholets. Claudia was an awesome guide.
Review provided by Viator
Joseph_r
Oct 16, 2022
Interesting tour would definitely recommend - A really interesting tour showing parts of el alto that many tourists just don't see. Maria did a great job showing me around and explaining things. Only criticism is that I didn't get to spend enough time at the wiphala condominiums.
Review provided by Viator
864maudew
Sep 5, 2022
Fernando provides a great Tour - Fernando was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about his city and the history/culture of Aymara and the artworks. He was careful to make sure we were comfortable and moving at a good pace on the tour. I recommend this tour to get a sense of El Alto and the Altiplano beyond the La Paz city limits. 5 stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anja_m
Apr 14, 2023
Cholera are a very unique... - Cholera are a very unique part of the culture of El Alto. When you have time it is well worth exploring.
Review provided by Viator
Faezeh_m
Jan 1, 2024
A very poor tour experience - On the morning of the tour, around 11 am, we got a message from the tour operator asking whether we could cancel or do the tour another day. We only had less than 48 hours in La Paz, so I said no. The tour operator replied an hour later and said they would have the tour. We showed up at 3pm and were greeted by a guide who confessed that she worked for the tour's office and not as a guide. She really tried her best and we are grateful for that, but her English was very basic and she had little knowledge about the history of El Alto, the Chole5s, etc. The only reason I gave one star, is because Veronica did her best. Otherwise this tour and tour company are not reliable.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1
Adult
May 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today