Do you love finding unique street art and admiring beautiful murals? Then you need to visit the small neighborhood of Chualluma – the most colorful and vibrant part of the capital city of Bolivia.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission on products if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Does this sound like you? Imagine stepping out of your hotel all bright-eyed and ready to get lost in searching for the best murals of the new city you just arrived in! I know how much I love finding and admiring gorgeous street art in different places I visit.
It can be a great way of getting a feel for a city’s vibe and culture. The colorful neighborhood of Chualluma does just that! You could get lost wandering for hours in this small area that perfectly depicts typical life in Bolivia.
Whether you are a street art enthusiast and love finding murals or you simply like to walk around and discover one-of-a-kind places, I’ve got you covered. Here is everything you need to know about the mural neighborhood of Chualluma in La Paz, Bolivia.
Check out my reel here to get a better look and feel for the beauty of this artistic neighborhood!
About How Chualluma Became A Colorful Neighborhood
In 2018, Chualluma was chosen to receive a ‘face-lift’ as part of the government-funded program – My Neighborhood, My Home. In an effort to revitalize struggling neighborhoods in La Paz, as well as rebuild and strengthen the infrastructure, this project was underway.
The majority of the residents of Chualluma are migrant workers and indigenous people who speak Aymara – one of Bolivia’s 36 official languages. Completed in 2019, this project brought new hope and life to this rather rugged and lacking neighborhood.
While many local artists contributed, the project was led by contemporary artist Knorke Leaf who deemed it important to work with the locals residing there to make it a community effort. The local residents got to choose the colors of the paint that would be used to adorn their homes.
The goal of the mural art was to tell the story of the community while highlighting the landscape and culture of La Paz. You’ll notice the inspiring words painted on the walls are all written in Aymara, contributing to the overall language of the people.
If you’re interested, you can read more about the history of this project and Chualluma in this Bolivian Express article. Enough of the history, now to the fun part of how to visit!
How To Get To The Colorful Neighborhood of Chualluma
There are two main ways to get to Chualluma – by taxi or by the red cable car. While taking a taxi is going to be more hassle-free, riding the red cable car will give you a beautiful aerial view of the colorful neighborhood that you don’t want to miss.
Do yourself a favor and download the area of La Paz on Google Maps before you visit Bolivia. That way even if you don’t have data, you can still access and view the map. You can easily find the location by typing in Barrio Chualluma into Google Maps. I even like to save it under my “want to go” tab for easy access.
If you take a taxi, make sure you show the driver where you want to go or give him the address. It’s also important to negotiate the total cost of the ride BEFORE you get in. It shouldn’t cost more than 15 Bolivianos, depending on where you’re coming from.
However, I highly recommend taking the red cable car line (Linea Roja) towards El Alto so you get that picturesque view of the colorful neighborhood amongst the mountains and cable cars in the distance.
You can catch the red line at the Central Estacion in La Paz. The red line only has three short stops so it’s rather easy to navigate. One ride should cost you less than 3 Bolivianos. You’ll want to get off at the last stop 16 de Julio once you reach El Alto.
From here, it’s about a 15-minute descent to arrive at Chualluma. You can make a right out of the station, walk a few blocks, cross a blue bridge, and then walk down the stairs. The stairs will lead you straight into the neighborhood.
Is Chualluma Safe?
Yes, I found Chualluma to be very safe! As with any country you visit, it’s a good rule of thumb to not explore areas you don’t know during the night. As long as you visit during the day, you should be just fine.
The locals pretty much keep to themselves in the neighborhood. I visited once in 2021 and then again in 2022, and both times there weren’t many people or tourists out.
It seems that this town hasn’t gained too much popularity yet, making it the perfect hidden gem to visit while you can.
Map of the Murals/Area
The map above is located in the neighborhood and details 15 of the larger murals as well as the 12 murals with Aymara writing. It’s a good idea to snap a picture of this just to make sure you can visit each one – if you’d like.
On average, you will need 2-3 hours to explore this colorful neighborhood. It depends, of course, on how fast you walk and how long you stop to gaze. Chuallluma itself isn’t a very big area so you shouldn’t get lost even if you don’t have the map.
If you’re visiting La Paz, I hope you make enough time to stop by this unique and colorful neighborhood of Chualluma, you won’t regret it! It’s a beautiful area to stroll around in for a sunny afternoon walk and to get a better feel of Bolivian culture.
will need to go up these stairs to get to Chualluma.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Colorful Neighborhood in La Paz, Bolivia Called?
The unique and vibrant colorful neighborhood of La Paz is called Chualluma. The spectacular project was completed in 2019, not only to rebuild and strengthen the infrastructure but to revitalize the area and give the community a new sense of hope and appreciation for their homes.
How To Get To Chualluma?
There are two main ways to get to Chualluma. The first one is by taking a taxi directly there. You can find the address on Google Maps by typing in “Barrio Chualluma”.
The second and recommended way is to ride the red cable car (Linea Roja) up to El Alto. You can get off at 16 de Julio and then walk 15 minutes down to reach the neighborhood.
Is The Neighborhood of Chualluma Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! If you love street art and love admiring one-of-a-kind murals, then Chualluma is definitely worth visiting. You only need 2-3 hours out of your day to visit, so why not give it a chance?! You will also get a better understanding of Bolivian culture through the art.
For more Bolivia information, you may also like:
- 10 Traditional & Great Vegetarian Bolivian Foods You Need To Try!
- Hostal Las Olas: Unique & Beautiful Hotel In Copacabana, Bolivia
- Bolivian Empanadas: The Best Salteña Spot in La Paz! (2023)
