La Paz - Post Report Question and Answers
Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, the city is built on the side of mountains and the sidewalks are narrow and full of obstacles. Walking around downtown sometimes feels like parkour. Also, this is the highest altitude capital city in the world and people with certain kinds of issues (e.g. heart problems) may suffer here. - Jan 2024
Yes, La Paz is a very hilly city with poor infrastructure. - Aug 2022
Yes. sidewalks are terrible. Not much of the infrastructure nor buildings seemed to have considered persons with disabilities in their construction. - Dec 2019
Very much so! Hills are steep, stairs are ubiquitous, and sidewalks are hazardous with pits, cracks, small walls running through them, and often straight drops. - Feb 2019
Yes! Cobblestone, broken sidewalks, severe grades up and down streets. - Sep 2016
Yes. Everything is uphill here. - Jun 2015
YES. Sidewalks are NOT friendly in general as they are not even and in rough shape. Moreover, being in a valley, you're pretty much always walking up or down hill. - Apr 2015
Yes. Sidewalks are in awful repair or nonexistent. It can be hard for able bodied people to get around with the altitude. Ramp grades are very steep and most buildings do not have elevators. Medical care is very hit and miss. - Nov 2014
This city, located in a deep mountain valley, is difficult for most able-bodied persons to navigate. Most office buildings and houses are multi-story and many are without elevators. Many roads are cobblestone; when sidewalks exist, they are often filled with obstacles like vendors, construction materials and dogs. Accessibility is not typically considered, even in new construction, and places that could have been made accessible are often filled with unnecessary and inexplicable minor level changes. - Jan 2014
The roads/sidewalks are very bumpy and hard to navigate. There aren't any accommodations made for people with physical disabilities. - Jul 2013
Many. The city is very high and you are going uphill all the time. Cobblestones and dirt roads are common. Sidewalks are frequently broken and uneasy to walk on. - Jun 2013
Plenty. This is an old city with stones everywhere. - Jul 2012
Not made for disabilities. - Feb 2012
Very hilly with cobblestone roads and evenly paved sidewalks (when there are sidewalks). - Aug 2011
Not impossible but the infrastructure mostly isn't set up for individuals with physical limitations. The high altitude exacerbates any problems with high blood pressure or heart problems. This is a serious consideration for this post. Even physically fit people are taken aback when they get here and their bodies have to adjust. - May 2011
A lot. Roads and side walks are in very poor condition. People don't respect the traffic signs and it is very disorganize. - May 2011
Many difficulties, there is very little handicapped parking. Also, the sidewalks can be uneven or non-existent in some areas. I have not seen very many wheelchair ramps either. - Mar 2011
Lots. - Aug 2010
Streets go up and down. Someon on a wheelchair would have a very difficult time. Sidewalks are in bad condition, buildings d not accomodate for people with disabilities. - Jan 2010
Difficult due to lack of infrastructure for physical disabilities. - Aug 2009
