Safe area in La Paz?

I am travelling to La Paz, Bolivia.

I would like to book Hostel/Hotel in safe area of city. Could you help me, which part of city is safest for a normal backpacker-tourist in La Paz?

Most low budget travellers stay in the same area,in the centre..it is hotel,next to hosttel,next to tourist restaurant/cafe...around the Witches Market and Sagarnaga.

I stayed there and had no problems.Then,I don't believe in 'safe' or 'unsafe' areas....... your preparation and behaviour is far more important than which street (or indeed city) you are staying in.......

yeah, that is true what you said safe and unsafe areas.

I was trying to ask just that where all tourists usually stay. I have been looking Sagarnaga Hotel or Evas Palace or places near those. So those would be the areas you also menitioned. Good.

I am planning to come to La Paz from Copacabana by bus. Do you know where that bus stop at La Paz?? Is it long way to Witch market and Sagarnaga??

(..and I am also planning to make trip to Oruro by bus)

Depends what kind of bus..the 'tourist' buses drop you near Sagarnaga.Other buses stop in the Cementerio district,which as I remember is a short taxi ride away.

I haven't done that trip for a while though..maybe things have changed ;-)

All of my bus trips to and from La Paz either left from the Sagarnaga area--tourist buses picking people up at their hotels--or from the main bus station on El Prado, not far away. My guess is that the Copacabana bus will drop you at the station; you could easily walk (downhill) from there to your hotel in the daytime, though it might be best to take a cab at night.

You can walk it from bus terminal, but it is a hike. Take a taxi as they are cheap. If taking a tour bus from Copacobana, some of them do stop at street above the witches market. Ask when you get on the bus.

And while you are there, ask why that statue in Bolivia across from Copa is a guy sitting down. All other statues are of people standing up. No one knew when I asked.

Shared transportation from Copacabana and Lake Titicaca will typically drop you off at the Cemetery District. This area can be dangerous at night. I personally know three people that have been tricked into getting into bad taxis after dark and robbed after being dropped off at the cemetery district.

It's not uncommon for buses coming from the lake to drop you off there as well. Be very insistent about being dropped off at the main terminal or at your hotel.

Do NOT share a taxi with ANYONE in La Paz. The back seat of a suspect taxi is the most dangerous place you can be, even if you were to stay in a hostal in El Alto...

ok, so it sounds like Sagarnaga area is good area to book accomodation. Thank you.

Very near the Plaza Murillo are some hostels also, and is a very safe area.

Normally Sagarnaga is where most backpackers arrive, but there exist other places where you will find more confortable hotels/hostels in the city, it depends your budget.
- Sagarnaga and near Plaza Murillo. (mostly for backpackers)
- Miraflores and Sopocachi are very nice places with safe hotels to arrive.

I wouldn't recommend the north of the city or near the bus terminal.

cheers