Museum

Coca Museum

Check tickets & tours

Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.

The Coca Museum in La Paz offers a comprehensive look at the coca leaf's role in Bolivian society, from its sacred use in indigenous rituals to its modern controversies. Exhibits cover the plant's botany, its place in Andean cosmology, and its transformation into cocaine, as well as the social and political impact of the drug trade. Visitors can see traditional coca-chewing paraphernalia, historical photographs, and informative panels that present multiple perspectives. The museum provides a balanced, educational experience that challenges stereotypes about this ancient plant.

Don't miss

  • Displays of traditional coca leaves and the tools used for chewing, like the 'lipt'a' (ash).
  • A section on the history of cocaine and its global impact.
  • Interactive exhibits on the coca leaf's nutritional and medicinal properties.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Coca Museum

You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.

More attractions in La Paz

Planning your trip to La Paz? See where to eat, more attractions, or build a La Paz itinerary.