Cementerio General
Cementerio General
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4.0
101 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
44
Average
20
Poor
3
Terrible
0
TravelerToo
70 contributions
Mar 2023
I love street art and the concentration of good and interesting art at the General Cemetery of La Paz is fantastic. I was fortunate to be with a guide who explained a lot about how this largest cemetery in Bolivia (all of South America?) works and the importance of certain holiday rituals involving skulls of the dear. I plan to go back to be sure I didn’t miss any of the art. Strange but interesting.
Written March 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler
South America143 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
This is probably one of the most distinctive cemeteries that I've been to. Usually these are somber, quiet places. This one, however, is quiet lively. On both occasions that I visited it was very busy. People were not only visiting graves, but cleaning them, leaving flowers and food, and even singing songs. At one grave I saw a priest saying a mass while the mourners looked on. My first visit was a Sunday, and I saw a few guys walking around with guitars, evidently offering their services to visitors. I've never seen a cemetery that felt like it was such an active part of the living world. Very cool.
Equally cool was seeing all the items left on people's graves- flowers, food, drinks (usually in miniature bottles), photographs, knick knacks, etc. I also saw many murals- something I have NEVER seen in a graveyard. Awesome!
I've had a lot of issues with taking photographs in South American graveyards. I tend to be cautious with my camera- less from fear of it being stolen, more out of respect for mourners and not wanting to be furiously confronted by them. In a few places I've been told by guards that I can only take photos with written permission (which I conveniently can't obtain on site). I liked it that I didn't have this issue at Cementerio General. People didn't seem bothered by my camera (though, of course, I was discrete and never pointed it at or near mourners). I also didn't see any signage prohibiting photography.
A very cool place, and it shows an interesting and unique glimpse of local culture.
Equally cool was seeing all the items left on people's graves- flowers, food, drinks (usually in miniature bottles), photographs, knick knacks, etc. I also saw many murals- something I have NEVER seen in a graveyard. Awesome!
I've had a lot of issues with taking photographs in South American graveyards. I tend to be cautious with my camera- less from fear of it being stolen, more out of respect for mourners and not wanting to be furiously confronted by them. In a few places I've been told by guards that I can only take photos with written permission (which I conveniently can't obtain on site). I liked it that I didn't have this issue at Cementerio General. People didn't seem bothered by my camera (though, of course, I was discrete and never pointed it at or near mourners). I also didn't see any signage prohibiting photography.
A very cool place, and it shows an interesting and unique glimpse of local culture.
Written February 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
123abrahamm
La Paz9 contributions
Aug 2016
General graveyard is famous by its famous people buried there. Presidents, writers, poets, and bolivian héroes. This place has a guided tour at the Halloween night.
Around the cementery there is also the bus station to travel to Copacabana bay and Titikaka lake, and Tihuanacu Ruins. But beware, the neighborhood is not that friendly and some thieves are disguised as false pólice officers, they prettent are checking your documents but stole your money and belongings. There are no pólice officers who can ask for your documents or check your baggage.
Around the cementery there is also the bus station to travel to Copacabana bay and Titikaka lake, and Tihuanacu Ruins. But beware, the neighborhood is not that friendly and some thieves are disguised as false pólice officers, they prettent are checking your documents but stole your money and belongings. There are no pólice officers who can ask for your documents or check your baggage.
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jym M
Toronto, Canada148 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
It's uphill from where ever you are in La Paz and if I had to do it again I'd either pay for a taxi or a microbus. Walking back was simple.
The cemetery is unbelievable full but the grounds are still incredibly beautiful. The mausoleums and graves range from subtle tombstones to extravagant mausoleums.
Rows and rows of interesting vaults where people that can't afford their own, or a family plot are put. A lot of the vaults\graves\mausoleums are visited daily by the families or a paid person to replace the flowers and to be cleaned.
There's a very nice church at the entrance of the cemetery but because of a funeral I only looked in for a brief second. The large tower in the middle of the cemetery is the crematorium, not very interesting to see.
The cemetery is unbelievable full but the grounds are still incredibly beautiful. The mausoleums and graves range from subtle tombstones to extravagant mausoleums.
Rows and rows of interesting vaults where people that can't afford their own, or a family plot are put. A lot of the vaults\graves\mausoleums are visited daily by the families or a paid person to replace the flowers and to be cleaned.
There's a very nice church at the entrance of the cemetery but because of a funeral I only looked in for a brief second. The large tower in the middle of the cemetery is the crematorium, not very interesting to see.
Written August 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HenryHimura
Ciudad La Paz, La Paz, Bolivia8 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
You will realyse once you be stand in front of the big gate of the General Cemetery Of La Paz ( Bolivia) the phaise says that "The Big Gate is Open for Everyone Always".... Now I would really recomend this place to get a little of rest or relax in La Paz city, certainly its a good place to have a good time out of noise....... Near to Copacabana·s bus station and as i remember there you also can find some buses to Tiwanaku and other places (it is not a terminal ok? its just a bus station) You will also could find the popular " Helados de Canela " or in english "Cinnamon Ice-cream" that is really delicious with traditional "Empanadas" = "A kind of Cheese pie" just for 1 USD ( $ ) or even less, upward you will also find an Street Market of Delicious Native Fruits AND MORE ^-^ ( u.u JUST BE CAREFULL ALL THE TIME WITH YOUR THINGS BY WALKING, IT IS WELL KNOWN THIS ZONE IS A LITTLE DANGEROUS "SPECIALLY AT NIGHTS) TODAY 21/11/14
Written November 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Weak Knee Traveler
Singapore, Singapore12,833 contributions
Sep 2019 • Solo
When there's life, there's death. This cemetery is poignantly beautiful and is a must visit to see the other aspect of the culture here.
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mat_ldn
London, UK158 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
A hidden gem on La Paz's map. Definitely interesting to see and spend some time walking around. And if you find cemeteries creepy, this one has plenty of colourful murals to make you feel more relaxed.
Written December 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter
Antwerp, Belgium8,166 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
City of the dead, city within the city of La Paz. The small windows of the graves offer an insight into the lives of the deceased people. Interesting market in front of the main entrance.
Written October 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tracyrose10
Springfield, VA16 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Getting to the cemetario by the telefrico was easy. Definitely worth the visit to look at the well decorated graves and, more so, the wall art. I wish we had someone there to tell us more about it, but it was beautiful.
Written April 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lesly D
Surrey, Canada492 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
This huge cemetery is organized like a small town with many numbered rows, all stacked with hundreds of small crypts. Most of them have objects attached, such as food, flowers, or trinkets. While I was there many people were paying their respects to the dead, and leaving offerings. The flower shops were doing a brisk business. It was touching to see and hear a guitarist singing happy birthday to a deceased loved one. It was obvious in what high regard the dead are held in Bolivian culture. Wandering through this cemetery is a positive way of appreciating local customs and culture.
Written November 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rovigus2000
La Paz, Bolivia
Me gustaria hacer una visita nocturna al cementerio general de La Paz, alguien sabe si hay dispnibles tours en estos horarios?
Written February 23, 2017
Según tengo entendido sólo hay tours nocturnos una vez al año en la Noche de Museos en La Paz, esa noche hay gente caracterizada, cuenta cuentos y seguridad. El resto del año el cementerio cierra a las 18:00 (si no estoy mal).
Written February 24, 2017
I want to go to the cemetery on All Saints Day (Nov. 1). I understand that families bring food offerings to the relatives at the cemetery. I have read that the cemetery is located in a shady neighbourhood. s it safe to head here on your own or best to go with a group?
Written October 13, 2015
If you have a couple of friends to go with, better. Go during the day, ask for permission to take pictures. It is safe, but as in with any croud you need to be careful of pick pockets.
Written October 14, 2015
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