Diablo (Potosi Bolivia) by Ahron de Leeuw
Tired of the typical bar scene? Looking for a more unique approach to having a drink? Route 36 Cocaine bar located in La Paz, Bolivia offers more than your average beer and cocktail nuts.
Route 36 is a tourist hot spot located in one of Bolivia’s capital cities, La Paz. The after-hours bar attracts local as well as foreign drug users and backpackers. Route 36 offers the often expensive and well sought out drug cocaine alongside the regular alcoholic drinks. Being the word’s first and only cocaine bar, it attracts travelers from all across the globe. Vacationers praise Route 36 as being one of the greatest travel experiences in South America.
Miles of tiles by Phillie Casablanca
Interested in taking a trip to South America for the chance to explore Route 36 for yourself? It may be helpful to know that the location of the bar is not very stable. Many oblivious tourists find themselves looking for the lounge to no avail. Due to neighbor complaints about the use of an illegal drug, the location of the bar frequently changes. A few months is the maximum amount of months that the bar typically stays in one location, while a few weeks is the average.
The ever-growing illegal drug trafficking scene in Bolivia, opposed to countries such as Colombia, had increased majorly during the last decade. Cocaine production is on the rise and attempts to stop it prove to be extremely futile.
Valle de la Luna by Phillie Casablanca
The drug cocaine is illegal in Bolivia, but that didn’t hinder Route 36 from becoming one of the country’s most loved and visited lounges. Thousands upon thousands of tourists make a stop to partake in the otherwise expensive to difficult to find drug. Many tourists advocate the Bolivian cocaine because of its purity, price, and availability.
If you are interested in more than just the usual bar, consider Route 36 in La Paz, Bolivia for the adventure of a lifetime.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
how do i find the lounge when i go ro le paz?
It moves all the time. When you get to La Paz ask the backpacker crowd.
Thanx for the great info
I m going for the 1 st time to s-america..I know from my Ladakh trip..that I will be.;Sick like hell altitude..So can you reccomend..A good chill place?You know where..I can find .;some Spliff ..is it easy?
anyway do you know a hostel.;with Nice room.;and..where they dont mind.;what state you stagger in…? U know What I mean!!!?
Also can I just tell a cabdriver take me to Route 36?
Or wich hostel has the right people to ask..and wich to avoid at all costs?..I m totally gratefull.;you are Awesome!Cool man!
I m pretty scared..dont know why .;I m sure Moscow is way more dangerous..
I have done many .;Extreem trips..alone..To Nagaland(Indias last Cannibals)The Psy-trance Scene in St-petersburg..Or Moscow on Lsd..(Hellish!)
Bhutan(last tantric country on earth. it Took me 10 years to get a (20 $)visa!Really!.and whats seems like a 1000 other Extreem.travells like to Nanda Devi National park..in India(Forbiffen!..or arunachal pradesh..Highly restricted!)Kashmir.;u name it…Greetz
If my last post…Not published please write me at my e-mail adress..
basically I need the name of some SAFE chill guesthouses..with safe.;i mean safe..from…set ups ect…Party party!I need…a place where things are cool!..where they might be able to tell me where this bar is..
Thanx a lot!
You’re trips sound amazing. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Because the bar moves it really is better to arrive and seek out the backpacking crowd to get a “lay of the land”.
In Bolivia no drugs are tolerated by the police, nor cocaine or cannabis, so do be careful and seek the wise council of those already there who will have an idea of how the police are currently behaving – tolerating tourists’ use or cracking down.
Actually im in la paz , i dont have a good idea about hostels but as of finding other stuff concerns im the one you are loooking for . Send me an email if you are interested.
Wow! I found an article messing around on the web for legal cocaine use area. Inoticed Belize was sheap and in high supply/cheap price then I found this! I dont get high anymore other thatn the pain pills for my back. I have wanted to enjoy cocaine like along time ago but paranoia of bieng caught ruin the high. I always figure I am being watched and wil be given a choice of prison or narc. I know if this bar is offical paid off and no worries of the fed I could enjoy. Do they let you smoke or is it just lines? I was thinnking of the end of March by the time get passport and no work right now. I used to backpack and still have one. Is there a good place to start and take a bus trip? I dont know what it is like border crossing down there and I donot speak spanish. I wanted to goto Venezuala for cheap skydiving. How are they there about coke? Thanks
yo ya estubre en la route 36 y es lo maximo…la mejor experincia de mi vida……
It’s illegal everywhere to my knowledge. Route 36 is often closed and moved on; hence the problems finding the bar to start with!
Terrific Jhon. Have a good time, but play safely!
nothing like a fat line in the morning
Im heading over in September and even though i’m a part time user, the idea of Bar 36 was a massive part of my decision making. Really hoping you are open then, are you up and running at the moment? Also do you know if the prison tours still go ahead? best of luck with everything. T
How good is the good one?
Stay at The Point Backpackers Hostel! It is really safe and totally geared around young people looking to party. Route 36 can be found by asking around in the hostel. The cab drivers usually know where it is too. The prisoner tours are not officially done there anymore. I was there in May. You have to be all covert about it, tell them you are there to see a relative and bring a gift…I didn’t do it, but once again, ask people in the hostel. The Point is the best hostel ever, I totally didn’t want to leave! The whole thing was the experience of a lifetime. La Paz ended up being one of my favorite cities during 6 mo of travel!
Thanks Amanda that’s a really helpful comment.
The bar is very easy to find, but you shouldnt be looking for it like you do for some sightseeing spots. 2 ways; 1: ask other backpackers, or 2: the easiest way: just tell your taxi driver: Get me to route 36 please. Almost all taxi drivers know where to go…
Oh and Rob, smoking it is not allowed due to the heavy smell of it…
La Paz in Bolivia is really a spectacular destination for the tourist. La Paz’s valleys, to the glacier at Chacaltaya, out to Lake Titicaca and many other option are available here to visit. A tourist can enjoy this city and also its life style.
http://www.southamericavoyage.net/culture-meets-art-at-twelve-thousand-feet-part-2.html
A must visit!!
Hola! i just got back from 9 months in south america i want solo and i am a 21 year old female. i felt incredibly safe everywhere i went in south america and colombia i felt the safest travelling alone as a female.
i lived just outside of la paz working in an animal refuge for three months and would go to la paz after experiencing cabin fever here and there. I went to Route 36 two or three times through out my stay and YES it was an experience. DO NOT ask locals where is it. no one really know the exact spot of where route 36 is.. it changes about every 1-3 months and its behind a garage door and there are 100o’s of garage doors.
the best way is to hop in a taxi ‘RUTA 36′ they either know what your talking about or dont. if they dont get out and surley the next cab will know. every other back packer will tell you the same. once you arrive outside route 36 (it open at about 11 at night).. you will get out of the cab.. there is a dude standing at the front with a mobile and he makes call… then qucikly pulls up the garage door and you have the ran really fast into it so no body see’s you.. ( the bar is not on a busy street so not many people are walking around outside only the comers and goers of the bar)once your throught the garage door you walk down a coridoor about 15 meteres and kock on a nother door by this point you dont really know what fuck is going on.. you wait a min untill the door opens and you enter into a full on undergroud thumping club. the first thing i saw when i walked into the club was a scottish guy i recognised from my hostel snorting three concecutive lines of coke on the bar and i went YEP ok! im here im in route 36. i actually originally imagined route 36 to be some fuked up den with booths and flouro nights.. and no music. but its a full on legit bar.. but instead of people drinking they snorting. you can get booze too but mainy its a cocain vibe… the waiter come up and some “WHAT drinks would you like and how much cocain would you like” its just assumed that your going to buy the charlie. or you just go up to the bar and say 1 gram of cocain por favor.. THE COKE IS SO SO BAD and the worst quality i experienced in all of south america. But i tell you why. because it is strickly for tourists there are NO locals ever partying in the bar except for the people working behind the bar. they are all older hoochy mumma bolivian women or old men its BIZZAR! so dont expect GOOD COKE you get high its a good mood everyone is in unity and best thing is its not alchol fuled energy its a beautiful vibe.. but i met people that go there every night. yeah go there once or twice and leave it at that. there are better things to do and see in south america than have a cocain holiday and i have pitty on anyone that purly goes all the way to the amazing continet to just try the coke shame on you! One more thing you can get into san pedro prsion all you need in the phone number to call this guy who works in there and you set up a time and place and they take you to the prison and a fee of about $100… i spose its worth it if you really want to see the prison. you can even spend the night there if you want……have fun!
can somone give me info on current location—im arriving tomorrow in lapaz and need some altitude relief : )
A good idea is to learn how to say Routa 36 (36 = treinta y seis) in Spanish. Some taxi drivers don’t understand english.
Have a great time and don’t OD.
And btw I’m pretty sure they mix it with speed.
3 gram, 1 children dead. take the line… and try to feel good.
f*** you
It’s not cocaine it’s crystal meth. Highly addictive and very more-ish.
Totally f***s you up and you won’t sleep at all the next day. Be careful if you go and only have a small amount as this drug can really f*** you up!
It’s a good vibe but nothing special so if I were you guys I’d give it a miss and hit the other bars in lapaz
Looks like I’m just over a year late in posting. Can anyone tell me if it’s open everyday? I’ll be in Lima for 5 nights and was thinking of incorporating a trip to La Paz, but I’ll be there Monday-Thursday.
Thank you!
Maanee wrote: “One more thing you can get into san pedro prsion…”
not anymore. have been there 2 months ago and had a number from inside. because of that i get a name of a prisoner who i could visit. this visiting was just infront of the generals office (i just call him generel – i mean the chief there). the guy who i met was also a former “tour guide” in the prison and told me that the general had some problems because cameras were installed at the prison which showed tourist walking there around. this was somehow a proof for this touristy thing and the general get big problams because of that.
so at the moment there is no chance to enter the prison
It sounds like the coke has been going downhill as time goes on, anyone know if you can request the ‘top shelf’ quality? I’ll be in La Paz in 2 weeks (early August). Any updated info would be great. Thx.
How do I go about finding route 36 when I get into La Paz? I need some advice pretty please.
I am in La Paz until the 9th of august and would like to find route 36. if anyone knows where it is currently located please let me know! thanks
Do everybody a favour and don’t go there! Where ever it may be…. Cocaine ruins the life of poor people in Bolivia and beyond. Murder from Bolivia to Europe, toxic waste in pristine environments, exploitation of farmers and many many communities. Considering you love going to Latin America, why go for such cheap thrill? Be a big boy and don’t do coke!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^YAWN!
its worth a visit, but don´t expect good cocaine or at a reasonable price is bolivia. There is cocaine in what you recieve but it is heavily cut with amphetamines and caffeine.
Toasty: I appreciate your input. I am a Bolivian, and I hate to see my country going literally to hell thanks to cocaine – Just look at the president we have!!! All those lives lost to shootings between drug cartel members, and other innocent people who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, are too high of a price to pay for users to have a short high in their sad lives.
I am here right now!! Just been sent the link by a friend!!
Anyone around recently know where this place is? I actually just want to see it in action, some of my friends back home would never forgive me if I didn´t at least go and see it.
Thanks
Route 36 is the best, numbest and bar in the world! I had the best time in there, never needed accommodation, stayed there for 6 days!
going there with mogly, ngozo, and the punjabi prostitute!! We believe its the best line choppers paradise in the world! We heard and we are gonna conquer!! 20 grams all round.
Is the good stuff easy to source in La Paz in general?
I’ve been there and it wasn’t that pure!!!! I went there in April just gone. Great experience, but you have to watch out if you don’t speak the language.
Just asking for drugs in a another country is not a good thing. I haven’t done any drug in years but decided to go with a friend to the bar. You have to buy a gram at the least in there. We did 2 small lines and left right away, just to say we have done it and been there. But looking back, if we had got caught by the police out there it would not of been a good end to a great trip to Bolivia.
Hello, i love cocaine. I’m not an addict but i do coke every weekend. Inwent to this bar and i loved it, it’s cheap, good music, pretty ladies and the best coke you’ll ever taste. I’m going again in january, just afterbthe holidays becausenit has great weather too. La paz is the best
@Jossie If you’re doing it every weekend then you might want to think about addiction. Addiction is a psychological need to use regularly.
im going in two weeks!! how do i find it! im coming from peru, i live in cuscoo!!
it is often hard to find on your own as it moves regularly but taxi drivers almost always know, so just jump in a taxi, the taxi journeys are really cheap also. it is good fun, you scan spend hours and hours in there without realising, the only thing is when i went there the coke had speed in it. also 9 times out of 10 taxi drivers are dealers also
I’m not sure who the supposed “alternative” types are who would travel all the way to Bolivia just to go snort cocaine, which they could do anyway at home BUT besides the fact… do you realize that all of you so called adventure travelers (which probably define yourselves as liberal and “green” and politically aware!!!!) are just as bad if not worse than Wall Street, corporations, etc. The production of cocaine involves child slave labor, destroying of rainforests and pristine waterways, oppression of poor farmers, arms dealing and human trafficking, just to name a few? Every line you snort is a villager massacred, is an acre of pristine jungle slashed and burned to grow the coca… SHAME on all of you ignorant people.
the coke in there is rubbish to be honest but it’s an experience just to go I suppose – where else can you get coke served straight-up in a bar? much better coke to be had elsewhere (most hostels will have somebody selling it – usually the barman in the hostel bar). There is also a restaurant where you can go and get a shish kebab and a few grams with your order – easy enough to find….
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