I'm surprised it's taken me this long to actually write about my trip to the Wild Rover in La Paz, Bolivia, also known as the world's highest Irish Pub. And it's official. I have also been to Paddy Flaherty's in Cuzco which claims to be the highest (and many others in Peru and Bolivia do), but for now the limelight is on the Wild Rover and the madness within.
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
The Wild Rover Backpackers doubles up as a tour agent, and indeed I booked a few of my trips within Bolivia from here. But you have to let things go when you travel as you never have time to cram them all in and I was happy to visit the world's highest football stadium (Estadio Hernando Siles) and the world's highest Irish pub as cheaper and worthy substitutes (itself probably not even the right word to use).
I'm from Northern Ireland and there were a few Northern Irish mentions in the pub, Geordie Best made it onto the wall in the world's highest Irish Pub. Great to see him there and made me feel at home.
Even-ing things up I guess. Most Irish pubs only have the Irish Tricolour, and politics aside, I always carry my Northern Ireland flag! The proudness of being Northern Irish exists on the island as well you know. This was a very happy moment, but not the best moment in the pub...
Then as I sat down at the bar, I recognised the accent of the guy serving me! It was a strong Northern Irish accent! The first other Northern Irish person I had met in South America. Serving me an ice cold Pacena beer was Grant McParland, all the way from Carryduff in County Down, Norn Iron!!!
Straight away on hearing that I was a fellow County Down man, Grant gives up working behind the bar and comes and joins me for a beer! Imagine that in the highest Irish Pub in the world, drinking with a guy from literally just down the road. At the time, Down had just reached the All Ireland (Gaelic Football Final) and we spoke about that amongst other things, so Grant dashes out and grabs his County Down top! Red and Black with "An Dun" written on it. Behind the bar a range of UK and Irish products including Milky Way and the Southern Irish Tayto. Much prefer the Northern Irish ones, myself!
The football was also on, with Liverpool playing live. The match was live as this was mid afternoon when I had popped in, and the UK would have been a few hours ahead. It was a European game against Utrecht, and I met a girl from Dublin also in there who was wearing a Liverpool shirt and supporting the reds.
I got a few flag photos with the Northern Ireland flag against the Irish Tricolour and it remains the only photo I have in South America of another person from Northern Ireland holding that flag.
Grant was a top lad and even had his iPod/iTunes connected to the bar dukebox so we cranked on the tunes for the next hour or so. We played Ash, Oasis, Van Morrison and of course The Wild Rover itself. I also met Jack from Tipperary who was working there and I chatted to him about the possibility of some work. Sadly I was already planning to move on, to do the Inca Trail and head northwards after Bolivia, so the chance passed me by on that occasion. But who knows in the future! I've worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, a fourth would be nice!
Not only is it the highest Irish Pub on the planet, but it's a pretty lively, crazy Irish Pub too. Dancing on the tables and bar, mild nudity, fancy dress, pouring bottles down your neck. This is a place to forget how high up you are, forget the outside world and leave your inhibitions at home. Party hard!
Cheers and Slainte with Grant, the sublime experience of having a Bolivian beer at some 3,660 metres above sea level. Amazing. It wasn't a Guinness - a Pacena would have to do...
.
It's hidden shyly, and it's part of the hostel, but you do not need to be staying in the hostel to drink there, nobody was checking on the way in.
Nestled on a street somewhere in this built up city high into the mountains is the Wild Rover! Incidentally I make a habit of visiting Irish Pubs. I've been in at least one Irish Pub per continent by now, worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, been to Ireland's Highest Pub (The Ponderosa) and been the the world's most southern Irish Pub (in Ushuaia).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
Top of the world to ye!
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
The Wild Rover Backpackers doubles up as a tour agent, and indeed I booked a few of my trips within Bolivia from here. But you have to let things go when you travel as you never have time to cram them all in and I was happy to visit the world's highest football stadium (Estadio Hernando Siles) and the world's highest Irish pub as cheaper and worthy substitutes (itself probably not even the right word to use).
I'm from Northern Ireland and there were a few Northern Irish mentions in the pub, Geordie Best made it onto the wall in the world's highest Irish Pub. Great to see him there and made me feel at home.
Even-ing things up I guess. Most Irish pubs only have the Irish Tricolour, and politics aside, I always carry my Northern Ireland flag! The proudness of being Northern Irish exists on the island as well you know. This was a very happy moment, but not the best moment in the pub...
Then as I sat down at the bar, I recognised the accent of the guy serving me! It was a strong Northern Irish accent! The first other Northern Irish person I had met in South America. Serving me an ice cold Pacena beer was Grant McParland, all the way from Carryduff in County Down, Norn Iron!!!
Straight away on hearing that I was a fellow County Down man, Grant gives up working behind the bar and comes and joins me for a beer! Imagine that in the highest Irish Pub in the world, drinking with a guy from literally just down the road. At the time, Down had just reached the All Ireland (Gaelic Football Final) and we spoke about that amongst other things, so Grant dashes out and grabs his County Down top! Red and Black with "An Dun" written on it. Behind the bar a range of UK and Irish products including Milky Way and the Southern Irish Tayto. Much prefer the Northern Irish ones, myself!
The football was also on, with Liverpool playing live. The match was live as this was mid afternoon when I had popped in, and the UK would have been a few hours ahead. It was a European game against Utrecht, and I met a girl from Dublin also in there who was wearing a Liverpool shirt and supporting the reds.
I got a few flag photos with the Northern Ireland flag against the Irish Tricolour and it remains the only photo I have in South America of another person from Northern Ireland holding that flag.
Grant was a top lad and even had his iPod/iTunes connected to the bar dukebox so we cranked on the tunes for the next hour or so. We played Ash, Oasis, Van Morrison and of course The Wild Rover itself. I also met Jack from Tipperary who was working there and I chatted to him about the possibility of some work. Sadly I was already planning to move on, to do the Inca Trail and head northwards after Bolivia, so the chance passed me by on that occasion. But who knows in the future! I've worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, a fourth would be nice!
Not only is it the highest Irish Pub on the planet, but it's a pretty lively, crazy Irish Pub too. Dancing on the tables and bar, mild nudity, fancy dress, pouring bottles down your neck. This is a place to forget how high up you are, forget the outside world and leave your inhibitions at home. Party hard!
Cheers and Slainte with Grant, the sublime experience of having a Bolivian beer at some 3,660 metres above sea level. Amazing. It wasn't a Guinness - a Pacena would have to do...
.
It's hidden shyly, and it's part of the hostel, but you do not need to be staying in the hostel to drink there, nobody was checking on the way in.
Nestled on a street somewhere in this built up city high into the mountains is the Wild Rover! Incidentally I make a habit of visiting Irish Pubs. I've been in at least one Irish Pub per continent by now, worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, been to Ireland's Highest Pub (The Ponderosa) and been the the world's most southern Irish Pub (in Ushuaia).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
Top of the world to ye!
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