Where to buy authentic Bolivian alpaca sweaters?

For certified and non-scratchy 100% baby alpaca wool, visitors should head to upscale, fair-trade boutiques that are in central La Paz. For cheaper, colourful synthetic blends, the street stalls along Calle Sagárnaga provide endless budget-friendly possibilities.

To really spot true alpaca wool, you need real attention to detail. Authentic garments tend to feel exceptionally soft; they are also surprisingly heavy, and the fabric stays cool to the touch. If a sweater you buy at a street market feels stiff, seems too light in the hand, or sparks static when you move, then it is almost certainly woven with synthetic acrylic fibres rather than pure wool.