Bros Around the Globe went to La Paz, Bolivia, and found the highest skatepark in the world, a 4,000 square-foot DIY at an altitude of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), where the air is so thin that you look for coca leaves and water all the time. A true breathless experience.

We found ourselves wandering the unforgiving rough streets of La Paz in search of a skate spot that wasn’t cheese grater asphalt. Though it was June and winter in Bolivia, we had a warm bluebird day ahead of us, so the mission was on. After being kicked out of plaza after plaza, we decided to head to a municipal park on the outskirts of the city center. Somewhere to kick and push on some smooth flat ground without being hassled. We set off on our journey.

La Paz Cable Car

After an hour of walking uphill on busy city streets, what we would find at an altitude of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), we couldn’t have imagined in our wildest dreams. Maybe it was the thin air talking, but it literally took our breath away. There it was in all its glory: Pura Pura. Proof you can find a skatepark anywhere in the world, even in the most unlikely of places.

The city of La Paz Bolivia

Pura Pura is located in La Paz, Bolivia, bordering the neighbouring city of El Alto (The Tall). This 4,000-square-foot DIY masterpiece holds the crown for the highest-elevation skatepark in the world. The park was built in 2014 by a dedicated group of local skateboarders, who were frustrated with the lack of skateboarding infrastructure in the city and took matters into their own hands. The project was led in collaboration with Bolivian skater Milton Arellano, the Make Life Skate Life NGO, Levi’s Skateboarding, and an army of over a hundred volunteers from fifteen countries who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Camping out at the park during the build, in less than just one month, the team helped bring the vision to life.

Rock and roll on the QP

Implementing a true DIY mindset, the park was constructed using mostly recycled materials, including wood, bricks, cement, and steel coping

Implementing a true DIY mindset, the park was constructed using mostly recycled materials, including wood, bricks, cement, and steel coping. A labour of love, it was designed with passion to be a community space where skateboarders of all levels could gather and practice their skills. The one-of-a-kind park features an assortment of obstacles, including quarter pipes, banks, stairs gaps, and rails. The transition is smooth and has a unique, organic flow that utilizes the natural features and contours of the land.

We received a warm welcome from the local skaters during our visit who were amped to show us some of the best lines to be had in the park. We spent the day at the park and became friends as they helped us practice our Spanish and we helped them practice their English. However, it never ceases to amaze me, no matter where you find yourself in the world, skateboarding is a universal language. The session was all-time and resulted in a memory I will never forget. It was an amazing experience to skate this hand-built park made possible by old-fashioned hard work. Skaters worldwide are resilient and have a determined mindset: they won’t stop until they see something to completion.

Break time due to the altitude

The altitude here is no joke, leaving you gassed, reaching for coca leaves and water. Skating here, you need to take more breaks than unusual.

The altitude here is no joke, leaving you gassed, reaching for coca leaves and water. Skating here, you need to take more breaks than unusual. While I was catching my breath, I let some local kids use my board. To my surprise, they were eager to alert me that it was their first time ever on a skateboard. We helped them get the hang of it and they were cruising in no time. Witnessing the smiles and stoke on their faces as they kicked and pushed on their own was priceless. This is why we travel.

Since its construction, Pura Pura has become a hub for the local skateboarding community in La Paz and has also attracted skaters from around the world, who’ve come to Bolivia specifically to shred the park. It’s even been featured in several skateboarding documentaries and has helped put Bolivia on the map as a destination for skateboarding. To allow underprivileged kids in the area to get involved, skate gear is available for free from the Ayni Skate Project organization's youth center and offers free skate classes for at-risk youth every week.

Teaching the local kids

Despite its popularity, Pura Pura has faced some challenges over the years. In 2018, the park was threatened to be demolished by the local government, which claimed that it was built illegally on public land. However, after a campaign by the skateboarding community and support from international organizations, the park was ultimately allowed to stay. Since then, Ayni expanded its classes to El Alto in 2022, offering outreach on portable ramps. As a result of the construction of Pura Pura, Ayni has also built numerous skate spots in La Paz and El Alto, allowing disadvantaged youth to participate in skateboarding.

Pura Pura is a true testament to the power of grassroots community building and the attitude of DIY skate culture. Providing a much-needed space for skateboarders in La Paz, the park has helped foster a sense of camaraderie and creativity within the local skateboarding scene that thrives to this day.

Nick searching for line

Website Bros around the Globe Visit Pura Pura skatepark