Why There Are Zebras Directing Traffic in La Paz

You are standing at a busy corner in La Paz. Minibuses are honking, a driver is inching into the crosswalk, and then it happens: a zebra jumps in front of the car. Not a real one — a young person in a full black-and-white zebra costume, waving their arms, wagging a finger at the driver and then dancing everyone safely across the street.

For first-time visitors it is one of the most surprising sights in Bolivia. For paceños, the cebras are simply part of the city — and one of its most loved symbols. Here is the story behind them.

Why a zebra?

In Spanish, a pedestrian crossing is called a paso de cebra — a zebra crossing. In the early 2000s, La Paz had a serious traffic problem: the city was growing fast, thousands of minibuses competed for passengers, and drivers rarely stopped for pedestrians. Fines and police were not changing behavior.

So the city tried something different. Instead of punishing drivers, it would teach them — with humor. And what better teacher for a zebra crossing than a zebra?

How it started: November 2001

The program began in November 2001 with just 24 zebras. The idea was inspired by Antanas Mockus, a former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, who had used mimes to shame bad drivers in the 1990s. La Paz took the concept and made it its own.

The first costumes were made for two people, like a pantomime horse. They were later redesigned for one person, which made the zebras much more agile — and much better dancers.

Who are the zebras?

This is the part of the story that surprises people most. The zebras are not actors or traffic police. They are young people, roughly 16 to 22 years old, many from vulnerable backgrounds — some grew up in foster homes, some lived on the street.

The city hires them part-time. They receive training, a salary, health insurance and, above all, time and support to study. By 2014, the city said it was offering around 250 places every year, and some 3,000 young people had already passed through the program. For many of them, the zebra suit was a first job and a way back into school.

That is also why the costume matters. Behind the zebra head, nobody knows who you are or where you come from. You are simply the city's hero at the crosswalk.

More than traffic

Over the years, the zebras have taken on many other jobs. You can see them at schools, markets and public events teaching about:

• respecting crosswalks and traffic lights,
• not throwing garbage in the street,
• saving water and reducing noise,
• and community values like respect and solidarity.

They even had a partner for a while: in 2006 the city introduced donkeys, a symbol of bad behavior, to stand next to the zebras. The donkeys did not last, but the zebras stayed.

A symbol of the city

In 2014, La Paz declared the zebras part of the city's cultural heritage. In 2016, the program received the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. The idea has spread to other Bolivian cities such as El Alto, Sucre, Tarija and Oruro — and El Alto added its own Andean animal: the vicuña, chosen as a symbol of cleanliness and order.

Today the zebras appear on postcards, in children's books, on TV and in countless travelers' photos. Ask anyone in La Paz about them and you will probably get a smile.

Can you be a zebra for a day?

Yes. The city has run a program called "Cebra por un día" (Zebra for a Day), which lets locals and visitors put on the suit and help at a crosswalk. Availability changes, so ask us before your trip and we will check whether it is possible during your dates.

Tips for spotting the zebras

• Where: busy crossings in downtown La Paz, especially around El Prado, San Francisco and near schools.
• When: mostly on weekdays, during school entry and exit times and at rush hour.
• Photos: zebras are usually happy to pose — ask first, and a small "gracias" goes a long way.
• Be a good pedestrian: cross at the zebra crossing. You do not want to get a finger-wag from a zebra!

Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: La Paz traffic zebras.

See La Paz like a local

The zebras are just one of the stories that make La Paz unlike any other city. On our La Paz City Encounter, a local guide takes you through the city by public transport, markets and street food — and tells you the stories behind what you see. It is included in tours like Bolivia Explorer — 8 Days and Bolivia Elevates — 10 Days.

Want more Bolivian stories? Read 20 Fun Facts About Bolivia, Why Bolivia Has Two Flags, or contact us to plan your trip.