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Cochabamba Bolivia
Cochabamba, Bolivia is known as the "City of Eternal Spring", due to its spring-like temperatures year round. The climate is considered the most comfortable in all of Bolivia, with warm and sunny days and cool nights. The city lies in the heart of Bolivia and is located in a valley surrounded by the Andes mountain range. The city sits at an elevation of 2,550 meters (8,366 ft.) above sea level and is Bolivia's third largest city with a population of close to one million inhabitants and still growing. Cochabamba is an old city it was founded in 1571. Though the city is under going rapid urban growth, it still conserves its colonial characteristics and past culture. Here the land is fertile and productive, where the region yields abundant crops and is one of the biggest providers for the whole country. Cochabamba is generally unknown to most tourists and it isn't as popular as La Paz or Sucre. However, the region offers many attractions that most tourists don't know about. One can enjoy a wide range of activities in the area, from exploring through its national parks, admiring colonial architecture, shopping in the famous markets, and of course hitting its well-known nightlife, all of which should not be missed. Also, the region makes a perfect place to help you acclimatize to the altitude if your heading onward to the even higher altitudes of the Andes. Things to do & see - Attractions
El Cristo de la Concordia:
Located atop the huge San Pedro hill, though it is not as famous as the Jesus statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it is however the tallest Jesus statue in the world measuring 33 meters (109ft). This huge statue can be seen from anywhere within the city and offers some amazing sights over the city. You can hike to the top or take a cable-car ride up costing about 4Bs.
Weeping statue of Christ:
Visit a chapel where you can find a sculpture of Christ. Witnesses have said the statue cries tears of human blood. A film crew also caught this phenomenon on film. Samples of the substance from the statue was given to a lab in the U.S.A. for testing. They found that the substance was of human blood. Chapel is on the corner of Las Heroinas & Belzu.
Palacio de Portales (Simon Patino Palace) this huge mansion was built in the early 1900's for one the world's richest man at that time, named Simon Patino. He was nicknamed "The Andean Rockefeller" and owned numerous mines in Bolivia. The mansion was designed by a French architect and features stunning architecture. It is located on Ave. Potosi #1450 and admission is 12Bs ($1.50).
Archeological Museum is located off the plaza at Calle Jordan & Ave. Aguirre. It is one of the best museums in Bolivia. The museum exhibits thousands of artifacts from about 7,000 years ago. Some items on display are fossils, pottery, weapons, skulls & bones, etc. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday from 9am-12am and admission is 15Bs ($2).La Cancha is said to be the largest open-air market in South America. It is open 7 days a week, with Wednesday and Saturday being the busiest days. Handcrafts, clothing, souvenirs, books, electronics or food, this market has it all. The market is located on Ave. San Martin. Laguna Alalay is a lake located just off of Ave. Ruben Dario & Ave. 9 de Abril. The lake has paved walking and biking paths going around the lake. It is also a popular place to spot numerous birds. Sections of the lake are swampy and it attracts exotic birds. Laguna Angostura is a man-made lake 10 miles (17km) from Cochabamba. It is just off the old road that goes to Santa Cruz and the road leads to Tarata. Here you find some nice hotels, bars, and restaurants overlooking the lake. Restaurants serve fresh fish out of the lake. There are boats for hire, where you can fish or go for a cruise. Torotoro National Park If your adventurous, explore this park where you'll find dinosaur footprints, fossils, unexplored caves, cave paintings, ruins, secluded lakes, etc. It is about a 7-8 hour bus ride from Cochabamba. Though the park is not visited often it is definitely recommended and worth your time. Getting ThereBy AirCochabamba's airport is called Jorge Wilstermann International and is just a short taxi ride to the city center, costing about 24Bs ($3). The airport is modern for Bolivian standards and is mainly served by Bolivian airlines such as Aerosur, LAB airlines and Amaszonas Airlines. You can find connections between all the major cities in Bolivia. Cochabamba also has connections between other South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, Paraguay and Mexico City. There is an airport departure tax of $23 for international flights and 15Bs ($2)for domestic flights. Try this handy search engine to find flights By Bus Buses from La Paz take 8 hours costing 34Bs ($4.50) for a regular bus, you also have the option of taking a bus "cama," where seats recline for about 54Bs ($7). From Santa Cruz it takes 11 hours, costing about 38Bs ($5) for a normal bus and a bus "cama" costs 60Bs ($7.50). Buses from Sucre take 11 hours, costing about 30Bs ($4) for a normal bus and a bus "cama" costs 50Bs ($6.75). Hotels & AccommodationsHotel Portales is a 5-star hostel and is located on Ave. Pando #1271 in a nice area. Average room rate is $95/night. The hotel features a restaurant, pool, jacuzzi, sauna, tennis courts, etc.Hotel Diplomat is a 4-star hotel located on Ave. Ballivían (El Prado) # 611. This fourteen-story hotel is considered an icon of the downtown. It provides guests with a great location, within walking distance to the city center. Average room rate is $70/night. Rooms are nice with comfortable beds and cable TV, bilingual staff, money exchange and free internet in the business center. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Places to EatLa Casa de Campo located on Passeo Boulevard #618. This restaurant is popular among tourists and has a great atmosphere. Menu offers authentic Bolivian food, where you can eat large varieties of meat, rice and vegetables at a good price.La Estancia located on Avenida Ballivian, this restaurant is a popular steakhouse, where you'll find some of the best tasting steaks in the city. Sucre Manta on Calle Arce #356, located behind the cathedral. This restaurant serves amazing Bolivian dishes, it's like eating a home-cooked meal and prices are cheap. Bufalo Rodizio located on Ave. Oquendo N. #654, it is a popular Brazilian style restaurant. They offer an all you can eat buffet and have some of the best steak in the city. La Cantonata located on the corner of Calle Mayor Rocha & Espana. It is a fancy restaurant that serves the best Italian food in town. Whats your favorite restaurant in Cochabamba? Click here to share your favorites or read reviews from others. NightlifeSince Cochabamba is full of university students, the nightlife here is very active and there are many places to go for a good night out. Thursday-Saturday nights are the busy days and the rest of the week is relatively quiet. Some of the trendy spots are streets between Plaza 14 de Septiembre and Plaza Colon such as Calle Espana, Ecuador and Colombia.Also the main boulevard known as El Prado, is where you'll find a line of bars, clubs, discos, karaoke and restaurants. Dangers & AnnoyancesBolivia is a friendly place and generally among the safest countries you can travel in Latin America. However, every country has its thieves. Beware, if someone approaching you on the street claiming to be a police and asking to see your passport. They are looking to steal money from you. Don’t fall for it!If it happens to you just simply walk away or tell them to follow you on foot to the nearest police station to handle it. Never get in the car with them. They will eventually leave. Interesting Trivia
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