Getting There & Around
Oruro is easily reachable, located about 230 km (143 miles) south of La Paz on a paved road. You can take a bus or take the rail line south by train to other Bolivian towns. By BusThe bus terminal in Oruro is located at Calle Bakovic & Avenida Aroma and is about 10 blocks northeast of the city center. Ticket sales and the information office are upstairs at the terminal building and are usually open daily 8am-10pm.Almost all long distance buses arrive and depart from the Oruro bus terminal, except buses departing & arriving from Tarija, in which there is a stop on Avenida Ejercito at the east end of the city. La Paz connections Cochabamba connections Potosi connections Sucre connections Santa Cruz connections Uyuni connections There are also daily buses connecting Oruro to Chile. Go to the bus terminal for information on connections to neighboring countries. To get to Oruro's city center from the bus terminal you can take a Micro bus marked 'Plaza 10 de Febrero' or take a taxi from the bus terminal to the city center and should cost no more than 4 bolivianos. Another option you can just walk to the city center, which takes about 15 minutes. By TrainSince Oruro was once a great mining town, it has a major railroad line that goes through the city. The train station is located on Calle Velasco Galvarro and Calle Aldana, go there for information about schedules and reservations.Train travel is run by a company from Chile called Empresa Ferroviaria Andina S.A. (http://www.fca.com.bo). If heading south, such as to Salar de Uyuni, the train is a more comfortable alternative to travel compared to taking a bus along bumpy roads. There are two types of trains: the more comfortable and faster Expreso del Sur and the cheaper but slower Wara Wara del Sur. Expresso del Sur offers first-class cabins, bar, waiters and food. The Wara Wara del Sur has three different classes of carriage and services of varying cost and comfort, ranging from $3-$20 depending on class and distance traveled. Currently, the company only sells train tickets the day before or on the day of travel. The lines to buy tickets can get long, so get there early to buy tickets or expect to wait a while in line. The train company takes reservations in advance, but you still have to wait in line to buy a ticket. (See Below for train ticket office hours.) The train is popular to take among travelers connecting to the Uyuni salt desert. Trains run only south from Oruro to Uyuni and on to Tupiza and then to Villazon on the border with Argentina. See a Train Schedule Train Ticket office hours in OruroBelow are the office hours in Oruro to buy train tickets, current as of 2008.
Getting Around OruroMostly everything in Oruro can be reached by foot with most places of interest within a few blocks of the main plaza. For places out of walking range, a bus or taxi can be taken.The crowded micros or mini buses connect the city center with other areas. Their routes are designated by their letters, colors and signs. The bus system can be quite confusing in Oruro for tourists, so it is best to ask a local person who knows the routes. To call a taxi, try Radio Taxi Oruro (527 3399) Other Related Pages: |
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