Cochabamba
Cochabamba, the third largest city in Bolivia, is located some 240km southeast of La Paz. The city, set on a plain surrounded by low mountains, is known for its moderate climate and is often called Bolivia's "resort city".
Understand
Orientation
The main thoroughfare in Cochabamba is Avenida de las Heroinas, which runs east-west. Plaza 14 de Septiembre is considered the center of the city. Avenida Ballivian, commonly called The Prado, is a tree-lined boulevard north of the center with many of the city's better restaurants and hotels. Generally, neighborhoods get more affluent towards the north, and poorer to the south.
Get in
By plane
LAB => has several flights a day to Cochabamba's Jorge Wilstermann Airport from La Paz and Santa Cruz. If flying from La Paz, sit on the left side to get a stunning view of Mt. Illimani just off the wingtip. A taxi to the center of town from the airport is about Bs45-50.
By bus
From La Paz, it's seven hours by bus to Cochabamba via Oruro. The terminal is on the south end, just north of the Cancha.
Get around
By bus
Like La Paz, Cochabamba has microbuses and trufis, but proportionately fewer than taxis.
By taxi
Flag down any beat-up looking Japanese compact car on the street, you can be sure it's a taxi. A fare within town should be Bs 5-6.
See
- Christo de la Concordia. Located on a hill to the east, the statue is just a bit higher than the one in Rio de Janeiro.
- Simón I. Patiño Cultural Center (Centro Pedagógico y Cultural Simón I. Patiño) =>, Av. Potosí 1450. Includes the Palacio Portales mansion, gardens (Jardines), and an art museum (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo). The mansion was built by Patiño, a tin magnate who controlled over half of the nation's output in the 1930s.
Buy
One of the city's biggest attractions is La Cancha, the city market on the south side of town and the largest open-air market in South America. Clothing, food, souvenirs, or books, the Cancha has it all. The market district spills out along Av. San Martin, which runs north from the Cancha to the center.
On the southeast corner of Ayacucho and Heroinas there's a slightly upscale market with lots of souvenir stalls.
Eat
Thanks to the city's origin as an agricultural center for mining communities, Cochabamba claims to have the best food in Bolivia.
- Casa de Campo, Av. Uyuni 618. Located in among other upscale restaurants in the Recoleta neighborhood up north, this popular joint is favored by Cochabamba's rich and famous (whoever that may be). Good pique macho and other local dishes.
- Sucremanta, 2 locations: Plaza 14 de Septiembre, and on the Prado. Dishes from Sucre, based on "grandmother's recipes". The Plaza branch, with live piano music on Sundays, is a great place for brunch. Try the hearty menudito (spicy stew).
- Dumbo, Av. Heroinas E-0354, also El Prado 55. Bolivia's favorite family restaurant. The main joint on Heroinas is always packed, with four dining floors and enough dancers in animal suits to keep the entire juvenile population of Cochabamba entertained.
- Kebbab - Las Mille y Uno Noches, (right next to Palacio Portales). A tasty reminder that South America isn't the only region known for huge cuts of meat roasted on spits. Great atmosphere thanks to the exotic paintings depicting the One Thousand and One Nights.
- Hwa. Mixed Korean and Japanese.
- Lai Lai. Taiwanese.
- Panchita. fast food chicken in several versions for nuggets to strips.
Drink
The best chicha is said to come from the Cochabamba region. The small town of Punata, some distance to the southwest, is especially well-known.
Sleep
- Hotel Los Angeles, Ave. Esteban Arze 345, (between Jordán and Sucre), 450-0800. Decent budget hotel in a good location. It competes with the Hotel Las Vegas across the street for the cheesiest norteamericano decor.
Connect
With its large student population, Cocha has plenty of net cafes. The Punto Entel on the southeast corner of Heroinas and Ayacucho is probably the neatest and best equipped.
External links