Cochabamba Bolivia Tours

Cochabamba at a Glance

The city of Cochabamba is at the heart of Bolivia; it is nestled in a valley of lush land in the central area of the country, set at the foot of the Cordillera Tunari. The city has beautiful attractions in itself and is surrounded towering peaks and amazing countryside full of diverse landscapes.

 History and Culture

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the territory was occupied by Tiwanaku, Tupuraya, Mojocoya, Omereque, and Inca ethnic groups, which you can appreciate through the plethora of archaeological sites Cochabamba offers.

The first Spanish settlement in the Cochabamba valley was in 1542 after Garci Ruiz de Orellana purchased most of the lands from the local native chiefs Achata and Consavana for 130 pesos. The city of Cochabamba was then conceived as an agricultural production centre for important mining cities near the plain.

The charm of Cochabamba is expressed by its customs and its lifestyle. The Cholitas, recognisable by their wide skirts, braided hair and bowler hats are responsible for preserving over time the typical features of regional production; expressed through crafts and weaving. Hence, Cochabamba offers a great variety of handcrafted and manufactured works, which you can find in the fair of “La Cancha” or other fairs of the provinces.

Gastronomy

Cochabamba is considered the capital of Gastronomy for its immense variety of typical dishes and surrounding fertile lands which offers a rich amount of food. Without a doubt, one the most outstanding feature of this beautiful department is its exquisite cuisine.

Some of the most famous are the Silpancho which is a dry dish with fried beef accompanied by fried egg and salad or Jaka Lawa, fresh ground corn accompanied with pieces of meat.

 Where to stay in Cochabamba

Budget:

Hostel Running Chaski: atypical and quaint hostel, located in the city centre near Colon Square.

Mid-range:

Departamento Cala Cala: apart-hotel with great view on the surrounding mountains, equipped with a balcony and fully operational kitchen.

Splurge:

Gran Hotel Cochabamba: 5 star prestigious hotel surrounded by large gardens, just seven minutes from downtown and located in the heart of Plaza de La.

 When is the best time to visit Cochabamba

Bolivians in Cochabamba, experience short warm and cloudy summers; however their winters are short, cool, and mostly clear.  It is dry year round but we advise you to visit Cochabamba for outdoor activities are from late March to late April and mid-August to early December for a comfortable weather.

 What to Do in Cochabamba

There are also numerous things you can do in the city of Cochabamba such as getting up by cable car to see the Cristo de la Concordia, learn first-hand how the cultivation of banana and orange works or visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Heroínas de la Coronilla.

Moreover, Cochabamba is surrounded by great parks, highlighted by the Tunari park; located a short distance from the city and home to the Alalay lagoon. I fyou go further, about 150 km down the mountain range you will reach the tropical rainforest; you will be surprised how the landscape changes from the beauty of the high valleys to the incredible exuberance of the tropics.

Extensive forests give life to a magical diversity of flora and fauna, ideal to submerge yourself in nature. You will find abundant rivers and streams, places of fantastic tropical beauty and natural pools of crystal clear waters where you can refresh yourself.

Or Visit the Toro Toro Park, full of surreal rock formations and deep canyons; it is nicknamed the ‘Ibero-American Jurassic Park’ due to the amount of remains found there dating from the Cretaceous era.

 The Keteka difference

Keteka grants access to authentic activities run by local tour operators and guides. You can book and secure your place in advance, and we will take care of everything else. We’ll let you know where to go or where you will be picked up and at what time.

 How to get to Cochabamba

Land

By bus:

The Bus terminal is on the Avenida Ayacucho, in the Barrio Sudoeste; around six blocks from the centre.

The terminal receives buses from La Paz, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Sucre, Oruro and Tupiza.  Other less-frequented direct services are from Buenos Aires, Iquique and Arica

The prices depends on the seat you reserve (regular, semi-camas and camas) and  your destination, But can vary from Bs. 30 to 110.

By road

Cochabamba is at the heart of Bolivia. You can access it from many nearby cities; the nearest being Oruro. We advise you to rent an SUV as not all roads are paved in Bolivia.

Air

The Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (CBB) has flights with other major cities of Bolivia throughout the day.

Only four companies offer flights to Cochabamba; Boliviana de Aviación, Amaszonas, Ecojet and TAM (The latter being the cheapest).

A taxi to the center of town from the airport ranges between Bs. 25-35 (approx. US$3.50 – 5.00).