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Bolivia Cities
La Paz - Beautifully framed by the snow-covered peaks of Mount Illimani, modern La Paz offers its visitors a curious blend of its splendid tradition, local color and charm. Although known as the capital of Bolivia, this city of 1,000,000 inhabitants is the seat of the government and center of all industrial, cultural, banking and political activities. It was founded on October 20, 1548 by Alonso de Mendoza to extract gold from the Choqueyapu River that runs through the city. Situated in a valley (or depression) in the Cordillera de los Andes at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the city is protected from the cold winds that blow in the higher elevations, or altiplano, where the inter- national airport “El Alto” is located. The traveler will have a chance to admire the bird’s-eye view of the city coming down from the airport. Dominating the impressive setting of La Paz is Mount Illimani, the perpetual guardian of the Pacenos, or inhabitants of La Paz. The city extends from the high plain or “altiplano” that surrounds it to the gentler and flat part of the canyon, where the business center is located and continues down to the residential areas some 1,000 feet below. The climate in La Paz is dry and cold, with an average temperature between 50 and 70 degrees and at the altitude at which the city is located; oxygen is not as abundant as at sea level. It is recommended that arriving tourists take things without rushing. The mixture of cultures can be noticed anywhere in the city. The Creole population, still wearing the colorful outfits that were customary during Inca times, contrasts with the sober dress of the business-class population. Due to the international status of La Paz, you will find an incredible variety of food to please any gourmet; the local dishes consist mainly of meat, rice and potatoes, served in many different ways, several are spicy-hot, but you can always ask to have them without the “hot stuff.” The local hard drink is based on pisco, or singani, a brandy liquor made out of grapes; beer is among the best in the country, and, in fact, the world, due to its German origin. La Paz has many interesting museums to visit, such as the National Museum of Art, the Ethnographic and Folklore Museum, Casa Murillo, The Precious Metals Museum, the Litoral Boliviano or Military, Juan cle Vargas, National Archaeology Tiwanaku, Natural History and open-air Tiwanaku museums.
Potosi - The capital of the state that represents a monument to two cultures that clashed for three centuries (Spanish and Indians) is a charming city, located in the cold Altiplano, with curved cobble-stone streets. The Sumaj-Orcko, or Silver Mountain, still produces tin, bismuth, wolfram and silver and can be seen from almost every part of town. At the beginning of the Cordillera de los Frailes, resting against Cerro Rico, is Ciudad de Potosi. The well known ‘’Potosi” word is a symbol of the rich hill from which the Conquistadores have extracted enough silver to make Spain a major power in the world. Diego Huallpa, a local herder lost a llama and finding it too late to return home, lit a fire to spend the night outdoors and found silver the following day where his fire had been. Diego de Zenteno, Juan de Villarroel and Luis de Santander founded the city on April 10, 1545. The grandeur of Potosi has no parallel in the world, not only for its wealth, but also for what it represents. It is a monument to two cultures that clashed for almost three centuries. An estimated 8 million Indians lost their lives extracting silver for the Spanish crown. Little has changed over the centuries and the whole city is still a vivid image of what it was years ago; located in the harsh cold Altiplano, it has a unique charm: few streets are straight but rather have curves and angles which help to break the cold wind which blows almost constantly. Buildings that are timeless are still erect and housing families. Streets remain cobble-stoned just as before. Intricate balconies carved of fine woods contrast with simpler but not less beautiful ones; main entrances to palaces and mansions proudly display family shields carved in granite. Its 30 temples are priceless works of native art, in the complicated Indian-baroque style; gold covered altars maintain their shine and glory. Small plazas have the original fountains that delivered water to the city. The Sumaj-Orcko or Silver Mountain can be seen from almost every part of town, in spite of its 5000 mine tunnels and 440 years of exploitation it is still bearing fruits like tin, bismute, wolfran as well as silver. The friendly Potosinos will enjoy telling tales, legends and fables of ghosts, buried treasures and swash-buckling adventures as part of Potosi history.
Sucre - Sucre, a jewel of colonial architecture and the official capital of Bolivia, is also an active and important cultural center. Located in a lovely valley enclosed by mountains and at the foot of Churuquella and Sicasica, Hills, Sucre is the legal capital of Bolivia. Seat of Judicial Court, it prides itself in being the cultural center of the Americas. The city of Sucre is well known for its white buildings with red tile roots; each of them is colonial, with its distinctive architecture; as a matter of fact, once every year the entire city complies with city regulations to paint all buildings white. The benign climate and low elevation make it a seductive town where time seems to have stopped. Full of students that account for an 80% of the total population, Sucre is the home of the second oldest university of America, San Francisco de Xavier, founded in 1624. A relatively small place, you can get around in Sucre by toot and admire every single part of town. The friendliness of Sucrences will allow you to enter any place you want as long as you request entrance. You will also find interesting local Indians wearing extremely beautiful costumes; weavings is it at its finest in Chuquisaca where you can purchase handicrafts of Alpaca wool and cotton. The nobility of bygone years still has its influence in Sucre and is reflected in every way. There is a palace that once belonged to the Prince of La Glorieta that was transported entirely from Europe to please the rich miner Arganclona who used it as a resort area. The white city, one of the tour names it has, it is a jewel of colonialism untouched by progress. Sucrences still enjoy cool nights by strolling in the Main Plaza and Alameda after dark. Located by the plaza are the Liberty Hall and the original government palace, all European in style as are the Eiffel Tower and the Arch of Triumph, exact duplicates of those in France. Accommodations are in colonial structures that have been arranged to accommodate guests in the most comfortable manner yet keep the charm of olden days. Restaurants cater a wide variety of dishes both international and local. Cerveza Surefia or local beer and wine are among the drinks that made Sucre famous.
Santa Cruz - Located on the eastern tropical plains, Sta. Cruz is a cross between a small colonial town and a modern metropolis. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, you will find yourself surrounded by tropical vegetation and the typical agriculture of the area. Mennonites and Japanese settlements, as well as some primitive tribes give a special flavor to this area. Located in the lowlands of Bolivia and at an altitude of 1,250 feet, Santa Cruz de la Sierra shares the hot tropical weather and the cool of the Savannas. Having need for an advance post for the Spanish Conquistadores, Santa Cruz was founded on February 26, 1561 by Nuflocle Chavez. From there most missionaries were sent to convert the Indians. Due to its excellent location in the tropical area and the rich soil, Santa Cruz has become the main producer of food, vast quantities of oil, precious stones, fine woods, and cattle. Most of the heavy agricultural industries are located in this department. It still keeps its colonial tropical charm with covered, elevated sidewalks. The columns and balconies of the buildings in the old town, now the business district, are fine examples of intricate woodworking. The local residents, called cambas, are open, warm and friendly and generally happy-go-lucky. Love for the land is ever-present and can be seen in all the progress that Santa Cruz has achieved in the last 40 years. Not everything is colonial in this city; it has some of the most advanced architecture in South America with luxurious homes and excellent restaurants. Banking is as proficient as in La Paz if not more. The industrial center of Bolivia keeps attracting business from all over the country. In other words, Santa Cruz is a mixture of a small colonial town and a large, complex modern city. It is still very common to see an ox-pulled wooden cart loaded with goods next to the most expensive and sophisticated automobiles; antique buildings stand erect against modern buildings. Some of the old homes have been converted and modernized to accommodate new companies and offices. With a constant immigration plan, Santa Cruz produces in vast quantities products that a few decades ago did not thrive; the immigrants are Amish-American families that have helped Bolivia to self-support in soya, cotton and other crops; Japanese have produced rice and soya enough to export to other countries; the sugar industry is another great contribution to the economy of the country. If you think that carnival is exclusive to Rio, think twice, for Santa Cruz also dresses in luxury during Lent; Crucenos love fun and they prove it. At only one and a half hours’ drive from Santa Cruz, you reach the ruins of Samaipata, where you can see strange carvings on a giant rock representing a snake and many other enigmatic figures, which generate countless archaeological debates, and have inspired Erick Von Daenicken in his extraterrestrial theories.
Cochabamba - Called “The Garden of Bolivia”, peaceful and picturesque, with possibly the world’s most perfect climate, this important city is Bolivia’s largest market town. Situated in a fertile valley at the foothills of the Cordillera, the town resembles many of Spain’s small cities. Streets lined with trees display houses one or two stories high. Its location on the agricultural belt of Bolivia makes Cochamamba the granary or bread basket of the country. Cochabamba is well-known for its tranquil setting among trees. Surrounded by hills, this valley is the division of the Altiplano and the lowlands. The city, located near Mount Tunari, will welcome the traveler with its Main Plaza, 14 de Septiembre, flanked on all sides by old buildings whose characteristic is columns and arches. The plaza itself, a beautiful garden of flowers, is the favorite place for relaxation of the Cochabambinos. Homes build during different periods of time with one thing in common, spacious gardens and patios where local residents grow all kinds of fruit and vegetables. Inhabitants of Cochabamba are well known for their love of music and poetry. Here local food dishes are at their best, for everything is grown locally and vegetables as well as meats of all kinds are the freshest anywhere. Local dishes are tempting and delicious, beer Taquina is excellent, but you must also try Chicha, the favorite drink of the Incas, is still the favorite. The real beauty of Cochabamba is in the nearby regions. Driving for about three hours will place you in an incredible setting with exotic vegetation, where fishing, hunting, hiking and swimming have never been more enjoyable and beautiful. Here, the headwaters of the Amazon River are guarded by tall mountains so close to each other that the area resembles a great canyon. The region is truly a paradise for those who like to get away in the wilderness but remain close to civilization.
Oruro - Oruro is a mining city famous for its Carnival where you can see hundreds of native dancers in a huge folklore parade. The Devil and Moreno dacos are complemented with many other groups with colorful costumes music and choreography. Ciudad de Oruro, the mining center and folkloric capital of the nation, spreads flat at the foothills of Cerro Ururu, in the Altiplano, at an altitude of 1,127 feet. The city shows its colonial constructions in every street in the old part of town. Located in the Altiplano flatlands this city is different from any other in Bolivia; it welcomes visitors with houses and buildings mostly painted gray in color, with barred windows. Due to its altitude few gardens are visible in private homes, but in several public parks, you may wonder how beautiful green areas, trees and flowers can be grown. In spite of the thousands of feet of elevation, good natured Orurenos will make your stay pleasant. The city shows its colonial constructions in every street in the old part of town, you will be surprised by the many vintage cars and buses that are still in operating condition, some of them in mint condition. It is not unusual to find the thousands of bicycles and motorcycles next to carts pulled either by mules or humans. Sidewalks are very narrow and serve as parking lots to make room for cars passing by. The Main Plaza or Castro de Padilla, displays in its center several life size bronze animals that are loved by local children who find pleasure and joy in riding them or just playing around them. A park located a block away from the Main Plaza displays a lagoon or pond with ducks, swans and flamingos, an excellent place to sit and relax in the shadows of large trees, or perhaps get the best shoe shine ever. Being the capital of folklore in Bolivia, the Festival of Carnival is the largest in South America. During Carnival time, the city is full of tourists, local and foreign. The main groups in this celebration are the Devil Dancers that fascinate the tourists not only with their dances but also with their elaborate costumes. Worldwide, their mask is the symbol of Bolivian folklore. Orurenos go out of their way to make accommodations in private homes to help with the demand for lodging. You may wonder how the dancers of the festival and the public in general can perform tirelessly for hours and hours, day after day. The main groups in the carnival are the Diablos or Devil Dancers that delight visitors not only with their difficult moves, but also with their incredibly elaborate costumes; their mask is the symbol of Bolivian folklore worldwide. There are also the Morenos as well as many other groups which are no less elegant or attractive. Cars loaded with silver plates, pots and the like, lead each group; years ago llamas were used instead of motor vehicles. Oruro has a lot to offer such as fine museums, churches and restaurants here you can get the basic international dishes but most of the restaurants cater to local dishes, one of which is the famous Rostro Asado or Baked Sheeps Head a true delicacy. Huaryis beer is considered among the best in Bolivia.
Tarija - is known as the Red City, due to the roofs of terracotta-colored brick distinguishing it from a distance. It is a village situated in Bolivia’s most fertile valley. It is known for its Spanish colonial style houses, the inhabitants’ sense of humor and the ancient fossils. The most fertile valley of the country is the setting for the city of Tarija. Small in size yet full of charm, it occupies the central part of the valley bordering the Rio Guadalquivir. This is one of Bolivia’s oldest cities, and has many valuable temples and museums. The best time to visit is during September, when the San Roque festival is underway. A very attractive republican town, it is often referred to as the Red City because of the Terracota tiles on the roofs of the Spanish houses. The Chapacos or Tarijenos as they are called, like to compare their city to Andalucia in Spain because of the many fruit orchards, pleasant tree lined streets, pretty plazas, and the river. Even though Tarijenos are teased by other Bolivians because of their slow, relaxed attitude and speech they are quick with an incredibly good sense of humor: their speech resembles a song. With very little Indian blood, Chapacos have light skin, blond hair and blue eyes; they are true lovers of music, song and the wine that is produced from the grapes grown everywhere. Some of the best of Bolivian vineyards are located on the Tarija Valley. To visit Tarija is a unique experience during festivals such as the one in San Roque, or Charagua, you will be entertained by musical groups that play the most original instrument of all, such as, the cana, a long cane that ends in a cow’s horn, the violin or Chapaco fiddle, and of course the ever popular guitar that seems-id be the patrimony of all Tarijenos. A cultural town with a good university and many university-related activities. Here the visitor will find both international and Creole cuisine. Several places nearby are colorful and typical of the region; there are good hiking trails that lead to restful spots; fishing and hunting is possible, but one of the best entertainments for visitors will be fossil hunting on the outskirts of the city, for the Tarija Valley can be found lying scattered on top of the ground with no digging necessary. In Tarija, unlike other places in Bolivia, one on the best food spots is at the local market, which is immaculately clean.
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