Cities

9 Bolivian Cities

La Paz

• Why go: At 3,650 m, La Paz is one of the world’s highest cities, blending Indigenous traditions, colonial heritage, and urban life. Its dramatic canyon setting and mountain backdrop are unforgettable.

• Best time to visit: May–October (dry season, clear skies). Rainy season (Dec–Mar) brings heavy showers.

• Prices & tips: Cable car rides: 3–5 BOB. Museums: 10–30 BOB. Meals: 15–40 BOB. Lodging: Hostels 70 BOB, hotels 200–400 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Mi Teleférico cable cars (for views across the city).
Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas).
Plaza Murillo (cathedral, government palace).
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley rock formations).
Nearby day trips: Tiwanaku ruins, Lake Titicaca, Death Road biking.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: api con pastel (sweet corn drink with fried pastry), salteñas, and anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers).
Popular spots: Mercado Lanza (cheap eats), Mercado Camacho for juices, Gustu (high-end Bolivian fusion).

Sucre

• Why go: The “White City,” a UNESCO site full of colonial architecture, history, and calm plazas. Known for museums, churches, and as Bolivia’s hub for Spanish-language schools.

• Best time to visit: Year-round mild climate; April–October is sunniest.

• Prices & tips: Museums: 10–30 BOB. Meals: 15–40 BOB. Lodging: Hostels ~70 BOB, boutique hotels 200–350 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Plaza 25 de Mayo (central square).
La Recoleta viewpoint.
Cal Orcko dinosaur tracks.
San Felipe Neri convent.
Tarabuco market (Sundays).

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: mondongo chuquisaqueño (pork with chili sauce), chorizos chuquisaqueños (sausages), fresh fruit juices.
Markets: Mercado Central (cheap meals).
Cafés: Café Condor (popular with travelers), Abis Café.

Cochabamba

• Why go: The “City of Eternal Spring” is Bolivia’s food capital. Famous for Cristo de la Concordia and nearby Toro Toro National Park.

• Best time to visit: April–October (sunny and dry).

• Prices & tips: Cristo cable car: 20 BOB. Toro Toro tours: 150–250 BOB/day. Meals: 20–50 BOB. Lodging: Budget 100 BOB, hotels 200–350 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Cristo de la Concordia (panoramic views).
La Cancha market (huge open-air market).
Palacio Portales (Simón Patiño’s mansion).
Toro Toro National Park (caves, dinosaur tracks, canyon).

Where & what to eat:

Must-tries: pique macho (spicy beef with fries), silpancho (breaded beef with rice, potatoes, and fried egg), chicha cochabambina (fermented corn drink).
Where: Mercado La Cancha (traditional food), Casa de Campo (local dishes), La Muela del Diablo (popular with travelers).

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

• Why go: Bolivia’s biggest city, tropical and modern, with plazas, nightlife, and access to eco-tourism.

• Best time to visit: May–Sept (dry, less humid).

• Prices & tips: Samaipata day tours: 200–350 BOB. Meals: 25–60 BOB. Lodging: Hostels 80 BOB, hotels 200–450 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Plaza 24 de Septiembre & cathedral.
Guembe Biocenter (butterflies, orchids, pools).
Lomas de Arena sand dunes.
Samaipata ruins (El Fuerte).
Amboró National Park.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: majao (rice with dried beef), locro de gallina (chicken soup), sonso de yuca (cassava with cheese).
Where: Mercado Nuevo or Los Pozos for traditional food. La Casa del Camba for regional specialties, Sukko for modern dining.

Tarija

• Why go: Wine capital of Bolivia, with vineyards, colonial charm, and mountain valleys.

• Best time to visit: Year-round; harvest festivals Mar–May are best.

• Prices & tips: Wine tours 150–300 BOB. Meals: 25–50 BOB. Lodging: ~100 BOB budget.

Landmarks & attractions:

Vineyards: Campos de Solana, Kohlberg, Casa Vieja.
Plaza Luis de Fuentes.
Mirador de los Sueños.
San Jacinto reservoir.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: saice tarijeño (minced beef stew), chancho a la cruz (roast pork), paired with high-altitude wines and singani.
Where: Wineries often include food. El Fogón del Gringo and Mercado Campesino for local flavors.

Potosí

• Why go: Former silver capital of the world, with mining heritage and UNESCO colonial center.

• Best time to visit: May–Sept (dry). Very cold nights year-round.

• Prices & tips: Mine tours 100–150 BOB. Museums: 15–40 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Cerro Rico mine tours.
Casa de la Moneda museum.
San Lorenzo church.
Colonial streets of the historic center.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: kalapurka (spicy stone-heated soup), k’ajcha (fried pork), ají de pataskha.
Where: Mercado Central for affordable eats, Los Balcones for traditional dishes.

Oruro

• Why go: World-famous for its Carnival (UNESCO heritage) and traditional mining culture.

• Best time to visit: Feb/Mar for Carnival. Otherwise a quiet city.

• Prices & tips: Carnival seats 200–800 BOB. Meals: 20–40 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Virgen del Socavón sanctuary.
Carnival Museum.
Hot springs nearby (Capachos).
Sajama National Park (highest peak in Bolivia).

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: charquekan orureño (dried llama with potatoes and cheese), rostro asado (baked lamb head).
Where: Mercado Fermín López or Mercado Bolívar. Restaurants like Nun’s for Bolivian food.

Trinidad

• Why go: Amazonian capital of Beni, with rivers, wetlands, and wildlife.

• Best time to visit: May–Sept (dry season).

• Prices & tips: Pampas tours 700–1,200 BOB (3 days).

Landmarks & attractions:

Museo Etnoarqueológico.
Ibare River boat rides.
Pampas lodges and eco-tours.
Lago Suárez for local leisure.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: pacu frito (Amazon fish), masaco de plátano (plantain with cheese/meat), locro beniano.
Where: Mercado Central and riverside eateries.

Cobija

• Why go: Capital of Pando, on the Brazilian border, tropical and green with duty-free shopping.

• Best time to visit: May–Sept (dry season).

• Prices & tips: Local tours 150–300 BOB. Lodging from 100 BOB.

Landmarks & attractions:

Pando Ecological Park.
River trips on the Acre.
Cross-border shopping with Brazil.
Surrounding rainforest communities.

Where & what to eat:

Local dishes: tacacá (sour manioc soup), caldo de surubí (Amazon fish soup), tropical fruits.
Where: Small local eateries in the center; try cross-border Brazilian cuisine too.