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Cochabamba

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Overview

Cochabamba, or simply Cocha is fourth largest city in central Bolivia, in a valley with the same name, in the Andes mountain range. Its name is from a compound of the Quechua words q'ucha, meaning "lake", and pampa, "ope

Wikivoyage guide · 33 sections

▸Introduction418 chars

Cochabamba, or simply Cocha, is the fourth largest city in central Bolivia, in a valley with the same name, in the Andes mountain range. Its name is from a compound of the Quechua words q'ucha, meaning "lake", and pampa, "open plain". It is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" and "The Garden City" because of its spring-like temperatures all year round. It is also known as La Llajta, which means "town" in Quechua.

▸History1,538 chars

Cochabamba's history is long and colorful with the indigenous population having inhabited the Cochabamba Valley for millennia. Indigenous peoples in the area included Tiwanaku, Tupuraya, Mojocoya, Omereque, and, at the time the Spanish arrived, the Inca. Cochabamba was an important agricultural community, and the Inca used it as a source of maize (corn).

During the Spanish colonial era, the city continued to be an agricultural hub, providing food and wood to nearby mining communities. Cochabamba was established as a Spanish city in 1571. Early rumblings of discontent with the Spanish government arose in the 1780s, and in 1812, a major uprising took place in the city. When confronted by Spanish troops, most of the city's men fled into the countryside while the women took up arms against the Spanish.

Water became a political hot potato during the 1990s. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund forced Bolivia to privatize their water supplies if it were to get foreign investment. Unethical foreign corporations joined the unethical NGOs in abusing the Bolivian people, hiking water rates to unaffordable levels while providing inadequate supplies to many communities. Public revolts in Cochabamba and other Bolivian cities extended well into the 21st century. The "Water Wars" erupted into violence between 2006 and 2008 and are often credited for the rise in power of Evo Morales, forcing Bolivia to rescind privatization contracts. Water continues to be a controversial topic in Cochabamba and other Bolivian cities.

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

-17.38, -66.17

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia5,650 words

WBP editorial3

Culinary crossroads

Beyond the market stalls, Cochabamba is where Andean staples meet mestizo flair. The city’s reputation for peppery llajua sauce extends into inventive street fare: try a humble sopa de maní garnished with roasted corn kernels, or a grilled chuño patty filled with quinoa and local cheese. The nearby Valle de la Plata hosts micro‑farms that supply heirloom varieties of oca and mashua, allowing chefs to craft seasonal plates that shift with the altitude‑driven climate. A lunchtime visit to a family‑run comedor off Avenida Simón Bolívar will often reveal a daily special reflecting that week’s harvest, offering a glimpse into how the "Garden City" feeds its residents beyond the tourist menu.

A city of festivals, not just dates

Cochabamba’s calendar is densely packed, yet the rhythm of celebration is best sensed in the streets rather than on a printed schedule. During the Semana Santa processions, for instance, the clang of brass bands mingles with spontaneous dance circles in the Plaza 14 de Septiembre, a scene rarely captured in guidebooks. Even outside the major holidays, neighbourhoods host impromptu "cumbia de barrio" nights where elder residents lead younger crowds in traditional chants. Engaging with these informal gatherings—by striking up a conversation with a local weaver or joining a rooftop drum circle—offers an authentic pulse of the city’s communal spirit that transcends its official festivals.

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▸Climate368 chars

Cochabamba is often described as a "city of eternal spring" due to its pleasantly cool temperatures that rarely reach freezing. The humidity is generally low with rain so sparse that it creates problems with inadequate water to support the population. Cochabamba has a wet season that runs from November through March while the driest months are May through September.

▸Orientation666 chars

The main thoroughfare in Cochabamba is Avenida de las Heroinas, which runs east-west, with its north-south counterpart Avenida Ayacucho. The intersection of these two is known as El Correo (the post office is located on that intersection). Plaza 14 de Septiembre is considered the center of the city. Avenida Ballivian, commonly called El Prado, is a tree-lined boulevard running north from Plaza Colon, with many of the city's better restaurants and hotels nearby. Generally, neighborhoods get more affluent towards the north, and poorer to the south. Avenida América north of La Recoleta runs east to west is also a major avenue with many restaurants and shopping.

▸Municipal information26 chars

City of Cochabamba website

▸By bus1,484 chars

The terminal is some 10 blocks south of the center, just north of the market called La Cancha. From the north, you can catch several trufi lines to get to the bus terminal. For example, the green 101, the 102, the 103, the 109, all travel along Av. Ayacucho, passing the bus terminal. At the north end of the terminal, there are radio taxis associated with the terminal. These are much more convenient to get to your destination. If you are traveling with a lot of luggage, it is not recommended that you exit the main terminal to catch a bus. It's quite hectic making you an easier target for pickpocketing. It is also not recommended walking from the terminal especially late at night.

Most bus companies will charge around the same amount for a ticket, but there are different seat classes. Weirdly enough, even though it is a poor country, the amount of "leito" seats (aka cama) is far higher than that of semi-cama or regular seats.

Bus times are generally quite accurate, because the station is so busy that buses cannot wait forever at a platform. Arrive about 1 hr before the bus leaves to get the best price.

Always be aware of roadblocks while traveling in Bolivia. If companies know of existing roadblocks, many of them will halt their services, while others will take you as far as the roadblock, and you'll have to pay again after crossing the roadblock. It's always recommended to wait for a roadblock to be lifted before traveling, even if a bus will take you that far.

▸Destinations1,528 chars

From/to La Paz – It is at least eight hours by bus. Buses leave approximately every hour starting at 06:30, with the last bus leaving around 23:00. Regular seats tend to be at around Bs. 30, semi-camas typically will max out at Bs. 60., and camas will typically max out at Bs. 90.

From/to Santa Cruz – It is at least ten hours by bus, longer in the rainy season. Buses leave in the mornings and in the evenings, with the last bus typically leaving around 22:00. Regular seats tend to be at Bs. 40., semi-camas typically will be at Bs. 70., and camas will typically be at Bs. 110.

From/to Sucre – It is at least ten hours by bus. Buses only leave in the afternoons and evenings, with the last bus typically leaving between 21:00 and 22:00. Much of this road is unpaved, and it can be a quite uncomfortable and cold ride. Expect to pay maximum Bs. 60. for this trip.

From/to Oruro – It is a relatively quick four to five hours. Buses leave throughout the day and are relatively inexpensive. Bs. 20-30 will get you there on a semi-cama.

From/to Potosí – It is at least 10 hr by bus. Buses only leave in the evenings, with the last bus typically leaving between 20:00 and 21:00.

From Tupiza – At least three daily buses at 10:00, 18:30, and 21:00.

Other, less-frequented direct services: Buenos Aires, Iquique, Arica

If you're planning to go to any other cities not listed, it's typically advisable to not go directly from Cocha. Rather, first travel to one of the intermediary cities above and take another service once you arrive.

▸By plane1,519 chars

1 Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (CBB IATA). Connects well to other large cities in the country. If flying from La Paz, sit on the left side to get a stunning view of Mt. Illimani just off the wingtip.

Boliviana de Aviación. Boliviana de Aviación, often referred to simply as BoA, is Bolivia's flag carrier and largest airline. Prices for domestic flights are typically relatively inexpensive. From Cochabamba, BoA flies domestically to La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tarija, Cobija, Sucre, Oruro, Potosí, and other regional, smaller destinations. International destinations include Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Miami, Madrid. One can purchase tickets using a credit card on their website.

TAM. TAM is a small airline, with only a single Avro RJ70 plane. They have a very simple route network, part of that being flying into Cochabamba from La Paz, and flying out to Santa Cruz. They used to be larger, but had ceased operations from September 2019, only resuming limited service in May 2024.

Ecojet. Ecojet offers a few flights in-between Bolivia's major cities. Sometimes they offer promotions with great-value reduced fares.

A taxi to the center of town from the airport ranges between Bs. 25-35 (approx. US$3.50-5.00) depending on the distance. When exiting the airport, there is a sign with the fixed costs depending on the boundaries. You may want to snap a picture of that sign in case the driver wants to charge you more. There is also a public bus "B" line that eventually makes it way to the center of town.

▸By bus363 chars

Cochabamba has buses (micros), mini-vans (trufis) and shared cabs (taxi-trufis) that run along fixed routes. There are no set stops and in order to get off, you must say "me bajo" (I want to get off) or "esquina" (for stop at the corner). Fares are Bs. 3 (Apr 2026). (Many drivers do not have adequate change, so do not be surprised if you do not receive change).

▸By taxi885 chars

Most cars honking at you are cabs. Ask and negotiate the fare before entering a cab. According to regulations that aren't very well publicized (some mentions in the local press), the price should be Bs. 6 for one person within the city center (inside the boundaries of the river). Crossing the bridges, adds another Bs. 2. Adding additional passengers should cost between Bs. 1 and Bs. 2/person. Downtown to Quillacollo is Bs. 25-30 There is no standard fare, and most taxi drivers will try to overcharge tourists.

If you are in a radio taxi (with a company logo on the side of the car), you can ask the driver to call into the dispatcher to quote you the official price. There is a municipal governmental toll-free phone number to report overcharging - 800-14-0201

It's recommended to take radio taxis in the evenings. There is no additional charge to call a taxi to come pick you up.

▸Radio taxi companies500 chars

Ciudad Jardín, Uyuni Avenue #731, ☏ +591 4 4241111, contacto@radiotaxiciudadjardin.com. Ciudad Jardín typically feature more modern cars, and have placards inside of the vehicle with the driver's name and ID number. They have an app for mobile devices to request services.

Renacer, Papa Paulo Avenue #491, ☏ +591 4 4200555. Renacer operates primarily out of the Muyurina area.

Jacarandá, Lucas Mendoza Street #612, ☏ +591 4 4200136. Jacarandá operates primarily out of the Cala Cala neighborhood.

▸See3,136 chars

1 Cristo de la Concordia, Av de la Concordia. The statue is just a bit higher and larger than the one in Rio de Janeiro, making it the world's largest statue of Jesus until 2010, when a larger one was completed in Poland. It offers a great view of the city. Walk Calle Colombia until its eastern end, then a swift right: This park/playground is where the cable car goes from, Bs. 6.50 each way. You can also walk. The stairs are safe during the day. After sunset it is better to go in a group of 4 or more. However, the warning displayed at the cable car station, not to use the stairs, is obviously just there to make more money. The cable car is often under maintenance. There is no good way to know before heading out to the station, but the local newspaper is pretty good about updating any changes. (updated Sep 2020)

2 Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden. M-Sa 09:00-16:30, closed Su. Display of native and non-native flora. (updated Sep 2020)

3 Medical Museum, Av. Oquendo y Calle Venezuela. The main hospital in Cochabamba, Hospital Viedma, has a cute little medical museum attached, with some amazing old x-ray machines. The museum is near the corner of Venezuela and Oquendo.

4 Museo Archeologico, Jordan esq. Aguirre. Awesome archeological museum with mummies, deformed skulls, amazing pottery and other artifacts. Well worth a visit. Bs. 25.

5 Museo Convento Santa Teresa (~2 blocks southwest of Plaza Colon, on Calle Baptista), ☏ +591 4 4525765. M-Sa 08:00-12:00 14:00-18:00, closed Su. 1760 convent that is restored for viewing. (updated Sep 2020)

6 Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny", Calle Potosi, Recoleta (Next door to Palacio Portales), ☏ +591 4 4486969. M-F 09:00-12:00 15:00-18:00, closed Sa-Su.

7 Parque de la Familia. Dancing fountain light show at night. Occurs from around 20:00-22:00 and small entrance fee. (updated Sep 2020)

8 Plaza Colon, Calle San Martin & Calle Mayor Rocha. Cochabamba's other popular square, next to city hall, and a little greener than Plaza de Armas, 14 de Septiembre. (updated Sep 2020)

9 Plaza de Armas, September 14, Bolivar and Plaza 14 de Septiembre. City center, site of commemoration of Bolivia's independence, where you can feed the pigeons and look at the Metropolitan Catedral of Saint Sebastian. (updated Sep 2020)

10 Plaza de Las Banderas. If you are interested in seeing different flags of the world on display, this might be of interest. But it makes for a pleasant stop if walking along the prado, and sometimes there are arts and crafts on display. (updated Sep 2020)

11 Simón I. Patiño Cultural Center (Centro Pedagógico y Cultural Simón I. Patiño), Av. Potosí 1450. Guided tour Tu-F, 15:00, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:00 (Spanish), 16:00, 17:00, 18:30 (English & French). Guided tour Sa, Su 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 (Spanish), 10:30, 11:30 (English & French).. 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. Bs. 20 (foreign visitors), Bs. 15 (Bolivian nationals), Bs. 5 (kids). (updated Sep 2017)

▸Cable cars178 chars

1 Teleférico (Cable Car), ☏ +591 4 4446866. Tu-W 10:00-18:00, Th-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 09:00-18:00, closed M. Cable car to the top of Cristo de la Concordia peak. (updated Sep 2020)

▸Entertainment667 chars

2 Cinecenter (Just north of Plaza Quintanilla), ☏ +591 64876494. The biggest cinema in town features a handful of showrooms mostly flashing the latest Hollywood fare, and a food court. (updated May 2018)

3 mARTadero, Ollantay esq. 27 de Agosto, ☏ +591 4 4588778. A great arts and performance center based in an old slaughterhouse. They have rotating art exhibits, music performances, and other interesting stuff.

4 Parque Mariscal Santa Cruz, Calle Hernan Morales. Tu-F 10:00-19:00, Sa-M 10:00-19:30. Small park with amusement rides, concrete caricatures, and aquarium. May be of particular interest to kids but a bit neglected and dirty at times. (updated Sep 2020)

▸Festivals265 chars

Bienal de Arte Urbano (BAU): week-long celebration of murals, graffiti and other kinds of contemporary urban art with a focus on social action; the festival takes place in late April or early May every 2 years on odd-numbered years (the next festival will be 2027).

▸Sports1,345 chars

Cochabamba has two first division football teams, Jorge Wilstermann and Aurora, which play at 5 Felix Capriles Stadium located on Avenida Libertador Bolívar (at the end of El Prado crossing the Cala Cala bridge). Matches usually take place on Sunday afternoons, as well as some weekday evenings. Matches rarely sell out, and one can buy a ticket the day of the game choosing among different seating sections. "Preferencia" is the most expensive, around Bs. 50-80 per match (depending on the rival), but for afternoon matches its location has the most shade. The supporter groups for Wilstermann are seated in the middle portion of both endzone (curvas).

The city is Bolivia's paragliding capital. Several agencies offer tandem flights (Bs. 300) and courses. A typical beginner´s course will take minimum 10 days (2 hours theory and 4 hours practice every day, 12 solo flights) and cost about Bs. 3,000. Among the cheapest on the continent.

AndeseXtremo. Andes Extremo is an excellent choice for paragliding and also offers other outdoor activities including rock climbing. You can book a tandem flight with a fantastic view on the Cochabamba valley for about Bs. 350. One of their rock climbing options is in Quarry Angostura, which will cost you US$45 per person for 1 day (half day) with a minimum of 2 people. The difficulty level is 5a-6c.

▸Beyond the city1,347 chars

There are some towns and places around Cochabamba worth visiting and even several day excursions. Some of these can be found in towns near Cochamba such as Quillacollo, Tarata, and Punata.

6 Tunari National Park. Height: 5,035 m (16,519 ft). This mountain can be done without a guide, but you need to take care and be aware of water, sun and altitude. It is a 4-hr climb one-way, so you need to start early. First you go to Quillacollo, where you transfer by taxi or other transport towards the mountain and its trailhead. Best ask your hostel or hotel which are the exact buses and destinations. The hotel might also recommend a local guide if you want. (updated May 2018)

10 Laguna La Angostura (Take any bus or minibus out of the city south to Tolata, Punata, Cliza or Tarata to the lake and to the junction of Ruta 7.). Great with a paddleboat that you can rent, or a jetski, or be pulled by one. There is a 7 jetski and boat rental station on the lake. Alternatively, you can just enjoy the lake and the view of the hills around or go for a delicious grilled fish in one of the villages around the lake, such as 8 Achamoco. There are nice views of the sunset along 9 Ruta 7 (Lat ). (updated May 2018)

Carrasco National Park - cloud-shrouded mountains with jungle landscapes, rushing mountain streams, and an abundance of birds and plant life

▸Volunteer1,321 chars

Some organizations charge a fee for volunteer or intern to cover logistical and organizational costs. Please ask each organization for their policy.

11 Instituto para el Desarrollo Humano, Humboldt 829, ☏ +591 4 4118315. An excellent social justice organization which offers volunteers the ability to train and facilitate with required social issues affecting many underrepresented Bolivians. They offer a homestay with safe, respectable families as well as a social network to keep you in the loops of cultural events whilst staying safe.

12 Sustainable Bolivia, Calle Julio Arauco Prado 230 (between Ave. Heroinas and Calle Sucre). 09:00-18:00. Sustainable Bolivia is an umbrella NGO that matches volunteers with local projects in Cochabamba. They typically have 15-25 volunteers working between the 25-30 local projects at any given time. They rent three houses that volunteers will live in, and also offer homestays. Most volunteers will confirm their projects several weeks before starting, and will commit to at least a month in Cochabamba. That means that their houses are sometimes full, and they cannot provide housing to walk-ins, particularly those who cannot commit to at least a month of time. Grants to organizations are administered by the volunteers themselves, so they know how the money is being used.

▸Buy1,070 chars

1 La Cancha (bound by: Av. Aroma, Av. Ayacucho, Av. 6 de Agosto, Av. República, and Av. Oquendo). One of the city's biggest attractions, 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 best day to visit the market is on Saturday, on other days not all the shops are open. Pickpockets are fairly common in this area. (updated Jan 2025)

If you don't want to get knee-deep into the sprawling Cancha for your souvenirs, there is also a small pasaje behind the Post Office. You can enter from Av. Heroínas Avenue or Esteban Arze. Prices are comparable to La Cancha and you can pick up typical Cochabamba goods.

2 Paseo Aranjuez, Avenida América y Pantaleón Dalence, info@paseoaranjuez.com. Stylistically modern commercial center, food court, and art gallery. (updated Jan 2025)

3 The Spitting Llama Bookstore & Outfitter, 615 Calle España Norte (between streets La Paz and Reza). Offers offers a wide range of trekking, camping equipment and gear. (updated Jan 2025)

▸Eat3,408 chars

Lunchtime usually consists of a fixed menu at a number of restaurants or pensiones around time. The "almuerzo completo" consists of soup + main dish and often an appetizer and dessert. There are many options to find the menu displayed outside the door, usually consisting of your choice of two soups or 2-3 main dishes. This fixed menu varies in price depending on the part of town, and could run between Bs. 15-25.

Silpancho is traditional Bolivian dish that supposedly originates from Cochabamba.

Thanks to the city's origin as an agricultural center for mining communities, Cochabamba claims to have the best food in Bolivia.

1 Bufalo's Rodizio, Avenida Oquendo N. 0654 (The entrance is through the elevator found on the right as you enter the shopping mall). A Brazilian churasco style restaurant where the waiters comes to your table with a good selection of freshly grilled meats. Delicious. Note that there is only the choice of a buffet style dinner in the evenings, priced very reasonable. Bs. 85 for all you can eat. (updated Jul 2020)

2 Casa de Campo, Av. Uyuni 618. One of the upscale restaurants in Recoleta. Large plates of food (even the half-plate was too much) and good pique macho and other local dishes. Price range is Bs. 37-50. Probably one of the best restaurants in town. Highly recommended. (updated Jan 2025)

3 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. (updated Jan 2025)

4 Heladeria Cristal, Av. de las Heroinas E-352 (Between 25 de Mayo and España). Very neat and clean. Good breakfasts Bs. 15-21, set lunch Bs. 16.

5 Jacaranda, Tadeo Haenke. Not near the city center at all, but it has the reputation of best charque joint in town. Some people say that you can't leave Cochabamba without trying the charque, though it does really just taste like fried beef jerky. Charque is llama meat which is dried, then baked in the oven, then fried for the ultimate crispiness. The half-plate at Jacaranda comes with at least a pound of dried llama jerky, 2 boiled eggs, and the tastiest choclo (oooh the cheese slab was so thick and crumbly). The half-plate was about a 5-inch high pile, ran Bs. 50 and feeds a normal-sized person for lunch and dinner.

6 La Estancia, La Recoleta (Av. Uyuni). Upscale and pleasant Argentinian steak place. Portions aren't of the legendary Cochabamba size, but rather of the normal steak-portion size. Word is that the salad bar is amazing. You can get those skinny skinny chip-like potato fry crisps here. Cut of chicken breast fillet is about Bs. 35 and steak Bs. 45-50.

7 Paprika. North American style dishes and internationalized Bolivian classics. Yummy hot wings. The restaurant has the air of a place for the "see and be seens" in Cochabamba. Recommended. Avenida Ramon Rivero, on the corner of Lanza. Open in the evenings. (updated Jan 2025)

8 Sucremanta, Several locations: Plaza 14 de Septiembre, and on the Prado. Small but filling menu, -somewhat spicy. The Plaza branch, with live piano music on Sundays, is a great place for brunch. Try the hearty menudito. (updated Jan 2025)

9 Zhou, Av. Villarroel esq. Ciclovia. The food here isn't authentic Asian. It's slightly pricey, with sushi (mostly trucha-salmon) imported from La Paz.

▸Fast Food163 chars

10 Globos, S end of El Prado (NE corner of Plaza Colon, also other locations.). Good icecream, many coffee-drinks, some cakes and burgers. Scoop Bs. 5, cup Bs. 20.

▸Vegetarian386 chars

11 Gopal, Calle España 250. Hot and cold buffet lunch Bs. 10-20, the homemade jugs of juice are delicious. Ordering off the menu is possible in the evening, but not as good. Beautiful open courtyard to sit in. This is the same courtyard as that of the Hostel Naupa House. (updated Jan 2025)

12 Tulasi, Av. Heroinas 270. Vegetarian and vegan options. American cuisine. (updated Jan 2025)

▸Drink476 chars

The best chicha, fermented corn (or peach) based beverage, is said to come from the Cochabamba region. The small town of Punata, some distance to the southwest, is especially well-known. Please note that not all chicherías have the same hygienic standards.

1 Cafe Paris, NE corner of Plaza 14 de Septiembre (Corner of Bolivar and 25 de Mayo). Parisian style café with both filling and sweet crepes as well as a good coffee. Very reliable WiFi available too. Coffees Bs. 4-17.

▸Nightlife905 chars

Most small bars are on 25 de Mayo and España close to Plaza Colon. Av. Ballivian (Prado) has bigger and noisier stuff. The joints grow fancier and more expensive has you head north into Recoleta, centred on Calle Pando.

2 Cerebrito, Calle España (Between Colombia and Ecuador). Evenings. After school hangout for 18-25s. Star Wars decor. Rock music. Cheap dinners. Probably the most colourful range of shots in the country. Bottoms up! 1 l of beer Bs. 15.

3 Lujo's Discoteca, Calle Beni (Almost on the corner of Santa Cruz). Until sunrise on weekends. Full dance floor, mostly classics, i.e. reggaeton. Entry Bs. 10-15, pint of beer Bs. 10.

4 Panchos, Calle Mayor Rocha (Between España and 25 de Mayo). Starts out as a bar, turns into a club. Mostly Latin music. 1 l beer Bs. 15.

5 Picasso's, Calle España (Between Equador and Mayro Rocha). Nice warm up venue. Tables, bar, play dice. 1 l beer Bs. 15.

▸Budget2,528 chars

1 Hostal Bonaerense (Hostal Buenos Aires), Calle 25 de Mayo 329 (Half a block from Plaza Colon), ☏ +591 4 425 3911, fax: +591 4 452 2719, angievila@hotmail.com. Excellent location. Very thin walls. In-house restaurant. Single, shared bath Bs. 40, with bath Bs. 60.

2 Hostal Jardin, Calle Hamiraya N-0258 (Between Equador and Colombia), ☏ +591 4 4525356. Check-out: 12:00. Fairly quiet, some long-termers, popular among Brazilians. You might share water pressure with you neighbours and the rooms smell strongly of cleaning fluid everyday. Small breakfast consisting of bread and tea included. Safe parking. And, yes, there is a garden here. If you stay for 10 days in a row, you can get a discount to Bs. 25 per day for a single with shared bath. Single, shared bath, Bs. 35, with bath Bs. 40.

3 Hotel Los Angeles, Ave. Esteban Arze 345 (between Jordán and Sucre), ☏ +591 4 450-0800. Decent budget hotel in a passable location, a solid 3-4 dark blocks from many of the restaurants and bars on Calle España. Singles Bs. 70, doubles Bs. 120, with bath and breakfast. It competes with the Hotel Las Vegas (similar prices and standard) across the street for the cheesiest norteamericano decor.

4 Running Chaski, Calle España #449 casi calle México, ☏ +591 4 4250559, info@runningchaski.com.bo. Newer hostel, with a great location along c/ España. Pricier than most other options you'll find in town at Bs. 75-90 per night for dorms, but it seems to be much cleaner and better maintained than typical in Cochabamba.

There are dozens and dozens of hotels and hostales between the bus terminal and the center (Plaza 14 de Septiembre). This area is not very safe late at night, however, and these options should only really be considered if none of the above are available. Always take a cab back to these locations after dark.

5 Hostal Elisa, Calle Augustin Lopez S-834. Small, but neat rooms, around a cozy courtyard. Expensive internet. Single, shared bath, Bs. 35, with bath Bs. 70. Breakfast extra.

6 Hostal Kanata, Ayacucho 941, hostalkanata@gmail.com. Has clean doubles for Bs. 60 (Bs. 20 more for a TV), though a not too friendly staff. (updated Jan 2025)

7 Residencial Cristo de Concordia, Av. Aroma E-437 casi San Martin (Between Main Plaza and Bus Terminal), ☏ +591 4 4257131, concordia@boliviahostels.com. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Not such a good location, can be very dangerous at night and is recommended to take a taxi to and from hostel, laundry service, helpful staff. Single/Double with bath Bs. 65/90.

▸Mid-range1,953 chars

Many of the upper-end hotels are concentrated within a block or two from Plaza Colon. Expect to pay upwards of Bs. 200 for a single. Also many classy hotels in Recoleta. None of the hotels are particularly expensive by American standards, with almost all hotels offering less than the equivalent of US$100 per night for a room.

8 Apart Hotel Regina, c. España Nro. 636 (between c. Reza and c. La Paz), ☏ +591 4 423 4217, reservas@hotelreginabolivia.com. The Apart Hotel Regina, offers both rooms and apartments with kitchens. It is close to El Prado and many popular night spots. However, noise isn't a problem while sleeping. Staff at the reception desk speak English, and are friendly. The room decor is outdated and the carpets need to be replaced. There is hot water and good water pressure. All the rooms have free Wi-Fi. On-site parking is available. The buffet breakfast is 07:00-10:00. Bs. 270-700.

9 Gran Hotel Cochabamba, Plazuela Ubaldo Anze, E-415, ☏ +591 4 4489520, info@granhotelcochabamba.com.bo. A range of options in terms of pricing from mid-range to high-end. A large convention center makes this hotel well-suited for business travel. (updated Jan 2025)

10 Hotel Aranjuez, Calle Buenos Aires #E563, ☏ +591 4 4280076. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Free parking and daily breakfast provided. Caters to American tourists while also providing conference space. There is a restaurant, Los Espejos, at the hotel. (updated Jan 2025)

11 Hotel Camino Plaza (El Hotel de las Estrellas), Calle Huallparrimachi (Plazuela de Cala Cala), ☏ +591 72221505, reservas@caminoplaza.com. Stylistically modern hotel with a cafe and restaurant and a range of room options. (updated Jan 2025)

12 La Casa de Margarita (Hotel Boutique), Pasaje Juan José Quezada No. 449, ☏ +591 4 019495, micasa.lcmargarita@gmail.com. This hotel in northern Cochabamba is designed in the traditional, colonial style with a nice courtyard and restaurant. (updated Jan 2025)

▸Stay safe519 chars

Cars rarely give preference to pedestrians, even at crosswalks. Don't assume they will stop.

When getting into a cab late at night, it is best to call a radio taxi which you can get from friends, a local family, or the hostal you are staying at. If you cannot call a mobile radio to pick you up, make sure to take a taxi with a company name on the side and remember that company in case anything happens so that you can report it to them. It is best to ask a hotel, restaurant, bar, or discoteca to call a taxi for you.

▸Robberies839 chars

Roving gangs of supposed glue sniffers (cleferos) are known to attack and rob people, especially at night. Stay on streets with ample pedestrian traffic. They tend to hang out under the bridges at night and rob people crossing. The 1 hill of the Coronilla (behind the bus terminal) is particularly not safe because this is where many of them hang around and camp. Generally, anywhere south of 2 Avenida Aroma, be very cautious. On the stairs of the hill 3 Cerro San Pedro, there have been robberies. The cable car provider uses it as an argument for you to use the cable car (Bs. 6.50). However, during the day it should be fine. At dusk and later, take a taxi or the teleferico (cable cars) to/from the top.

Robbers also operate from cars, particularly cabs, late at night. Stay alert if one stops right in front of you. Cross the street!

▸Scams141 chars

The plain-clothed police officer scam seems to be popular (but seldom) in Cochabamba. Read all about it under Bolivia#Stay safe and be aware.

▸Phone340 chars

If you have an unlocked phone, you can purchase an inexpensive SIM card from the three major telecoms, Tigo, Viva, Entel and top up as needed. All of the telecoms have pre-paid data plans. You must register your SIM card with your passport.

Calls to landlines in Europe and North America can be had as low as Bs. 0.50 a minute. Shop around!

▸Internet338 chars

Internet cafés have become less common due to the availability of mobile internet. The Punto Entel on the southeast corner of Heroinas and Ayacucho is probably the neatest and best equipped internet spot. The going rate is Bs. 2-3 an hour. The internet/callshop at Av. Heroinas E0151 (near the corner of Ayacucho) is good for video calls.

▸Cope676 chars

There are a few exchange bureaus at the SW corner of Plaza 14 de Septiembre.

Many street money changers are located near some bridges such as Cala Cala bridge, 25 de mayo and Sucre, and Plaza Colón. You'll get better rates than from banks, but also a little riskier. There are some money exchange businesses around the Plaza that are more reliable. Please note that some money changers on the street won't accept bills smaller than US$100 or will want to give you a less favorable exchange for US$20 or less.

For visa extensions, head to "Migración" located in the north part of Cochabamba at Av. J. Rodriguez between the streets Santa Cruz y Potosí (near Instituto Americano)

▸Go next915 chars

Punata – A market on Tuesday with a lot of indigenous people selling animals.

Tarata – Nice picturesque town that can make an easy day trip.

Quillacollo – Known for its Fiesta de la Virgen de Urkupiña (August 15).

Chapare Region – National Park Isiboro Sécure and local indigenous communities, you can stay with for several days.

Torotoro National Park – Popular with travellers that head to Cochabamba for its dinosaur foot prints, large cave and hiking opportunities. The (mini)buses leave hourly or when full (06:00-18:00, ☏ +591 70786818) from the 2 Torotoro Bus "station" in the south of Cochabamba.

Iquique, Chile – There are direct buses, some with a transfer in Oruro. Keep in mind that the border to Chile opens at 08:00. So, it makes little sense to leave at 16:00 from Cochabamba. Waiting time at the border can extend this trip up to 23 hr(!). From Iquique you will have several connections to Santiago.

Travel craft: navigating altitudinal contrast

At 2,570 metres, Cochabamba sits in a climatic limbo that can catch first‑time visitors off guard. The key to comfortable exploration is to stagger altitude exposure: begin with a leisurely morning walk along the historic Paseo El Prado, then pause for a high‑altitude brew of coca‑infused tea, which locals swear helps with acclimatisation. When venturing to nearby valleys—such as the cooler, irrigated lands of the Chapare—dress in layers and keep a reusable water bottle handy; the region’s micro‑climates can shift from sunny to misty within minutes. By pacing activities and respecting the city’s vertical landscape, travellers enjoy its botanical bounty without the fatigue that often accompanies rapid altitude changes.

Introduction

City and municipality in Bolivia This article is about the city in Bolivia. For other uses, see Cochabamba (disambiguation). City & Municipality in BoliviaCochabamba QuchapampaCity & MunicipalityAerial view of CochabambaPortales PalaceChurch of Santa Ana de Cala CalaAranjuez WalkStatue of Christ of ConcordSanta Teresa ConventMetropolitan Cathedral of Cochabamba FlagCoat of armsNicknames: "City of Eternal Spring""The Garden City""La Llajta"Anthem: Himno a CochabambaCochabambaLocation in BoliviaShow map of BoliviaCochabambaCochabamba (South America)Show map of South AmericaCoordinates: 17°23′18″S 66°09′35″W / 17.38833°S 66.15972°W / -17.38833; -66.15972CountryBoliviaDepartment CochabambaProvinceCercado ProvinceMunicipalityCochabambaFounded15 August 1571Government • TypeMunicipal Autonomous Government • MayorManfred Reyes Villa (Súmate)Area • City & Municipality170 km2 (66 sq mi) • Land169 km2 (65 sq mi) • Water1 km2 (0.39 sq mi) • Urban111 km2 (43 sq mi)Elevation2,570 m (8,430 ft)Population (2024 Census) • Urban661,484 (4th) • Urban density5,960/km2 (15,400/sq mi) • Metro1,113,437DemonymCochabambinoGDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) • Year2023 • Total (Metro)$11.8 billion • Per capita$8,400Time zoneUTC-4 (BOT)ClimateBSkHDI (2013)0.804 (Very High)WebsiteOfficial website Cochabamba (Aymara and Quechua: Quchapampa) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and the fourth largest city in Bolivia, with a population of 661,484 according to the 2024 Bolivian census. Its name is from a compound of the Quechua words qucha "lake" and pampa, "open plain." Residents of the city and the surrounding areas are commonly referred to as cochalas or, more formally, cochabambinos. It is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" or "The Garden City" because of its spring-like temperatures all year round. It is also known as "La Llajta," which means "town" in Quechua. It is the largest urban center between the higher capital of La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in the tropical plains of the east. It sits south-west of the Tunari mountains, and north of the foothills of the Valle Alto. In antiquity, the area featured numerous lakes, which gave the city its name. Many of these lakes have since disappeared to urban development, but Coña Coña and Alalay lakes are extant examples. It has been a populated settlement since the Pre-Inca period, and is today an important cultural, educational, political, and commercial centre.

History

[edit] Pre-Inca and Inca[edit] The valley of Cochabamba has been inhabited for thousands of years due to its fertile productive soils and mild climate. Archaeological evidence suggests that the initial inhabitants were of indigenous ethnic groups: Tiwanaku, Tupuraya, Mojocoya, Omereque, and Inca inhabited the valley at times before the Spanish arrived.[citation needed] The name Cochabamba is a Spanish spelling of the Quechua compound noun qucha pampa (literally 'lake plain', phonemically /qutʃa pampa/, phonetically [ˈqɔtʃa ˈpampa]). Under the Inca Empire, the area was conquered by Topa Inca Yupanqui (ruled 1471–1493). His son Huayna Capac turned Cochabamba into a large production enclave or state farm to serve the Incas. The local population was possibly depleted during the Inca conquest and Huayna Capac imported 14,000 people, called mitimas, to work the land. The principal crop was maize which could not be grown in much of the high and cold heartland of the Inca Empire. The maize was stored in 2,400 storehouses (qollqas) in the hills overlooking the valley or transported by llama caravan to storage sites in Paria, Cusco, of other Inca administrative centres. Most of the maize was probably used to sustain the Inca army during its campaigns. Spanish and Bolivian[edit] The first Spanish inhabitant of the valley was Garci Ruiz de Orellana in 1542. He purchased the majority of the land from local tribal chiefs Achata and Consavana through a title registered in 1552 at the Imperial City of Potosí. The price paid was 130 pesos. His residence, known as the House of Mayorazgo, still stands in the Cala Cala neighbourhood. The city, called Villa de Oropesa, was founded in January 1571 by order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa. It was to be an agricultural production centre to provide food and wood for the mining towns of the relatively nearby Altiplano region, particularly Potosí which became one of the largest and richest cities in the world during the 16th and 17th centuries — funding the vast wealth that ultimately made Spain a world power. In fact, anthropologist Jack Weatherford and others have cited the city of Potosí as the birth of capitalism because of the money and materialism it provided Spain. Thus, with the silver mining industry in Potosí at its height, Cochabamba thrived during its first centuries. However, the city entered a period of decline during the 18th century as mining began to wane. In 1786 King Charles III of Spain renamed the city the 'loyal and valiant' Villa of Cochabamba. This was done to commend the city's pivotal role in suppressing the indigenous rebellions of 1781 in Oruro by sending armed forces to Oruro to quell the uprisings. Since the late 19th century it has again been generally successful as an agricultural centre for Bolivia. The 1793 census shows that the city had a population of 22,305 persons. There were 12,980 mestizos, 6,368 Spaniards, 1,182 indigenous natives, 1,600 mulattos and 175 African slaves. In 1812 Cochabamba was the site of a riot against the Spanish Army. On May 27, thousands of women took up arms against the Spanish. According to historian Nathaniel Aguirre: "From Cochabamba, many men have fled. Not one woman. On the hillside, a great clamour. Cochabamba's plebeian women, at bay, fight from the centre of a circle of fire. Surrounded by five thousand Spaniards, they resist with battered tin guns and a few arquebuses; and they fight to the last yell, whose echoes will resound throughout the long war for independence. Whenever his army weakens, General Manuel Belgrano will shout those words which never fail to restore courage and spark anger. The general will ask his vacillating soldiers: 'Are the women of Cochabamba present?"[page needed] To celebrate their bravery, Bolivia now marks May 27 as Mother's Day. In 1900 the population was 21,886. Besides a number of schools and charitable institutions, the Catholic diocese has 55 parishes, 80 churches and chapels, and 160 priests.[citation needed] Water War[edit] See also: Cochabamba Water War Clockwise, from upper left: The Palacio Portales built for mining magnate Simón Iturri Patiño; The Sarco Templo la Merced; The Exterior view of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cochabamba and The Casa Grande, Cochabamba, Bolivia. In 1998 the International Monetary Fund agreed to give Bolivia a loan of $138 million to control inflation and promote economic growth. But it only agreed to do so on the condition that Bolivia sell "all remaining public enterprises," including its national oil refineries and the local water company, SEMAPA. In 1999, a group of private investors, specifically the Bechtel Corporation with headquarters in San Francisco, California, United States of America, came together under the name of Aguas del Tunari and bought the rights for the privatization of the city's water. In that same year, the World Bank (WB) refused to subsidize the water to help lower the cost for the people. Then in 2000, the people of Cochabamba began to protest as water priced hiked to a 50% increase that the majority could not afford. The Coalition for the Defense of Water and Life, and its leader Oscar Olivera, started a demonstration in La Plaza 14 de Septiembre also known as La Plaza Principal. The march was meant to be peaceful, but after two days the police used tear gas against the protestors and injured about 175 people and killed 1 and blinded two. Soon after, news reports were made about the protests and the violence. The Defense of Water and Life held an unofficial referendum and 96% of 50,000 people wanted Aguas del Tunari's contract to terminate, but the government refused. The protests only grew and the entire world began to watch forcing Bechtel to leave its contract and return SEMAPA to the public. Bechtel as well tried to sue the Bolivian government for $50 million but it withdrew its claim shortly after. This event was soon labelled as the Water Wars and became a driving force for anti-globalization projects such as the UN's decision to make water sanitation a human right and the privatisation of water as unethical in 2010. Additionally, the Water Wars would help spark the next revolt against the privatisation of natural gases from 2003 to 2005 which would lead to the removal of two presidents, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Carlos Mesa, and the rise of President Evo Morales in 2006. In January 2007 city dwellers clashed with mostly rural protestors, leaving four dead and over 130 injured.[citation needed] The first democratically elected Prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, had allied himself with the leaders of Bolivia's Eastern Departments in a dispute with President Evo Morales over regional autonomy and other political issues. The protestors blockaded the highways, bridges, and main roads, having days earlier set fire to the departmental seat of government, trying to force the resignation of Reyes Villa. Citizens attacked the protestors, breaking the blockade and routing them, while the police did little to stop the violence. Further attempts by the protestors to reinstate the blockade and threaten the government were unsuccessful, but the underlying tensions had not been resolved.[citation needed] In July 2007 a monument erected by veterans of January's protest movement in honour of those killed and injured by government supporters was destroyed in the middle of the night, reigniting racial conflicts in the city.[citation needed] In August 2008 a nationwide referendum was held. The prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, was not confirmed by the voters, and he was removed from the position.[citation needed]

Climate and geography

[edit] Cochabamba is known for its "Eternal Spring". Neither experiencing the humid heat of Santa Cruz nor the frigid winds of La Paz, Cochabamba experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk), bordering on a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb). The characteristic of the climate is an extended dry season that runs from May until October with a wet season that generally begins in November with the principal rains ending in March. The valley of Cochabamba has been classified as a mesothermal valley. The basin floor has an average elevation of 2600 m but at its lowest point in the east it runs at 2480 m. Surrounding mountains vary in height with the highest elevation in vicinity of valley being Tunari with 5,023 m a.s.l. The city is primarily built on the Cenozoic and more specifically, Quaternary sedimentary fill of the basin-valley. Mountains and hills are composed of old rocks dating to the Paleozoic and, in some parts, to the Cretaceous. Climate data for Cochabamba (Jorge Wilstermann International Airport), elevation 2,548 m (8,360 ft) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 35.0(95.0) 33.5(92.3) 34.0(93.2) 33.4(92.1) 32.6(90.7) 31.5(88.7) 30.6(87.1) 32.7(90.9) 32.8(91.0) 34.5(94.1) 35.5(95.9) 34.9(94.8) 35.5(95.9) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25.0(77.0) 24.8(76.6) 25.5(77.9) 26.3(79.3) 25.9(78.6) 24.9(76.8) 24.8(76.6) 25.9(78.6) 26.8(80.2) 27.8(82.0) 27.8(82.0) 26.4(79.5) 26.0(78.8) Daily mean °C (°F) 18.7(65.7) 18.4(65.1) 18.4(65.1) 17.6(63.7) 15.3(59.5) 13.4(56.1) 13.4(56.1) 15.2(59.4) 17.2(63.0) 19.1(66.4) 19.8(67.6) 19.4(66.9) 17.2(62.9) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.4(54.3) 12.1(53.8) 11.3(52.3) 8.8(47.8) 4.7(40.5) 1.9(35.4) 2.1(35.8) 4.5(40.1) 7.7(45.9) 10.3(50.5) 11.8(53.2) 12.4(54.3) 8.3(47.0) Record low °C (°F) 4.8(40.6) 5.1(41.2) 2.0(35.6) −1.2(29.8) −4.5(23.9) −7.0(19.4) −5.2(22.6) −5.6(21.9) −3.2(26.2) 0.1(32.2) 4.0(39.2) 5.0(41.0) −7.0(19.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 117.5(4.63) 95.8(3.77) 66.9(2.63) 17.7(0.70) 3.3(0.13) 2.0(0.08) 1.8(0.07) 5.0(0.20) 8.0(0.31) 18.2(0.72) 45.8(1.80) 87.5(3.44) 469.5(18.48) Average precipitation days 16.6 14.5 11.1 4.0 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.4 3.1 5.2 8.6 14.0 81 Average relative humidity (%) 64.2 65.0 62.9 57.9 52.2 51.6 49.9 47.7 47.8 47.8 50.4 56.9 54.5 Source: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia

Demography

[edit] Historical population of CochabambaYearPop.±% p.a.1793 22,305—    1835 14,162−1.08%1854 35,800+5.00%1900 21,886−1.06%1950 74,949+2.49%1967 137,004+3.61%1992 414,307+4.53%2001 516,683+2.48%2012 630,587+1.83%Source: 1793, 1967; 1835; 1854, 1950; 1900; 1992; 2001; 2012According to the 2024 Bolivian census, the population of the municipality of Cochabamba is 665,505 inhabitants. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country, behind Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, and La Paz. The population of the municipality increased by more than half between 1992 and 2024: Year Population (municipality) 1992 425,081 2001 517,024 2012 632,013 2024 665,505 At the beginning of the republican era, Cochabamba ranked as the second most populated city in Bolivia according to the 1846 census, with a total of 30,396 inhabitants, behind La Paz, which had more than 60,000 inhabitants at that time. The city extends beyond the political-administrative boundaries of the municipality of Cochabamba, forming a conurbation with the municipalities of Colcapirhua, Quillacollo, Sacaba, Sipe Sipe, Tiquipaya, and Vinto. Together they make up the Kanata Metropolitan Region, which is the third-largest metropolitan area in Bolivia and an important tourist, economic, industrial, and population center. Like other Bolivian urban centers, Cochabamba is no exception to the national trend of urban growth at the expense of the rural population. This process of accelerated urbanization is not due exclusively to industrialization, but also to complex political and social factors such as poverty, the decline of the agricultural sector, and the availability of job opportunities in cities.

Culture

[edit] Traditional clothing of Cochabamba In Cochabamba, one of the most important religious festivities in Bolivia is held: that of the Virgin of Urkupiña, also known as the Patroness of National Integration. This celebration brings together Catholics from all over the country as well as foreign pilgrims, who participate either as spectators or as dancers in the folkloric procession of the same name, immersing themselves in the dual nature of a religious and traditional celebration. Another important festivity is the Alasitas Fair and the Corso de Corsos. Sillp’ancho cochabambino The cuisine of Cochabamba is characterized by its great variety of culinary dishes. Since 2017, Cochabamba has been part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the category of gastronomy. Chicharrón: a dish made with pork cooked for approximately 5 to 6 hours, served with cooked corn hominy (mote) and potatoes. P’ampaku: a dish prepared with chicken, pork, duck, potato, sweet potato, and plantain. All these ingredients are placed in a hermetically sealed container and buried in a pit, which is covered with stones and bricks previously heated by a wood or charcoal fire until the stones crack. It is covered with fresh grass or banana leaves and then completely sealed with mud. The food is considered cooked when the pit cracks and smoke rises from the burned fresh grass. It is served with a fresh vegetable salad. Pichón de Cliza: a dish made with pigeon meat (squab), boiled and then grilled. It is served with rice and boiled potatoes. Sillp’ancho: a dry dish with breaded beef, pan-fried, accompanied by a fried egg and a raw salad of onion, carrot, tomato, and locoto. It is served with rice and boiled potatoes, which are later sliced and fried. Jak’a Lawa: a dish made from ground choclo (fresh corn on the cob), accompanied by pieces of meat and pork rind. It is served in a deep plate. Ch’aqchu: a dish made with chuño, meat boiled in water with potatoes and fava beans, hard-boiled eggs, fresh cheese sliced into rounds, and a salad of tomato and raw onion, all topped with a spicy red chili sauce. Jawas Piqtu: a dish made with fava beans mixed with egg and tomato. It is served with potatoes. Pique Macho: originally a dish made of beef loin fried in its own juices, with French fries, and a salad of tomato, onion, locoto, and sliced hard-boiled egg. The French fries are placed on the plate first, then the meat and chorizo are mixed and placed on top, and finally the salad and egg. A typical accompaniment is a mixture of oil, vinegar, salt, llajua, and finally beer, all mixed in a glass and then poured over the dish. Chank’a de conejo: rabbit meat cut into pieces and boiled together with a white soup containing green onion (scallion), white potato, vegetables, and seasoned with traditional llajwa. Uchuku Aiquileño: a dish consisting of red chili pepper, potatoes, rice, chuño, and meats (beef tongue, duck, and chicken). It is served with a chicken soup with chili (thickened with trimmings or ground bread), accompanied by rice cake, ch’uñu phuti, potato cake, fried ceibo flowers (chilliqchi), white potatoes, chicken meat, beef tongue, and golden-browned duck. Llajua: a spicy sauce made from locoto, tomato, and quilquiña (an aromatic herb). The vast majority of traditional Bolivian dishes are accompanied by this sauce. The international street art festival known as the BAU (Bienal de Arte Urbano) has been hosted in Cochabamba every two years since 2011. The festival is organized by proyecto mARTadero, a local cultural centre. In 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 the painting was done in the Villa Coronilla, and Geronimo de Osorio neighbourhoods. In 2019 the festival focused on the neighbourhood Esperanza, on the edge of the Alalay Lake. The festival has featured internationally renowned artists such as Blu (Italy) and Inti (Chile). Commensurate with other large cities in the Andean highlands of South America, Cochabamba is a city of contrasts. Its central commercial districts, Zona Norte, is bounded by Plaza Colón and Plaza 14 de Septiembre, are generally equipped with modern urban amenities and are where the majority of the city's formal business and commercial industries are based. La Cancha, the largest open-air market in South America, is also an active place where locals can buy a range of items. An active nightlife is centered around Calle España and along the broad, tree-lined boulevard, El Prado. In contrast, the Zona Sur, a remote area adjacent to the Wilstermann International Airport is visibly impoverished, with adobe homes and unpaved roads, which is often the first impression visitors acquire while commuting into the city. In 2009, the government under President Evo Morales created a new constitution that declared Spanish and 36 other indigenous languages as the official languages of the country. However, the most widely spoken languages in Cochabamba are Spanish and Quechua. Although the Spanish that is spoken in the Cochabamba region is generally regarded as rather conservative in its phonetics and vocabulary, the use of Quechua terminology (wawa [child] and wistupiku [mouth or twist lips]) has been widely incorporated into its standardized form. About four-fifths of the population of Bolivia identifies as Catholic. Like other cities that share the same ethnic group quadrants like Salta or Cuenca, Cochabamba's demographics consist of the following visible groups in order of prevalence: Indigenous (mostly of Quechua and Aymara ethnicity) people, Mestizo, or mixed Indigenous and Spanish European, and people of Spanish (Criollos) and other European descent. As well as a fairly significant population of Afro-Bolivians. By 2013, the human development index of the Metropolitan region of Cochabamba was 0.801 as a result of a 35% growth in the last 20 years.

Government

[edit] Departmental Government of Cochabamba Capital status[edit] Cochabamba is the capital of the department of Cochabamba and the seat of the Autonomous Departmental Government of Cochabamba, the political and administrative authority of the department. Following the enactment of the Popular Participation Law No. 1551 in 1994, together with the Administrative Decentralization Law No. 1654, a process of reconfiguration between the State and civil society was initiated, transferring powers and resources to subnational levels, such as municipal governments. As a result, Bolivia's departments enjoy autonomy statutes that define their internal structure. At the parliamentary level, the executive branch is headed by a governor, while the legislative branch is exercised by a departmental legislative assembly. In addition to the governor's office and several directorates, the Autonomous Departmental Government of Cochabamba is made up of eight departmental secretariats. The status of being the capital constitutes a distinguishing factor in relation to the other cities of the department, due to the higher concentration of public officials and a larger floating population that comes to Cochabamba to carry out procedures with the different secretariats and directorates. Cochabamba is also the capital of the Cercado Province, located in the center of the department, since its founding on August 15, 1571 by the Spanish captain Gerónimo de Osorio under the original name Villa Real de Oropesa. This means that the various provincial delegations of the departments of the Autonomous Departmental Government and institutions of the Government of Bolivia are located in the city. Municipal government[edit] Cochabamba City Hall The administration of the city is carried out through democratic governance, whose authorities are elected every four years by universal suffrage. The electoral roll is made up of all registered residents of Cochabamba who are over 18 years of age and Bolivian nationals. The Mayor of Cochabamba is the head of government and of the municipal administration, legally representing the municipality in judicial and extrajudicial matters. The mayor also presides over the executive branch of the city. According to Article 283 of the Political Constitution of the State and Law No. 482 on Autonomous Municipal Governments, municipal government consists of the Municipal Council, which exercises legislative, deliberative, and oversight powers, in cooperation with the executive branch. The Cochabamba Municipal Council is composed of eleven councilors elected by direct vote in municipal elections and represents the highest legislative authority of the municipal government. Decisions and resolutions are adopted by a majority vote or by a two-thirds majority, depending on the general regulations. Since May 3, 2021, the Mayor of Cochabamba has been former presidential candidate and businessman Manfred Reyes Villa (APB Súmate).

Economy

[edit] Muyurina Skyline Cochabamba ranks third in economic importance nationwide. Historically, Cochabamba's economy was supported by agriculture. Currently, it has diversified and relies more on oil production and manufacturing. The municipality's economy is primarily centered on the tertiary sector, with activities such as commerce, transportation, storage, and other services, followed by the manufacturing industry. In 2021, the municipal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated to reach approximately 17,535 million bolivianos (equivalent to USD $6,710 million in purchasing power parity terms), with a GDP per capita of 20,844 bolivianos (USD $7,977 PPP). According to these figures, the municipality's economy contributes 43.6% of the department's value added and 6% of the national economy. During the heyday of the mining industry in Bolivia, Cochabamba enjoyed sustained development, only to enter a period of decline during the 18th century, as the silver mining industry began to decline. However, during the second half of the 19th century it was established as an agricultural center in the country. Commerce[edit] Potato vendors at Calatayud Market Megacenter family entertainment complex and movie theaters in Cochabamba The city's central area is where most of its businesses and commercial activity is concentrated. A large amount of formal and informal commerce is present on the streets of Cochabamba, encompassing the popular commercial area known as La Cancha, made up of several private and public markets. However, its growth has begun to displace the commercial center to the northwest of the city, traditionally considered a residential area. It has a vibrant cosmopolitan nightlife, especially around Calle España and along the boulevard or avenue El Prado. The city is home to many of the country's largest and most important companies, such as Boliviana de Aviación, ELFEC, Comteco, MotorParts, IC Norte, and large establishments such as Hipermaxi, Paseo Aranjuez, Hupermall, Supermall, and Mall Brisas del Sur, among others. Cochabamba is the third-largest economy in Bolivia and is the most stable due to the dynamism of its market and domestic consumption, as well as its excellent transportation system, which allows it to transport goods to all of the department's provinces. At the end of April and beginning of May of each year, the Alalay Fairgrounds opens its doors for eleven days exclusively to hold trade fair events of all kinds, with FEICOBOL (Cochabamba International Fair) being one of the largest commercial events in Bolivia and its activities brought together companies worldwide, which helped the economy of the department and the growth of tourism. It was currently replaced by the Cochabamba International Exhibition Fair or FEXCO in an agreement between the Autonomous Municipal Government of Cochabamba and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Cochabamba (ICAM), which began its activities with its first version, held in 2023. Agriculture[edit] The Cochabamba Valley around 1987 Agriculture in the city of Cochabamba was very important, but it has declined due to the expansion of the urban area, which has reduced the arable land south of the city, to the Maica and Tamborada areas. However, in the city's markets, you can buy products that vary depending on the area from which they are brought, from regions with a distant climate and geography: The Tropics: in this area, the crops of banana, orange, mandarin, palm heart, papaya, pineapple, cocoa, etc. are mainly found. The valleys, this is the main agricultural area, in this area there are crops of broad bean, pea, onion, corn, tomato, locoto, parsley, lettuce, turnip, carrot, custard apple, strawberry, peach, etc. Subyungas, in this area there are mainly crops of broad bean, peas, custard apple and potato. Services[edit] ELFEC Headquarters Its metropolitan area is characterized by relatively high-quality services. The water and sewerage system currently covers the entire city. Most of the city has access to water, electricity, sewerage, residential gas, and cleaning services, among others. The electricity, water, sanitation, and gas providers are ELFEC, SEMAPA, EMSA, and the regional management of YPFB. The landline telephone operators are Entel, AXS, and Comteco.

Transport

[edit] The metropolitan area of Cochabamba (Vinto, Tiquipaya, Quillacollo, Colcapirhua, Cochabamba and Sacaba) has an extensive transportation system, which cover all the districts. There are almost 70 bus and minibus lines, from A to Z, and dozens of minibuses and fixed-route trufis (T.RU.FI, or "taxi con ruta fija") taxi lines. Most lines have GPS system for monitoring and regulation of hour (line 1, line 16, line L, Line 3V, line 20, line 30, etc.). The T.RU.FI service has at least 60 lines; they are identified by signs on the roof of the vehicle showing the route from the initial stop until the final stop, which is also indicated by the line number to which it belongs. Light rail[edit] Main article: Mi Tren Mi Tren light rail Construction on an interurban light rail network known as Mi Tren linking Cochabamba with Suticollo, El Castillo and San Simon University began in 2017. Opening of the Red Line and first phase of the Green Line took place September 13, 2022. Airport[edit] Jorge Wilstermann Airport Cochabamba is served by the modern Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (IATA code CBB), which handles domestic and international flights. It houses the headquarters of Boliviana de Aviación (BOA) Bolivia's national airline and, in the past, of Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, Bolivia's former national airline. Other domestic airlines that serve the airport include Línea Aérea Amaszonas, Ecojet and Transporte Aéreo Militar.

Municipal waste

[edit] EMSA, the municipal sanitation company, is responsible for the pickup, transportation, storage and removed from urban waste produced. EMSA covers 88% of the city and collects 400 tonnes of waste produced per day. Through the municipal government of Cochabamba, special containers made available throughout the city for the storage of solid waste common. The municipality's sole disposal facility, the K'ara K'ara waste dump (Botadero K'ara K'ara), has been the centre of a long-running controversy over pollution of the air and groundwater; it is frequently blockaded by neighbouring residents demanding changes.

Media

[edit] Print media[edit] There are several newspapers in Cochabamba: Los Tiempos Opinión La Voz Gente Radio stations[edit] The main radio stations scattered across the department and the capital are: Estrella FM 93,1 Centro Ltda. Mega DJ Milenio La Voz del Juno Kancha Parlaspa Bandera Tricolor Cochabamba Gaviota Dorada Del Valle San Rafael La Voz del Valle – Punata Continental Oro Triunfo Morena Epoca La Verdad F.M.100.7 M&D Comunicaciones Universal Fantástico 97.1 Panorama FM 90.9 Punata radio Panorama FM 88.9 FM-100 Clásica FM Stereo 98.7 – La voz de América Bethel FFM 95.5 Ritmo 97.5 La Triple Nueve 99.9 La Fabrica de la Musica 107.1 Magnal de Capinota Radios Fides Cochabamba, Punata y Chapare CEPRA Pongo Khasa 1,390 AM Sonido Lider 95.9 FM Pio XII FM 97.9 Mundial Porvenir Radio Cosmos de Bolivia CEPRA – Centro de Producción Radiofónica CEPRA – Radio Morochota Enlace Radio HIT 105.7 Radio Disney Bolivia Television channels[edit] In the capital and throughout the department there are many television channels that broadcast on local, provincial, national or international all day or part of it. The transmission towers that transmit channels nationally and internationally are in the high Cala Cala, Villa Moscu or Villa Taquiña. Canal 2: Canal 2 Cochabamba Corazón de América (local) Canal 4: Red ATB (national) Canal 5: Red Bolivisión (national) Canal 7: Bolivia TV (Channel of the State) Canal 9: Red Uno de Bolivia (national) Canal 11: Archived 2019-09-04 at the Wayback Machine:TVU (local) Canal 13: Red Unitel (national) Canal 15: Archived 2010-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Cristo Viene la Red (Religious Channel) Canal 17: Archived 2018-01-31 at the Wayback Machine sko TV (local) Canal 18: Radio Televisión Popular (RTP) (national) Canal 20: Piñami de Comunicaciones (provincial) Canal 21: Archived 2019-05-02 at the Wayback Machine Tele C (local) Canal 24: Red ADVenir Internacional (Christian Channel/International) Canal 26: Metro TV (local) Canal 27: Sistema Cristiano de Comunicaciones (local) Canal 30: 30 TV (local) Canal 36: Cadena A (national) Canal 39: Univalle TV (local) Canal 42: Red PAT (national) Canal 45: Abya Yala Television (national) Canal 48: Red Unitepc (local) Canal 51: MTV Cochabamba(local) Canal 57: RTL Canal de Noticias(local) Canal 47: TV Culturas (Channel of the State)

Education

[edit] San Simón University Bolivian Private University Private University of Valle Bolivian Catholic University of San Pablo The city is the home of the University of San Simón (UMSS, for "Universidad Mayor de San Simón"), one of the largest and most prominent public universities in Bolivia. UMSS is the second best university in Bolivia according to QS World University Rankings in 2013 but measured by the web metric scores as the first one during 2013–2017. Among the private universities in Bolivia ranking in the top ten are the Universidad Privada Boliviana (a prestigious business university), Universidad del Valle (a strong university in medicine with a large enrollment of international students) and Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo". Other universities include Escuela Militar de Ingenieria "Antonio Jose de Sucre", Universidad Simón I. Patiño, Universidad de Aquino Bolivia, Universidad Adventista de Bolivia, Universidad Privada Domingo Savio and Universidad Privada Abierta Latinoamericana (UPAL). Cochabamba became the second recipient city of Brazilian students in Bolivia after the city of Santa Cruz, due to the affordable and good living conditions of the city. Also, Cochabamba is the home of one of the best schools of Bolivia, Colegio San Agustín.

Neighborhoods

[edit] Cochabamba is a steadily emerging market within the Bolivian real estate industry. Since 2010, it became the city with the most surface area in construction in Bolivia overpassing Santa Cruz and La Paz. There are many middle and large buildings under construction by 2012. An annual mild climate, abundant greenery, mountain vistas, and a progressive local economy are factors that have contributed to the city's appeal to Bolivian nationals, expatriates and foreigners alike. Historic and affluent neighbourhoods such as Cala Cala, El Mirador, and Lomas de Aranjuez showcase some of the city's most distinguished residences. Queru Queru Neighborhood Queru Queru – North La Recoleta Zone La Recoleta – North Cala Cala neighborhood Cala Cala – North Lomas de Aranjuez – North El Mirador – North Las Brisas – North Sarco – Northwest Mayorazgo – Northwest Barrio Profesional – Northwest America Oeste – Northwest Colquiri – Northwest Muyurina Area Muyurina – Northeast Tupuraya – Northeast Hippodromo – West Villa Busch – West Temporal – North La Chimba – Southwest Aeropuerto – Southwest Ticti Norte – Fringe North Jaihuayco – South South Zone from the Alalay Lake Zona sud – South Ticti – South Valle Hermoso – South Metropolitan area[edit] Cochabamba is connected with the following towns and cities: Quillacollo Sacaba Vinto Colcapirhua Tiquipaya Cliza Tarata Ironcollo Punata

Additional notes of interest

[edit] Cochabamba is also mentioned in the documentary The Corporation, about their fight against the privatisation of water by a foreign-owned company, against which the people protested and won. The privatisation had gone to such an extent that even rainwater was not allowed to be collected. Read Cochabamba protests of 2000. Cochabamba was featured as a location in the story in the 1983 film, Scarface. Powerful drug lord Alejandro Sosa resided there, governed large coca plantations and owned cocaine labs whereupon further refining, would be shipped to Tony Montana in Florida. Cochabamba is the setting of the 2010 movie También la Lluvia (Even the rain), which takes place during the water war of 2000. It depicts a crew making a movie about the colonization of Latin America when the protests against privatization erupt. The film stars Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, and received positive reviews. Cochabamba is also the site of several major spammers, as confirmed by the watchdog group Spamhaus.

Notable residents

[edit] Business people[edit] Simón Iturri Patiño (1862–1947), mining magnate Arturo Murillo, hotelier and politician Educators and intellectuals Jaime Escalante, professor and teacher whose life was dramatized in the 1988 film Stand and Deliver Renato Prada Oropeza, professor, semiologist, writer Thäddeus Haenke (1761–1816), botanist Romina Pérez, sociologist and academic Musicians[edit] Katia Escalera, Soprano Jaime Laredo, (b. 1941), classical violinist Los Kjarkas, Cochabambino folk music group Literature[edit] Nataniel Aguirre (1843–1888), author Adela Zamudio (1874–1925), author and poet Jesús Lara (1898–1975), author and poet Gaby Vallejo Canedo (1941), author, professor of Literature Edmundo Paz Soldán, author Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz (1931–1980), author and politician Javier del Granado (1913–1996), poet laureate Julia Urquidi (1926–2010), writer, remembered as Mario Vargas Llosa's first wife Renato Prada Oropeza (1937–2011), novelist and poet Sara Ugarte de Salamanca, poet who had the memorial built to the heroines on 1812 Óscar Únzaga de la Vega (1916–1959), journalist and historian Other[edit] Raúl Orosco (1979), FIFA football referee Oscar Olivera (1955), environmental activist Richard T. James (1918) inventor of the slinky toy Klaus Barbie (1913–1991), officer of the SS and SA

Twin towns – sister cities

[edit] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Cochabamba is twinned with: Bergamo Italy, since 2008 Córdoba, Argentina, since 1989 Kunming, China, since 1990 Montevideo, Uruguay since 2005 Viedma, Argentina, since 2009 Caracas, Venezuela, since 2009