TRAVEL AND TOURS

The open arms of a gentle "Cristo de la Concordia" (Christ of Concord) crown the peak of the San Pedro Hill. Paternal and charitable, the image blesses and watches over the magnificent valley disguised as a city. Panoramic view, confusion of lights, colonial charms covered by the dark mantel of night: they all make for the hidden beauty that rests in the Andean heights.

Considered as main valley of Bolivia, Cochabamba is in a fertile and productive area at 2,500 m.a.s.l. The city, surrounded by cultivated fields and valuable pre-Inca remains, conserves its colonial semblance and the ways inherited from its Quechua and Aymara ancestors.

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the valley of Cochabamba (from the Quechua term, cocha: lagoon and pampas: plain), was under the domain of the Collas. Then, the Incas extended their golden empire to these rich lands and made them part of the Collasuyo region.

History says that the city of Cochabamba -capital of the department of the same name- was founded twice by the Spaniards. The first foundation took place on August 15th 1571 and it was in charge of captain Geronimo de Osorio. Almost three years later, on January 1st 1574, Sebastian Barba de Padilla, founded it once again obeying an order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, the "great organizer of Peru".

When the sun appears Cochabamba clears its mysteries. The capital of the valleys of Bolivia is ready to receive its visitors. Time of abandoning the San Pedro Hill has come, time of walking by its streets, by the Plaza 14 de Setiembre or the Portales Palace. These are impressive constructions built by Simon Patino, the "baron of tin." That is just the beginning: the city and the valley have a lot to show.

SURROUNDINGS

Quillacollo: An important town in the Cochabamba valley. A colonial temple is one of the main attractions in this town that grows very quickly.

Tunari National Park: Located on the northern area of the city. The park protects part of the highlands of Tunari, where the biggest attraction is the pick of the same name (5,020 m.a.s.l.).

Isiboro-Secure Park: Without doubts one of the most important parks of Bolivia, because it has so many different types of weather. It is located at the northeast of Cochabamba.

El Chapare: Rivers, birds and vegetation, they are part of the beautiful landscape of this county of tropical weather, situated to the north of Cochabamba.

Incachaca: tropical area of beautiful waterfalls and restless creeks. At 80 kilometres from the city, the area allows for sport fishing.

Morochaza: Here you can visit spas with thermal waters in Santa Rosa and Independencia. In this place, five hours from Cochabamba, there are pretty lagoons, ideal for trout fishing or to observe Canadian geese, wild ducks, partridges, condors, flamingos and vizcachas.

Archaeological remains: Many pre-Columbian vestiges can be still appreciated in Cochabamba. The Collas and the Incas ruins demonstrate the importance this region had before the Spanish conquest. Among the remnants that could be visited are those of Inkallajta, Choro, Tablas, Durazno, Tres Tetillas, Walta, Komercocha (green lagoon) and Pocona.