Coroico

Introducing Coroico

While Coroico is a metropolis by Yungas standards, it feels like a sleepy hilltop village and maintains a relaxed ambience despite being one of the more popular destinations for weekending paceños (La Paz locals) and chilling travelers. Perched aerie-like on the shoulder of Cerro Uchumachi, it commands a far-ranging view across forested canyons, cloud-wreathed mountain peaks, patchwork agricultural lands, citrus orchards, coffee plantations and dozens of small settlements. When the weather clears, the view stretches to the snow-covered summits of Mururata, Huayna Potosí and Tiquimani, high in the Cordillera Real. The name is derived from coryguayco, which is Quechua for ‘golden hill.’

The town’s biggest attraction is its slow pace, which allows plenty of time for swimming, sunbathing and hammock-swinging. The hill walking around here is more strolling than trekking, which appeals to stiff-legged hikers from the Choro trail or those nursing bruised bottoms after the hectic mountain bike descent from La Paz. Coroico stays relatively warm year-round, but summer storms bring some mighty downpours. Because of its ridgetop position, fog is common, especially in the afternoon when it rises from the deep valleys and swirls through the streets and over the rooftops. The town festival is on October 20, and Saturday and Sunday are market days. On Mondays the town utterly closes down and most stores and restaurants don’t reopen until Tuesday morning.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009