Other sights in Bolivia
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Cretaceous Park
This slick theme park has a number of life-size models of dinosaurs, as well as an audio-visual display, optional guided tours and a restaurant. From the terrace, you can examine the tracks on the rock face opposite with binoculars, though the exposed prints are increasingly eroded with every passing winter.
reviewed
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Calacala
The atmospheric Calacala makes a worthwhile trip from Oruro. The site consists of a series of rock paintings of llamas and humans in red and orange tones, presumably dating to the first millennium BC. It’s located under an overhang 2.5km beyond the village of Calacala, which is 26km east of Oruro. Stop in the village to locate the guard who has the keys and collects the fee; she can often be found in the small cafe marked by a rusted Pepsi sign. The site itself is a 30-minute walk past the village, near the old brewery. The views from the site of the exceptionally beautiful valley, which provides some of Oruro’s water, are spectacular. There’s no public transport unless…
reviewed
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Museo de la Catedral
This museum - Museo de la Catedral holds one of Bolivia’s best collections of religious relics. There are four sections, ritually unlocked as your visit progresses. In the entry room is a series of fine religious paintings from the colonial era. Next, a chapel has relics of saints, and fine gold and silver chalices. The highlight, however, comes in the Capilla de la Virgen de Guadalupe, which was completed in 1625. Encased in the altar is a painting of the Virgin, the city’s patron. She was originally painted by Fray Diego de Ocaña in 1601, but the work was subsequently coated with highlights of gold and silver and adorned in robes encrusted with diamonds, amethysts,…
reviewed
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Valle de la Luna
About 10km down the canyon of the Río Choqueyapu from the city center, Valle de la Luna is a slightly over-hyped place, though it’s a pleasant break from urban La Paz. It could be easily visited in a morning or combined with another outing such as a hike to Muela del Diablo to fill an entire day. It isn’t a valley at all, but a bizarre, eroded hillside maze of canyons and pinnacles technically known as badlands. Several species of cactus grow here, including the hallucinogenic choma (San Pedro cactus). Unfortunately, urban growth has caught up to the area, making it less of a viewpoint than it otherwise might be. Note: readers have reported muggings in recent years,…
reviewed
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Museum Casa Arte Taller Cardozo Velasquez
A family of seven artists – Gonzalo (sculptor), his wife María (potter) and their five daughters – open their whimsical little house and art studio to visitors. The tour includes a peek into their workshop, the many nooks and crannies with artsy bric-a-brac and a leafy patio with Gonzalo’s fascinating sculptures (check out the one in the middle, devoted to Pachamama). If you’re lucky, you may even get a tea made with medicinal herbs from their courtyard garden. On Sunday mornings, the family goes out to the streets to paint with children. Every first Friday of the month, they hold a k’oa ceremony, an Andean ritual that pays respect to Pachamama, which you are…
reviewed
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Museo de Pariti
This tiny island, surrounded by totora-reed marshes, made world news in 2004 when a team of Bolivian and Finnish archaeologists discovered ancient Tiwanaku ceramics here in a small circular pit. While the American archaeologist Wendell Bennet was the first to excavate the island in 1934, the more recent finds uncovered some extraordinary shards and ceramics, believed to be ritualistic offerings, and many of which are intact. Today, many of these stunning pots and ch’alladores (vases) are displayed in the recently opened Museo de Pariti. These stunning exhibits reflect the high artistic achievements of Tiwanaku potters. Don’t miss the Señor de los patos. For that…
reviewed
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Isla Incahuasi
For most Salar de Uyuni tours, the main destination is the spectacular Isla Incahuasi, better known as Isla del Pescado, in the heart of the salar 80km west of Colchani. This hilly outpost is covered in Trichoreus cactus and surrounded by a flat white sea of hexagonal salt tiles. It was once a remarkably lonely, otherworldly place but since the advent of salar tours, it has become overrun with tourists. This is where most groups have their lunch but there’s also a café-restaurant run by La Paz-based Mongo’s. Altogether an industrialized tourist experience, it’s still a beautiful sight if you forget the crowds.
reviewed
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Church
In the scenic village of Curahuara de Carangas, the lovely adobe-and-thatch church has been dubbed ‘the Sistine Chapel of the Altiplano.’ While that’s rather overblown, the charming little structure does contain a wealth of lovely naive 17th-century frescoes depicting typical mestizo-style themes and Biblical scenes as well as some interesting artifacts in a small room behind the altar. If there’s nobody at the church, look for the key in the Entel shop. A direct bus from Patacamaya runs regularly (B$10, 2½ hours).
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Museo de la Recoleta
Overlooking the city of Sucre from the top of Calle Polanco, La Recoleta was established by the Franciscan Order in 1601. It has served not only as a convent and museum but also as a barrack and prison. The highlight is the church choir and its magnificent wooden carvings dating back to the 1870s, each one intricate and unique, representing the martyrs who were crucified in 1595 in Nagasaki. The museum is worthwhile for its anonymous sculptures and paintings from the 16th to 20th centuries, including numerous interpretations of St Francis of Assisi.
reviewed
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Apa-Apa Reserva Ecológica
An interesting day trip is to the Apa-Apa Reserva Ecológica, 8km from town. The private 500-hectare property has dry forest and one of the last remnants of primary cloud forest in the Yungas, and is rich in trees, orchids, butterflies and birds. You can also stay in the beautiful historic hacienda or camp at the well-equipped site above it. The reserve runs four-hour guided forest walks (B$50 per person with a B$200 minimum) and has a cafe serving meals and homemade ice cream. A taxi from Chulumani to the reserve costs B$15.
reviewed
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Musef
Housed in the impressive former Banco Nacional building, this new museum brings together a series of fascinating displays that vividly illustrate the great diversity of Bolivia’s ethnic cultures. On the ground floor is a professionally presented display of masks with over 50 original examples, some of which you wouldn’t want to bump into in a dark alleyway. The other permanent display deals with the Uru-Chipaya culture, with reconstructions of village life and exhibitions of artifacts used in their daily life.
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Zoo
Santa Cruz’ zoo has a collection of native birds, mammals and reptiles kept in pleasingly humane conditions, although the llamas are a bit overdressed for the climate. If you’re not into going to the jungle, this is a good place to see spectacular species such as tapirs, pumas, jaguars and spectacled bears. Keep your eyes open for free-ranging sloths and squirrel monkeys in the trees.
reviewed
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Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa
The Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, which was created in 1973, covers an area of 7150 sq km and receives in excess of 50,000 visitors annually. Its emphasis is on preserving the vicuña and the yareta plant, both of which are threatened in Bolivia, as well as other unique ecosystems and endemic species. (Note: there is talk of a steep admission hike.)
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Cathedral
Sucre’s cathedral dates from the middle of the 16th century and is a harmonious blend of Renaissance architecture with later baroque additions. It’s a noble structure, with a bell tower that is a local landmark. Inside, the white single-naved space has a series of oil paintings of the apostles, as well as an ornate altarpiece and pulpit.
reviewed
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Zoo el Refugio
This charming and responsible little zoo is actually a refuge for rescued animals. The zoo accepts volunteers who can lodge for free in exchange for their labor, and there is an attractive wooded camping area if you fancy spending a night among the animals. Horses are available for hire for B$25 per hour.
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Vesty Pakos Zoo
After a traipse around Valle de la Luna, you can also visit the village of Mallasa, popular among paceños on weekends. Just east of Mallasa is La Paz’s spacious, but sorely underfunded, Vesty Pakos Zoo. Animal lovers may be upset by the poor conditions, however.
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La Virgen de la Candelaria
The famous wooden statue of La Virgen de la Candelaria lives – behind an unmarked door down a creepy black-wax-caked tunnel – around the side of a sparkling Moorish cathedral. Opening hours vary wildly; your best bet is between 2:30pm and 5:30pm.
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Las Cuevas
If you walk upstream on a clear path away from the road, you’ll reach two lovely waterfalls that spill into eminently swimmable lagoons bordered by sandy beaches. About 100m beyond here is a third waterfall, the biggest of the set. You can also camp here for a small fee.
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Archaeological Museum
Samaipata’s small archaeological museum makes an interesting visit, but offers little explanation of El Fuerte. It does have a few Tiwanaku artifacts and some local pottery. If you buy your admission to the ruins here you get into the museum for free.
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Municipal Museum
Tupiza’s municipal museum houses a mixture of historical and cultural artifacts in two rooms, including an antique cart, old photographs, archaeological relics, pre-Columbian items, cold weapons and historic farming implements.
reviewed
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Museo de Los Niños Tanga-Tanga
Set in a beautiful building, this excellent interactive children’s museum - Museo de Los Niños Tanga-Tanga focuses on renewable energy sources. Highlights include the botanical gardens and explanations of Bolivian ecology.
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Guaraní Museum
A small but fascinating and professionally presented exhibition of Guaraní culture. Look for the animal masks and tinajas (huge clay pots) used for making chicha. You’ll need to knock on the gate for entry.
reviewed
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Convento de Santa Teresa
The brilliant white Convento de Santa Teresa belongs to an order of cloistered nuns. They sell homemade candied oranges, apples, figs and limes daily by way of a miniature revolving door.
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Museo de Historia Nacional
Museo de Historia Nacional houses a permanent display of Chiquitania art and photographic exhibits explaining the customs of this little- known indigenous group.
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Casa de la Cultura
The Casa de la Cultura in La Paz is an excellent place to view art exhibits, as well as find out information on the art scene.
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