Things to do in The Amazon Basin
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La Perla de Rurre
Everyone in Rurre will tell you that this is their favorite restaurant and ‘The Pearl’ does indeed serve up some mean fresh fish and chicken dishes. The surroundings are simple but the service is excellent.
reviewed
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Plaza Gral José Ballivián
Trinidad's loveliest feature is its central plaza, with tall tropical trees, lush gardens and a community atmosphere. You can spend an evening eating ice cream and watching hundreds of family-laden motorbikes circling the square. In the past, traffic was refereed by a police officer in a big wooden chair, zapping red, yellow and green traffic lights by touching an electric wire against one of three nails. Today, it's boring old automatic lights.
reviewed
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Jungle Bar Moskkito
Peruvian-run, English is spoken here. There’s a positive vibe, cheery service and the foliage that hangs from the roof makes you feel like you are in the jungle, whether there are ‘moskkitos’ or not. Throw some darts, shoot some pool and choose your own music – the extensive menu of CDs is played by request. Happy hour runs from 7pm to 9pm on selected cocktails.
reviewed
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Tropical
This is Riberalta’s most upscale restaurant, leading the residents to nickname it Tropicarísimo (very expensive…). Gargantuan portions of meat, chicken and fish accompanied by salad, rice and fried manioc feed two or three normal-sized people, though the profusion of animal skins and stuffed wildlife hanging off the walls and ceiling might put you off.
reviewed
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Pachamama
Set in an old house, this is a restaurant-cum-cultural center where there is always something going on. There is a lounging area on the ground floor, and two movie rooms (B$20 per film) and a billiard table upstairs. There’s also a book and music exchange and frequent art classes and shows. The food is good and you can even have a barbecue with your friends in the garden.
reviewed
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Santuario Chuchini
The Santuario Chuchini (Jaguar's Lair) is one of the few easily accessible Paitití sites - mounds belonging to an ancient civilization. This wildlife sanctuary and camp sits on an 8ha loma (artificial mound). From the camp, you can take short walks in the rainforest to lagoons with caimans, other larger animals and profuse bird life.
reviewed
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San Buenaventura
Sleepy San Buenaventura sits across Beni River watching all the busy goings-on in Rurre. It's worth taking the ferry across for a stroll. If you're looking for fine Beni leather goods, visit the well-known shop of leather artisan Manuel Pinto. The Centro Cultural Tacana has a handicrafts shop and celebrates the Tacana people's unique cosmovision.
reviewed
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Centro Artesanal Moxos
Local Beni crafts, including weavings, woodwork and ceramics, are sold at the Centro Artesanal Moxos, southwest of town. Look out for the pifano, an indigenous flute made from the wing bone of the Jabiru stork using a technique over 1000 years old – it’s the staple instrument of the unique Moxos music.
reviewed
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Trinidad Cathedral
On the south side of Plaza Gral José Ballivián, Trinidad's cathedral was built between 1916 and 1931 on the site of a Jesuit church. It's not a particularly impressive building and doesn't even have its own bells - the on-the-hour bell ringing is played off a cassette and tends to sound like a cockerel on fire.
reviewed
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Restaurant Camila
Camila's gets more popular by the year and has the best value breakfasts in town. The walls are plastered with photos of happy punters, matched by smiling real-life customers. Choose from muesli breakfasts, juices, salads, pasta, burgers, vegetarian lasagna, burritos and chicken dishes, plus unbeatable milkshakes.
reviewed
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Maderos
If you’re a Mexican food fanatic you’ll have been scouring the continent for a place like this. Top-class burritos and all the rest are served in this palapa roofed hangout. Key to its success is that it gives you the ingredients and lets you fold up your own fajitas.
reviewed
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Churrasquería la Estancia
Ask anybody in Trinidad where to get a good bit of beef and you will be sent here. With its palm roof and coal fire barbecue hamming up the ranch-house setting, the succulent and juicy cuts will make you wonder how other restaurants even dare to call themselves churrasquerías.
reviewed
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D
Aray Restaurant
Aray Restaurant has long been Guayamerín's most popular restaurant, though it is certainly not the cleanest or most attractive option in town. The menu has the same standard meat, chicken and fish dishes found anywhere, but its large dining area can fill to overflowing at lunchtime.
reviewed
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E
La Escarcha
La Escarcha is a family-run eatery serving simple meals in a pleasant indoor dining area, and at wood tables set up on the sidewalk facing the plaza. Go light with a couple empanadas and a freshly blended fruit smoothie, or fill up on with grilled beef with rice, beans and salad.
reviewed
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Restaurant Tacuara
This open-air eatery with shaded sidewalk seating has an ambitious menu, covering breakfast to dinner. It’s friendly and popular, especially for its lasagna. The Mexican dishes won’t have you tossing your sombrero into the air, but the sandwiches are huge.
reviewed
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Casa del Turista
As interesting for its rickety bamboo structure as for the menu of Italian, Mexican and Bolivian dishes that it serves up. It feels a bit like the House that Jack Built, so be careful on the staircase after indulging in the exotic frozen cocktails during the nightly happy hour.
reviewed
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H
Casa de Campo
Healthy food is the name of the game here, with all-day breakfasts, homemade pastries, vegetarian dishes, soups, salads, you name it. The friendly owner is keen to make her guests happy, but her breakfast is the priciest in town.
reviewed
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Pizzería Italia
The most popular thing about this hangout is the pool tables, but the pizza and pasta are pretty poor. Wine is available as are vegetarian options. It shares the palapa with the Jungle Bar Moskkito.
reviewed
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Luna Café
Another palapa roofed bar-restaurant (mains B$20-B$35), this is a mellow place with a chilled atmosphere that is equally as welcoming for a tasty lunch as it is for ice cold beers in the evening.
reviewed
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Ethno-Archaeological Museum
The Spanish-funded ethno-archaeological museum at the university, 1.5km north of town, exhibits artifacts from the Trinidad region, including traditional instruments and tribal costumes.
reviewed
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Turismo Moxos
Turismo Moxos organizes three-day cruises on the Río Ibare, visits to Sirionó villages, four-day canoe safaris into the jungle and one-day horseback trips into remote areas.
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Café Piraña
This Piraña has bite, with a great chill-out area, delicious vegetarian and meat dishes, yummy breakfasts, lovely fresh juices, a library and film screenings every night in the back garden.
reviewed
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Monkey’s Bar
An imitation of the successful Moskkito bar, it’s very much along the same lines with a bouncing atmosphere, good pizza and great cocktails. Try the Anaconda en el Río.
reviewed
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La Casona
Trinidad’s most famous restaurant unfortunately doesn’t live up to the hype. Give the overpriced à la carte meals a miss and stick to the lunchtime almuerzo.
reviewed
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Mary’s Tours
Mary’s Tours conducts five hour city tours of Guayaramerín and Guajará-Mirim, as well as La Ruta de la Goma (The Rubber Trail) to Cachuela Esperanza.
reviewed
