Trinidad Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus & camión

The rambling bus terminal is a 10-minute walk east of the center. Road conditions permitting, several flotas (long-distance bus companies) depart nightly between 6pm and 9pm for Santa Cruz (normal/bus cama US$3.70/7.40, eight to 10 hours). Several companies serve Rurrenabaque (US$10, 12 hours) daily via San Borja. Flota Copacabana beelines direct to La Paz (bus cama US$24, 30 hours) daily at 5:30am. There are also daily dry-season departures to Riberalta, Guayaramerín and Cobija. Buses (US$3) and camionetas (US$2.50) run to San Ignacio de Moxos (three to four hours) when full; the buses leave the bus terminal at around 9am, though you should get there at least an hour before to make sure you get a seat, and the camionetas leave from opposite the Municipality.

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Boat

Trinidad isn’t actually on the bank of a navigable river; Puerto Almacén is on the Ibare, 8km southwest of town, and Puerto Barador is on the Río Mamoré, 13km in the same direction. Trucks charge around US$1 to Puerto Almacén and US$2 to Puerto Barador.

If you’re looking for river transportation north along the Mamoré to Guayaramerín, or south along the Mamoré and Ichilo to Puerto Villarroel, inquire at La Capitania, the port office in Puerto Almacén. Speak to the captain for the boat schedule and ask around for Lidia Flores Dorado, the current sub-alcaldeza (town mayor), who will confirm the boat captain’s reliable reputation. The Guayaramerín run takes up to a week (larger boats do it in three to four days) and costs around US$30 to US$35, including food. To Puerto Villarroel, smaller boats take 10 days and cost US$15 to US$25, normally including meals.

For a more plush river affair, get on Fremen Tours’ posh hotel-boat Flotel Reina de Enin .

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Air

In addition to the US$1.35 Aasana tax, departing air travelers must pay US$0.40 to support senior citizens and finance public works. Note that the inter-Beni flights are frequently suspended for long periods.

Amaszonas (462-2426, 462-7575; 18 de Noviembre 267) shuttles daily between La Paz, San Borja, Riberalta and Guayaramerín, and TAM (462-2363; Bolívar at Santa Cruz) has a couple of flights a week to Cobija (US$65), Cochabamba (US$38), Guayaramerín (US$57), La Paz (US$55) and Riberalta (US$57). LAB (462-1277; La Paz 322) flies to Cochabamba, if it flies at all.

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