Cochabamba Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Cochabamba’s main bus terminal (155; Ayacucho near Aroma; US$0.40 terminal fee) has an information kiosk, a branch of the tourist police, ATMs, luggage storage and a cambio (money ­exchange bureau).

Bus cama (sleeper) service is available on most long-distance routes for about twice the price of those listed below.

There are at least 20 buses daily to La Paz (US$5, seven hours). Most leave between 7am and 9pm. A baker’s dozen of flotas (long-distance­ bus companies) have daily services to Oruro (US$2.50, four hours) between 7am and 10pm. Most Santa Cruz buses (US$6 to US$8, 10 to 13 hours) depart before 9am or after 5pm; some take the old Chapare road, some the new. Flotas go to Trinidad (US$8, 24 to 30 hours) via Santa Cruz, at 6:30am and 7:30pm.

Frequent buses leave for Sucre (US$5.70, 10 hours) between 4:30pm and 6:30pm daily. Some then continue on to Potosí (US$7, 15 hours). Micros and buses to Villa Tunari (US$1.90, three to four hours) and less frequently to Puerto Villarroel (US$2, seven hours) in the Chapare region leave every hour or so from the corner of 9 de Abril and Oquendo.

Flechabus and Almirante Brown offer a marathon international service to Buenos Aires (US$68, 72 hours) leaving at 5:30am and 6:30pm daily.

Trufis and micros to eastern Cochabamba Valley villages leave from the corner of República and 6 de Agosto. To the western part of the valley they leave from the corner of Ayacucho and Aroma. Torotoro micros leave on Thursday and Sunday at around 6am from República and 6 de Agosto.

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Air

Cochabamba’s Jorge Wilstermann Airport (CBB; domestic/international departure tax US$1.90/3.10) is served daily by AeroSur (440-0909/0910; Villarroel 105) and LAB (425-0750; office at airport) from La Paz (US$48.50), Santa Cruz and Sucre. The flight between La Paz and Cochabamba must be one of the world’s most incredible (sit on the left coming from La Paz, the right from Cochabamba), with fabulous views of the dramatic Cordillera Quimsa Cruz, and a (disconcertingly) close-up view of the peak of Illimani. AeroCon (448-7665; office at airport) has a daily flight to Trinidad.

TAM (458-1552; Hamiraya N-122) lifts off from the military airport to Santa Cruz on Tuesday mornings and La Paz (US$27) on Tuesday afternoons. TAM Mercosur (458-2166; Heroínas O-130) connects Cochabamba with Asunción, Buenos Aires and São Paulo daily except Sunday, while AeroSur flies three times a week to Miami via Santa Cruz.

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