Cobija (Bolivia) Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Bus companies cluster at Km 2 of the road to airport, just past the turnoff for Av International and the main bridge to Brazil. Be aware that bus travel in this part of Bolivia is never deluxe, and can be especially arduous during the rainy season (roughly November to April). The roads are unpaved and there are numerous river crossings (four on the Cobija–Riberalta stretch alone). Travel times can easily double or triple due to mud and flooding. Prices and travel times are identical for all bus lines: to Riberalta (B$130, seven to 12 hours), Guayaramerín (B$140, nine to 14 hours), Trinidad (B$280, 24 to 36 hours), and La Paz (B$250, 48 to 72 hours).

Sindicato Unificado Guayaramerín (842 2703) and Flota Vaca Diez (cell 7610-0319) both have service to Riberalta and Guayaramerín departing Tuesday and Saturday. The former has an additional departure on Thursday.

Transpando (842 3831) and Flota Cobija (842 3588) go to Riberalta on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Transpando buses continue to Trinidad.

Flota Yugeña (842 2833) is the only line with service to La Paz, departing on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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Air

Cobija’s airport (842 2260) is 3km southeast of town on the Porvenir road. A taxi to/from the town center is B$15; there is no regular bus service. Flights in June, July, August, December and January get heavily booked, and advance reservations are almost always required in those months.

AeroSur (842 3050; www.aerosur.com; cnr Av Fernández Molina & Calle Teniente Coronel Cornejo; 8am-noon, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-noon Sat) has flights to La Paz (B$956, 55 minutes) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, with same-day connections to Santa Cruz and Cochabamba (both B$1139) and next-day connections for national and international destinations. Cash only; students receive a 5% discount with credentials, seniors get 20% off.

Aerocon (842 4166; www.aerocon.bo; Av Fernández Molina next to AeroSur; 8am-12:30pm, 3pm-6:30pm Mon-Sat, at airport on Sun) has one daily flight to Trinidad (B$759, 1½ hours) with onward connections from there. Cash only.

Amaszonas (842 3844; www.amaszonas.com; Av Fernández Molina) is just a block down from the other two airline offices and has daily service to Trinidad (B$759, 1½ hours) with connections to destinations throughout Bolivia, including Rurrenabaque (B$1350 total) and Santa Cruz (B$967 total). Credit cards accepted; discounts for advance purchase.

TAM (842 2267; road to airport; 8am-noon, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-noon Sat) has flights to La Paz on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at lower fares than other airlines. However, TAM is operated by the Bolivian military and some say it does not follow the same safety and maintenance guidelines that commercial airlines do.

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