1

should be quite warm at nights during that period although you can also get plenty of rain at that time of year which makes the temp drop a bit. It wont ever get colder than needing just a jumper though. If you want actual temp range guess id say 8 to 10 C at night but that is an absolutely guess. always seems pretty warm to me at night. The stories you hear of it getting cold at night usually refer to July southerly winds that come up and make tempertures drop all over the country usually lasting for a couple of weeks. it can get close to 0 degrees then but you wont experience that in Dec to feb.

For a nice place to relax and recove I recommend Villa Bonita but it is not by the plaza and is in fact a 10 min walk from the plaza. Sol y Luna is also a great place.

Say hello to Sambo my favourite monkey in the whole world!

2

Thank you!

Well, I assure you 8 - 10 degrees is quite cold to me. Nights in el Chapare in December get never colder than 17 degrees or so. But that's what I needed to know so I know what to pack and also that I should buy an extra blanket ;)

Yes, I've been recommended both Villa Bonita and Sol y Luna but I know by the time I get to Coroico, I'll be sooo tired that the last thing I'm going to need is having to walk up and down the hills several times.

Yeah, I've been reading a lot about Sambo! If you want me to say anything to Vicky and Marcelo, just tell me ;)

Thanks again!
Silvia

3

By the way, is it possible to buy good shampoo, body milk, and stuff like that in Coroico? Or should I do it in La Paz? I'd like to get a bus to Coroico right after I land in La Paz but maybe it's difficult to buy things like that in Coroico.

Sorry for having so many questions but I know so little about that town.....

Silvia

4

I'd guess tunabagel's temperature figures are about right, maybe a couple of degrees warmer. Will be a bit cooler than Chapare as higher altitude. Main thing at that time of year is it rains a lot. I'm not a toiletry expert but you should be able to get the basics in Coroico. If you're fussy or looking for particular (esp imported) brands you'll probably have more luck in La Paz, or even bring them with you. Getting extra clothes / blankets in Coroico shouldn't be a problem.

Hotel Bella Vista is pretty decent, just a short walk below the plaza and has great views as its name suggests. Hostal Kory on the corner of the plaza also looks nice enough if you want to be right in the centre.

5

Thanks a lot for your answer James.

About the toiletries. No, I'm not super fussy, but I always try to buy my creams, shampoo.... as natural as possible (non animal tested, etc...). I'm not looking for Channel or Dior I just wanted them to be free of cruelty. In Villa Tunari there was a woman selling products made by women in the Amazons and that was just perfect. I guess if I have some free space in my suitcase I'll bring my own products but thanks a lot for your help.

About the hostels, I think Bella Vista is pretty near the center but not so right in the middle of the bustle as Hostal Kory, right? I mean, I want the place to be near the center but if possible, not in a noisy location. I'd normally not mind it but after such a long trip ..........

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Shampoos etc in Coroico will probably be the same as stuff you find on the street markets in La Paz (and some may not be original). The bigger chemists in La Paz will have a wider range of brands, and there are also quite a few shops selling supposedly natural products (which are generally popular in Bolivia), though I'm not sure all that they claim to be natural actually is. I'm sure Vicky at Senda Verde will know if there are any locally made natural products available in Coroico.

Bella Vista is on a road out of town, away from most of the bustle and generally quiet, its only a 5 min walk from the plaza.

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Wow, the location of Bella Vista sounds just perfect. It's right what I was looking for!

And, I'll send Vicky an email about my beauty problem :)

Thanks James.

8

Plenty of hygiene products for sale in Coroico unless you want something very specific as mentioned. We stayed in hostel Kory which was great. It wasn't noisy at all, although we were there mid week.

9

Thank you!

It's good to know there`s a variety of products. In case I don't have space in my luggage I suppose I'll buy whatever is available there. And maybe in the pharmacies they have better stuff ;)

If Bella Vista is full when I get there (I don't think so cause I'll arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday) Hostal Kory will be my second option.

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Silvia, how do you go from La Paz to Coroico ?
You will probably arrive at the bus terminal approx 200 metres from the Plaza. But it is uphill. I would take a taxi from the bus terminal and directly to the hotel.

If you do not have a map of Coroico (e.g. in a guidebook), these two maps are better than nothing:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/241/2882/1600/map%20of%20coroico.jpg
(From the blog http://brianandceci.blogspot.dk )
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/south-america/bolivia/coroico

The bus terminal is opposite neighbour to the soccer field.

11

Hi Erik!

Thanks for your long explanation!!

First, after much thought and being almost sure that I'm not gonna have enough space in my luggage (airline weight restrictions) to take with me from Barcelona the shampoo, gel, body milk, insect repellent, soap, etc. that I'm gonna need for more than 2 months. I've decided to spend a day in La Paz and buy everything there.

I've found a couple of Eco Markets there and I'm sure it'll be easy to buy stuff that hasn't been tested on animals. I wanted to avoid the cold whather of La Paz (also the altitude sickness) but it won't be so bad if I just spend one day there.

I know many people will think it's weird to go thru so much hassle just to buy some products but when you know the suffering all the animals being used in stupid tests go through, you don't wanna be part of it at all, at least if you have the choice... and I have it.

I have a reservation in Hotel Milton in La Paz (totally kitsch decor!).

Erik, you were asking me how I was travelling from La Paz to Coroico, right? I'm gonna take a mini bus from Villa Fatima as early as I can. My mom wanted me to take a private cab (it costs about 50 $) but I've heard those drivers drive like nuts in their all toyotas. Am I right or you think it's much better and more comfortable to take one of those cabs?

About the heavy rains and the insect bites, I'm not worried about it. I always travel to Bolivia during the rainy season and the other animal camps I've been was volunteering for until now were in el Chapare where humongous quantities of mosquitoes and sand flies bit me every day. There's nothing I can't do about that. I've tried everything from citronella, to all kind of repellents, garlic.. Those tiny beasts just love me and as I work with animals I can't use and any repellent that contains chemicals. After work I cover myself in calamine lotion and that really helps with the itching and the swelling.

Really, there's only 2 things that upset me about this trip: the altitude sickness in La Paz and feeling cold at night in La Senda Verde ;)

By the way, I'd like to use this post to recommend the other animal rescue center where I've been volunteering until now: Parque Machia. it's just 1 km away +/- from Villa Tunari. It's tough work but when you see how much you're helping all those abused animals you don't care about the long hours, the dirtiness, the strenuous physical effort, the heat, the rain or the mosquitoes. And you are so happy and proud of yourself when you leave that you are actually making plans to come back before you get back to your country! For me it's time to know another rescue center but I'm sure I'll go back to Machia pretty soon ;)

12

Greetings,
Kory is right in the middle of it, right on the square. If you dont mind a few flights of stairs, the private at the very top has great views, practically a private balcony, and is a great value. The family that runs it is nice. When i was working in la paz i would escape there when i could for my night off........
Called it my summer home.

Carla, at Carlas Garden Pub is an absolute gem. Her spot is down the stairs from Hotel Kory.

Have a great adventure!
J

13

Most of the drivers in Bolivia are nutters, its a bit of a lottery if you get a good one or not.....! There are minibuses or colectivos that leave from the same place in Villa Fatima. The colectivos are sort of a cross between a small minibus and a large saloon car, seat 6-8 people, are more expensive than the minibuses (still v cheap compared to Europe) but generally newer and in better condition, quicker and more comfortable. You could also get a private taxi but that will be a lot more expensive (and I'd guess more than $50).

I think Erik was referring to taxis in Coroico rather than for the journey there. Coroico has a newish bus terminal on the edge of the village which may or may not be in guide books. Its only about 200m from main plaza but a steep walk uphill, with quite a few steps. If you have a lot of luggage you might prefer to take a taxi to your hostal.

14

I checked out Bella Vista last July or so. The owner wanted like US$40 for a double so we said no thanks. For that price we could almost stay in the very posh Hotel Gloria. My Bolivian missus was negotiating so I doubt it's some Gringo price. Kory only cost $20 for their best room which was must better value. Cerro Verde seemed good value too, slightly cheaper than Kory. Although the balcony on Kory sealed the deal. Comments mentioned in the linked thread didn't match my experience with Kory at all; owners were very friendly and pool never emptied.

Either way it's not that important where you stay for one night.

By the way check out the Pizzeria Toto. It's just off the main plaza run by a friendly (although I suspect alcoholic:) french lady. Better than any pizza I've found in La Paz.