Cochabamba Attractions & Tourism
"Things to Do & See in Cochabamba, Bolivia"Cochabamba is not known for its tourism, especially some regions outside the city, where the abundance of coca fields and plantations make it the kind of place where tourists should be advised to keep to the main roads.
However, there are some neat things to do in the city as well as outside of the city, just make sure you know where you are going and don't go wandering around any coca plantations. Below is a list of some attractions and sights in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
El Cristo de la Concordia: Located atop the huge San Pedro hill, though it is not as famous as the Jesus statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it is however the tallest Jesus statue in the world measuring 33 meters (109ft). This huge statue can be seen from anywhere within the city and offers some amazing sights over the city.
Weeping statue of Christ: Visit a chapel where you can find a sculpture of Christ. Witnesses have said the statue cries tears of human blood. A film crew also caught this phenomenon on film. Samples of the substance from the statue was given to a lab in the U.S.A. for testing. They found that the substance was of human blood.
Palacio de Portales (Simon Patino Palace): This huge mansion was built in the early 1900's for one the world's richest man at that time, named Simon Patino. He was nicknamed "The Andean Rockefeller" and owned numerous mines in Bolivia. The mansion was designed by a French architect and features stunning architecture.
Archeological Museum is located off the plaza at Calle Jordan & Ave. Aguirre. It is one of the best museums in Bolivia. The museum exhibits thousands of artifacts from about 7,000 years ago. Some items on display are fossils, pottery, weapons, skulls & bones, etc.
Laguna Alalay is a lake located just off of Ave. Ruben Dario & Ave. 9 de Abril. The lake has paved walking and biking paths going around the lake. It is also a popular place to spot numerous birds. Sections of the lake are swampy and it attracts exotic birds.
Torotoro National Park: If your adventurous, explore this park where you'll find dinosaur footprints, fossils, unexplored caves, cave paintings, ruins, secluded lakes, etc. It is about a 7-8 hour bus ride from Cochabamba. Though the park is not visited often it is definitely recommended and worth your time.
Plaza 14 de Septiembre is located in the center of Cochabamba. It is a peacful plaza with flower-filled gardens and colonial builidings that line the square plaza. Many locals go here to relax under the shaded palm trees or take a walk around the plaza.
La Cancha is said to be the largest open-air market in South America. It is open 7 days a week, with Wednesday and Saturday being the busiest days. It is a great place to go to get a feel of the traditional customs and culture of the city and the surrounding areas. The market is mostly made up of agricultural products and a wide variety of Bolivian food. The market is located between Avenida San Martin and Avenida Repuublica in the south side of the city, about nine blocks south of Plaza 14 de Septiembre.
Laguna Angostura is a man-made lake 10 miles (17km) from Cochabamba. It is just off the old road that goes to Santa Cruz and the road leads to Tarata. Here you find some nice hotels, bars, and restaurants overlooking the lake. Restaurants serve fresh fish out of the lake. There are boats for hire, where you can fish or go for a cruise.
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