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TravelTips24 : South America : Bolivia : Oruro

Oruro

Oruro is a city in Bolivia famous for its carnival. It's been a major mining centre and railway hub, but with the closing of the mine and with more and more rail connections ceasing the town is about to lose its importance. But only three hours and fifteen Bolivianos by bus from La Paz, this is a nice getaway from the prices and stress of the capital.

Travel to Oruro & Visa Requirements

There frequent daily busses from La Paz to Oruro (3~4 hours). The ticket is Bs. 15. Another way to come in, is from Cochabamba. Buses departs every 30 minutes. The trip takes 4~5 hours, and will cost around 25 Bs.

Tours & Getting around Oruro

The streets are well planned and orientation is simple. The easily recognized Av. 6 de Agosto, featuring a railway track in the middle runs from north to south with the bus terminal in the north and the town center in the south. The center is small enough to get around by foot and micros heading to the main bus terminal cruise Av. 6 de Agosto, otherwise it's a ten minute walk.

The main square garden (Plaza 10 de Febrero) is the reference for all the locals and visitors.

The Virgen del Socavon temple, is where the carnival ends. It's situated in the west part of the city, and there you can also visit a little mining museum.

In the south part of the city, you can found the zoo, where you can see some of the very exotic Andean wildlife.

Oruro is a city fulfilled of legends and traditions. One of them tells the story about the origin of the carnival.

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Oruro attractions and sightseeing

A walk up on the hills surrounding the town is an easy and nice excursion offering decent views. Bring ice cream and water.

One of the best sight views is the Faro del Conchupata.

You can also visit el Cerrato, also know as El Corazón de Jesús.

Near the zoo, in the south part of the city, there is a museum of ethnography and folklore. There you can see, how the ancient locals, the Chipayas, used to live. Also you can see an invaluable collection of carnival outfits, including masks.

At 45 minutes from the center ville, there is a little town called Cala-Cala. There you can visit the Señor de Lagunas temple, some stone based prehistoric art.

You can also visit some of the traces of our legends:

  • In the south part of the city, over the hills, you can see a long stone with a snake form.
  • Near Cala-Cala, at the east of the city, there is a mountain with the shape of a geant crocodile with the head cut-off.
  • Coming from the north, tou can see a geant frog.
  • All around the city, there are some little sand monticles, made form the ants.

Oruro city tours

Oruro souvenirs & shopping

Oruro Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Fastfood places serving cheap burgers, chicken and papas fritas is found just about everywhere. They are especially common around the bus station. One fancier restaurant in the International Park Hotel connected to the bus station, all others in the same bracket is in the center.

  • Govinda, 6 de Octubre 6071. Ambitious vegetarian restaurant with a hare-krishna and müsli-sch approach to life. The whole menu is not always available, best to be there at lunch. Mains are Bs. 6 to 12.

Oruro nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Oruro cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

  • Hotel Bernal, Av. Brasil 701 (next to the busterminal), +591 2 5279468 [3]. Cheap option if you're spending the night to grab a bus the next morning. The clean rooms have cable tv.
  • Alojamiento Rosen, 21 de Enero No. 240 (right across the street from the main entrance to the bus station), +591 2 5277833. Very basic, shared bath, no shower. Twins for Bs. 30.
  • Hotel Sucre, situated at 6 de Octubre street, near Sucre street.
  • Hotel San Felipe de Austria, Av. San felipe between 6 de Octubre and Soria Galvarro.
  • Hotel Terminal, In the bus station.
  • Hotel Plaza, situated in the main plaza.
  • Hotel Eden, Situated at the corner of Bolivar street and Presidente Montes. Is the newest and finest hotel in town.
  • Hotel Repostero, On Sucre St. between Pagador and Potosi. No heating, bedroom/bathroom quality is variable. Very friendly staff.

Get out

Several bus companies run buses to Iquique and Arica in Chile from the main bus terminal. Trans Salvador is very comfortable and charge Bs. 90 for the trip, including a simple meal. The trip takes 10-14 hours depending on how busy the border crossing at Tambo Quemado is. Don't bring any food across the border as there is X-ray searches at Chungara on the Chilean side.

  • Swiss Bolivian Adventures http://www.andes-bolivia.ch Offer trips to Oruro from La Paz and arrange Hotels and tours for the World Famous Oruro Carnival. Contact them at: Handal Center, ground floor, Of.6 just in front of the main Post Office in Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz, near to San Francisco Square La Paz(005912 2406470)

This page was last edited at 20:23, on 10 November 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Emilio Carranza, Marcel Barrero, David and Hannes Mannerheim, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme, Ronald, Janki and Huttite and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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