James, Becky and myself arrived into Cochabamba around 05:30 ... with no accomodation booked so we had to just take a taxi into town and walk from place to place in the dark. Eventually found a hotel (Hotel Boston) which was charging Bs160 per night.
Very expensive for Bolivia but we all ended up staying here for 3 nights as it was a good spot and very central. We had tried a few other places which had no rooms so we figured it would be difficult to get a place as it was Carnaval weekend in Cochabamba.
Me, James and Becky:
Took a walk around the centre later that afternoon and went down to the famous Cochabamba market ... so many small alleyways of markets and street vendors selling absolutely everything!
Some pictures of Cochabamba:
Saturday 12th March
Carnaval day!
We headed down to the Carnaval about 10:00 and spent the entire day there. It was like Oruro all over again but on a much smaller scale. The mornings parades were family orientated but in the afternoon there were bands and dancers which was like a mini Oruro Carnaval.
Oruro seems to be alot more organised for Carnaval but the weather in Cochabamba was super. Sunshine all day. We spent the day chatting with local Bolvians, having water/foam fights, eating tasty street food and drinking beers.
Later that evening some local Bolivians took us out to a club until the early hours of the morning. A very late night! I love Bolivian Carnaval!
Sunday 13th March
Very very tired after last nights Carnaval celebrations so had a rather lazy day today, although later in the afternoon myself, James and Becky walked down and got a cable car up to the ´Christ the Redeemer´ monument just outside Cochabamba centre ... which is apparantly slightly taller than the one in Rio, Brasil!
Nice views over the city from the top.
Monday 14th March
Got up early and decided to do some touristy stuff . Went to see the Convent de St Teresa, which was really good.
Later I went down to the Archaeology musuem but wasnt impressed with this place too much.
Checked out of the hotel at 15:00 and made my way down to the microbus terminal but couldnt get a bus out of Cochabamba heading to Villa Tunari until 19:30 (Bs15) so had to return to back to the hotel and asked them to mind my backpack for a few hours while I hung out in the town centre.
Went back down later to get my bus. Villa Tunari is a small town on the road east of Cochabamba on the way to Santa Cruz. I was told the journey would only take 3 hours ... turned out to be 6 hours! Arrived into the town about 01:30 with no accommodation! Walked around to loads of places knocking on doors trying to get a bed for the night but the place looked like a ghost town except for really dodgy packs of stray dogs wandering the streets!
Eventually found a place on the main square in Villa Tunari ... so happy to get some rest for the night!
Tuesday 15th March
Was up early this morning as I wanted to see Parque Machia (an animal sanctuary) which was the reason I stopped off in Villa Tunari on my way to Santa Cruz. Hostel was pretty flexible about checking out so I had the whole morning to see Parque Machia.
Spent a few hours in the Parque .. saw loads of monkeys, a bear and a puma.
The Parque offer volunteering opportunities for backpackers who want to stay here for minimum 2 weeks. Becky and James who I have been travelling with for the past week and a half arrived here yesterday to do some volunteering.
Some photos from the viewpoint in Parque Machia:
In the afternoon, I walked around Villa Tunari and took some photos.
Later I checked out of the hostel and attempted to get a bus to Santa Cruz (unsuccessfully). I would have had to stay another night and get the bus tomorrow but instead I decided to catch a local taxi (7Bs) to the next town east (which literally meant me sitting in the boot of some guys car). From the next town I took another taxi again (10Bs) still heading east and arrived in another town called Ivirganzama, and from here I found a guy with a minibus who was travelling to Santa Cruz (45Bs). Long journey in the minibus with what must have been the most cautious and slowest Bolivian driver I have ever encountered.We eventually arrived into Santa Cruz about 23:30 ... a long day travelling!
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