Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A block downhill from the plaza,
Hotel Pahuichi
(r per person B$30)
is fairly primit-
ive but probably offers the best value in town. It also boasts Guanay's best and most popu-
lar restaurant.
A good alternative to Hotel Pahuichi (and right next door) is
Hotel Minero
(r per per-
son B$30)
.
Getting There & Away
For detailed information on walking routes from Sorata, see El Camino del Oro and Ma-
piri trek descriptions.
Boat
Access to the mining areas is by 4WD along the Llipi road, or by motorized dugout ca-
noes up the Río Mapiri. Boats to Mapiri leave daily at 9am (B$30, four hours) from
Puerto Mapiri when the river is high enough. The exhilarating three-hour downstream run
back to Guanay costs B$25. Charter boats take travelers to Rurre, but these are pricey
(B$2500 for a 10- to 15-person boat, 10 hours). Stock up on equipment and food. Some
agencies in La Paz offer this trip.
Bus
The bus offices are all around the plaza, but buses actually depart from a block away to-
ward the river. Four companies offer daily runs to and from La Paz via Caranavi and Yo-
losita (B$5, 10 hours). Departures in La Paz are from along Av Las Americas daily at
9am, 10:30am and 1:30pm (noon on Sunday). For Coroico, get off at Yolosita and catch a
lift up the hill.
Aucapata & Iskanwaya
2 / POP 4,146 / ELEV 2850M (9350FT)
The tiny, remote village of Aucapata is about as far off the beaten track as most people
will get. Perched on a ledge, on the shoulder of a dramatic peak, it's a great place to hole
up for a couple of days' reading, hiking and relaxing. While most of Aucapata's very few
visitors want to see Iskanwaya - somewhat optimistically dubbed 'Bolivia's Machu Pic-
chu' - they may well take one look at the 1500m descent to the ruins (and the correspond-
