Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From Oruro, buses leave daily for Huachacalla; there you'll have to arrange onward transportation to Chipaya,
30km beyond. From Sabaya, it takes about an hour to get there. Ask for Jaime Soruco, who is the owner of the
restaurant and hotel in the village, and who will be willing to help visitors. It costs about B$400 to get there and
back, with a wait of two to three hours. Alternatively, you can reach Sabaya or Huachacalla on any bus between
Oruro and Iquique along a bumpy road.
In addition, a few tour companies organize visits to the village; check with Charlie Tours (
Click here
)
in
Oruro. Note that visiting the Chipaya in the rainy season is practically impossible, as the roads get washed away.
Sights & Activities
Tupiza's main attraction is the surrounding countryside, best seen on foot or horseback.
The short hike up
Cerro Corazón de Jesús
, flanked by the Stations of the Cross, is a
pleasant morning or evening outing when the low sun brings out the fiery reds of the sur-
rounding countryside.
Mercado Negro
(Junín, btwn Av Santa Cruz & Chichas)
The ironically permanent
mercado negro
(black
market) has a mishmash of consumer goods, and occupies an entire block between Av
Santa Cruz and Chichas.
MARKET
Street Markets
Lively street markets convene Thursday and Saturday mornings near the train station. A
kilometer south of town, the
Mercado Campesino
features more of the same on Monday,
Thursday and Saturday.
MARKET
Mercado de Ferias
The central Mercado de Ferias has lots of produce stalls and
comedores
upstairs.
MARKET
Hotel Mitru Pool
(Chichas 187; per half-day B$20)
Nonguests can enjoy Hotel Mitru's solar-heated swim-
ming pool. In the high season it has a snack bar with drinks, sandwiches and pizzas.
SWIMMING
