Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tions follow on the subsequent Sunday. Alcohol is forbidden at this time. Pilgrims from all
over Bolivia arrive during the following month, some making the trip on foot (including
an annual procession from Tarija).
Micros
(B$7, 90 minutes) from Tarija to Padcaya depart every 20 minutes from the
Parada del Chaco. Less frequent services run to Chaguaya from the same place, leaving
midafternoon.
LA FIESTA DE LECHE Y QUESO
Tiny
Rosillas
(population 1000), a satellite town located to the west of Padcaya, is the host of an off-the-wall cel-
ebration dedicated to the products provided by our uddered amiga, the humble moo-cow. Taking place during the
last week of March, the Fiesta de Leche y Queso is a cheesy celebration that the locals milk for all it's worth. It's
a slightly weird affair, with something resembling a bovine beauty pageant, bull-fighting and plenty of music. It
concludes with the local ranchers asking Pachamama (Mother Earth) for a bountiful harvest so they can do it all
again the following year.
Reserva Biológica Cordillera de Sama
The Sama Biological Reserve protects representative samples of both the Altiplano and
inter-Andean valley ecosystems. In the highland portion of the reserve (3400m above sea
level), one can visit the Tajzara lakes, a RAMSAR site of international importance for
aquatic birds. Temperatures in the highlands stay quite chilly year-round but are slightly
more comfortable in the drier winter months (May to August). The best time to visit the
lower elevations is in the summer, when it's warm enough to swim.
The reserve is administered by Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SERNAP),
which has an office opposite the bus terminal (
Click here
)
in Tarija. Entry to the reserve
costs US$15 and the fee is not included in the prices offered by tour companies.
TAJZARA SECTION
The area known as Tajzara lies high on the cold and windy
puna
(high open grasslands) of
western Tarija department. Here, several shallow flamingo-filled lagoons appear like jew-
els in the harsh Altiplano, vegetated only by
thola
(a small desert bush) and
paja brava
(spiky grass of the high Altiplano). Tarija's New Agers consider Tajzara to be a natural
power site while the locals claim that the lakes are haunted by nocturnal spirit voices and
