Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Food
The eating recommendations provided in this topic are ordered by author preference. In
larger cities, they are also often broken down by neighborhood where applicable.
Altiplano fare tends to be starchy and full of carbo- hydrates. In the lowlands, fish, fruit
and vegetables feature more prominently. Meat invariably dominates and is usually ac-
companied by rice, a starchy tuber (usually potato) and shredded lettuce. Often, the whole
affair is drowned with
llajua
(a fiery tomato-based salsa). The soups are a specialty.
Desayuno
(breakfast) consists of little more than coffee and a bread roll, and is often
followed by a mid-morning street snack such as a
salteña
(meat and vegetable pasty),
tu-
cumana
(an empanada-like pastry) or empanada.
Almuerzo
(lunch) is the main meal of the day. The best-value meals are found in and
around markets (often under B$10) and at no-frills restaurants offering set lunches (usu-
ally between B$15 and B$40).
Cena,
the evening meal, is mostly served à la carte. Many
highlanders prefer a light
té
(tea) instead of an evening meal.
Vegetarian options are on the rise, but you'll be stuck with lots of overly cooked veget-
ables, rice, potatoes, pizza and pasta. Quinoa is a super grain, perfect for vegetarians.
Got a nut allergy?
Maní
means 'peanut' and is a popular ingredient, especially in soups.
Basics
Do not drink tap water, or eat unpeeled vegetables and fruits. You will likely get traveler's
stomache (a nice euphemism for diarrhea), and if you do, stay hydrated and eat plain food.
Formal tipping is haphazard except in the nicer restaurants. Elsewhere, locals leave
coins amounting to a maximum of 10% of the total in recognition of good service.
PRICE RANGES
The following price ranges refer to the cost of a main meal:
$
less than B$30 (US$4.20)
$$
B$30-60 (US$4.20-8.50)
$$$
more than B$60 (US$8.50)
