Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
match up sadly, but are clean enough and boast big windows. Some co
me wi
th TVs, others
with seat-less toilets and potentially lethal showers, so choose carefully.
Bs120
Hostal Las Piedras
Villa Elisa Calle 2, above the football field on the shortcut to the
Gruta 7191 6341.
Peaceful and homely, the German-run
Las Piedras
offers spotless, great-
value, great-view rooms (with or without bathrooms) named after precious stones and styled
with a creative dedication and attention to detail rare at budget level. Friendly owner Petra
Huber is a mine of local information in German, English and Spanish, while her partner -
owner of
Café Illampu
-
suppli
es artisan breads, yoghurt, honey and marmalade for breakfast
(included in room rates).
Bs100
Hostal Panchita
Plaza Enrique Peñaranda 02 2134242.
A friendly place with simple
rooms set around a small courtyard; those at the front have small balconies overlooking the
plaza. Unfortunat
ely th
e shared bathrooms are a bit grimy. There's a TV lounge and access to
kitchen facilities.
Bs70
Reggae House
One block west of Hostal El Mirador 7199 4337.
Popular with shoestring
travellers, this Bolivian-run hang-out appears only half built. Still the Spartan dorms are in-
expensive, the views from the rustic terrace are superb, and there's a sm
all b
ar (named
Mar-
ley's
, inevitably enough), which has ad hoc live music sessions. Dorms
Bs20
Residencial Sorata
Plaza Enrique Peñaranda 022136672.
Setintherambling, nineteenth-
century Casa Gunther, this hotel has a warren of ancient, dusky rooms with looming ceilings
and metre-thick walls, while outside there is a series of overgrown, flower-filled courtyards.
The older rooms have more charm, but the anonymous newer en-suite ones are more com-
fortable.
Man
ager Louis Demers is a good source of information and there's a reasonable res-
taurant.
Bs60
EATING AND DRINKING
Restaurant
opening times
are erratic: most places are open everyday except Tuesday, from
around 9-10am to 9-10pm. Some restaurants have shorter opening hours during the rainy
season (Nov to March), and a few close completely.
Altai Oasis
Inlodgeofthesamename 71519856.
Youcandinetothepealofwindchimes
and distant rattle of campground bongos on
Altai
's idyllic outdoor deck. It's one of Sorata's
best places to eat, with Eastern European dishes like goulash and
borsht
, numerous veggie
options and a wide range of breakfast choices. Look out for the log-carved board games.
Mains Bs25-50.
Café Illampu
On the road to the Gruta San Pedro, a 30-40min walk out of town.
Friendly
open-air café on the mountainside looking back across to Sorata, serving beer, coffee, juices,
good sandwiches (Bs15-20), snacks and delicious home-made bread, yoghurt and cakes in a
laidback atmosphere. Closed Tues, as well as the low-season months of Feb and March.
