Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
founder of the once great Tupiza-based mining dynasty. As in most Bolivian mining towns,
the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century civic architecture around the square reflects
a past age of prosperity now long gone. The unexceptional Neoclassical church on the west
side dates from 1897.
Tupiza museum
On Calle Sucre • Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-6pm • Bs10
There's a
museum
of sorts behind the town hall just south of the plaza, which has a limited
collection of historic photographs and archeological finds. If you arrive during the official
opening times to find it closed, you'll have to ask in the town hall for someone to let you in.
Statue of Christ
The hillside to the west of town is topped by a
statue of Christ
, from where there are good
views overthetown'stinrooftopsandthenarrowvalley oftheRío Tupiza; toreach thestatue
just walk a few minutes west of the plaza along Avaroa, then follow the Stations of the Cross
up the hill.
El Cañon
There is a good walk (2hr return) up
El Cañon
, a deep, narrow canyon lined with spectac-
ularly eroded rock pinnacles. Walk out of town to the west, past the church, and follow the
road as it curves round behind the hill with the statue of Christ. From here, turn up the (usu-
ally) dry river bed that climbs into the mountains on your left - the canyon gets deeper and
narrower as you climb.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: TUPIZA
By train
The train station is three blocks east of the main plaza on Av Serrudo. You can
travel north to Uyuni (5hr 20min-5hr 45min) and Oruro (12hr 35min-14hr 15min) and south
to Villazón (2hr 55min-3hr) by train (
www.fca.com.bo
)
, a far better option than the bus.
The
Expreso del Sur
(2 weekly in each direction) is quicker and more comfortable than the
cheaper
Wara Wara del Sur
(2 weekly in each direction).
By bus
The terminal is on Av Araya, three blocks south and two blocks east of the main
square, Plaza Independencia. Several buses leave every morning and evening for Potosí (8hr)
and La Paz (15hr), and frequent services depart throughout the day for Villazón (2hr). A
couple of buses to Tarija (9hr) depart in the evening; if you want to travel this beautiful route
by day, take an early-morning bus to Villazón and pick up a connection from there. Sever-
al buses make the rough journey to Uyuni (6-9hr) at around 10am; you may have to change
buses at the town of Atocha halfway through the journey; there are sometimes quicker, more
comfortable jeeps for part of the journey.
