Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION AND TOURS
TOURIST INFORMATION
Tarija's two main tourist information offices are friendly but of limited help; the Oficina
Departmental de Turismo (Mon-Fri 8.30am-noon & 2.30-6.30pm; 04 6672633) is on
the corner of Ingavi and Trigo; the Oficina Municipal de Turismo (Mon-Fri 8am-noon &
2.30-6.30pm; 04 6633581) is on the corner of Bolívar and Sucre. There is also an inter-
mittently open tourist information booth at the bus station ( 04 6636508). Viva Tours and
VTB Tours
are better sources of information. For permission to visit the
Reserva Biológica
Cordillera del Sama
and information on the region's other protected areas, visit Prometa at
Alejandro del Carpio and O'Connor ( 04 6633873,
prometa.org.bo
).
TOUR OPERATORS
VTB Tours ( 04 6643372,
vtb_hostalcarmen@hotmail.com
)
, inside
Hostal Carmen
at
Ingavi 784, and Viva Tours ( 04 6638325,
auriventur@hotmail.com
), at Bolivar 251,
run enjoyable tours (from around Bs100) of the Tarija Valley's vineyards with experienced
English-speaking guides. Both also take groups on the Inca Trail in the
Reserva Cordillera
del Sama
,
while VTB runs
palaeontology tours
.
ACCOMMODATION
Tarija has a good range of accommodation, almost all located in the city centre. Some of the
mid-range hotels are particularly good value. Book ahead if you're visiting during
Carnaval
.
All include breakfast unless stated.
Gran Hotel Tarija
Sucre 762 04 6642893.
Aimed predominantly at business travellers,
the rooms here are very comfortable - each has a/c, TV, safe and minibar
- thou
gh somewhat
lacking in character. There's also a restaurant-bar, sauna and wi-fi access.
Bs210
Hostal Carmen
Ingavi 784 04 6643372,
vtb_hostalcarmen@hotmail.com
.
This
rightly popular hostal has well-decorated en-suite rooms with wooden floors and furniture,
fans, TV and phones;
there
's also a small apartment with a kitchenette. Free wi-fi, filtered
water, tea and coffee.
Bs280
Hostal Miraflores
Sucre 920 04 6643355.
Converted colonial house with a sunny central
courtyard,efficientstaffandachoicebetween
decent
roomswithTVsandprivatebathrooms,
and tiny, spartan rooms without. No breakfast.
Bs100
Hostal Zeballos
Sucre 966 04 6642068.
Although the exterior could do with a fresh lick
of paint, this
hostal
is still a decent option. It has plain, clean rooms with private bathrooms -
as well as gloomy ones with shared faciliti
es that
are best avoided - and a patio overflowing
with plants. There's also a laundry service.
Bs100
Hosteria España
Corrado 546 04 6641690.
This welcoming
hosteria
has small but clean
rooms set around a flower-filled courtyard; the cheaper options with shared bathrooms,
