Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If anything, though, it's the magnificent
garden
that really impresses, laid out in perfect pro-
portion by Japanese specialists and featuring a beautiful and rare ginkgo tree. Patiño never
actually lived here, as by the time the palace was complete he was based permanently over-
seas, and the building now houses the Instituto Cultural Simón I. Patiño, a charity set up in
his name to promote education and literacy.
Cristo de la Concordia
Above Avenida Ruben Dario •
Cristo de la Concordia
It's possible to climb inside the statue Sat & Sun
10am-6.30pm • Bs2 • Cable car Daily except Mon 10am-7pm • Bs6 return
About 1.5km east of the city centre, on the summit of the Serrania de San Pedro, stands the
Cristo de la Concordia
, a monumental statue of Christ with arms outstretched overlooking
the city. The statue was modelled on the more famous Christ figure that looms over Río de
Janeiro in Brazil but, as locals will proudly tell you, it's just that little bit taller, measuring
over 34m (40m, if you include the pedestal), and is thus the tallest statue in South America.
Towering high above the city and weighing over two thousand tons, by Bolivian standards
it's a truly massive monument.
From a station at the eastern end of Avenida Las Heroínas, a modern
cable car
(
teleférico
)
makes the five-minute journey up the Serrania de San Pedro to the statue (the alternatives are
a hard slog up the steps at the end of Avenida Heroínas or a more expensive taxi ride). A visit
to the foot of the Cristo is popular with locals, particularly at weekends, but it never gets too
crowded and is usually fairly peaceful. The
views
of the city and surrounding valley from the
base of the statue are splendid, and on weekends you can climb up the spiral staircase inside
the hollow steel figure for an even better panorama. There's also a small
café
, and several
stalls rent binoculars and telescopes.
COCHABAMBA'S STREET NUMBERS
Cochabamba's
street numbers
are prefixed N, S, E or O - north, south, east or west - de-
pending on whether they run north or south from Avenida Heroínas, or east or west from
Avenida Ayacucho. The first two digits in the street number refer to the block in terms of
how far it is from these two major intersections, the second two to the number of the build-
ing: thus España N-0349 is on España at no. 49, three blocks north of the intersection with
Avenida Heroínas.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: COCHABAMBA
By plane
Jorge Wilsterman airport ( 04 4222846) is a few kilometres southwest of the city;
a taxi into the centre costs Bs25-35; alternatively, take micro B, which goes up Av Ayacucho
to Plaza 14 de Septiembre. There are several daily flights to La Paz and Santa Cruz, and less
frequent services to Riberalta, Sucre, Tarija and Trinidad. In addition, there are international
