THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Bolivia - page 354

Fremen Calle Beni 79 03 3338535, andes-amazonia.com . A professional Bolivia-wide
organization offering all manner of trips, including river tours from Trinidad.
Ruta Verde 21 de Mayo 332 03 3396470, rutaverdebolivia.com . Highly recommended
agency run by a very helpful couple, Gijs and Maria, who have excellent local knowledge
and speak Spanish, Dutch and English. A superb choice for Noel Kempff, the Pantanal and
Amboró in particular.
ACCOMMODATION
Possibly because building and running luxury hotels is a good way of investing and launder-
ing dirty money, there's an oversupply of top-end accommodation in Santa Cruz. However,
most of it is located on the outskirts in the wealthy Barrio Equipetrol, about 5km northwest
of the city centre. Most mid-range and budget accommodation by contrast is conveniently
located in or around the old city centre. A fan or air conditioning is pretty much essential -
all but the cheapest rooms have one or the other.
BUDGET
Alojamiento Santa Bárbara Santa Bárbara 181 03 3321817. This no-frills budget option
is strictly for shoestring travellers. It has tight, musty r oom s with tile d floo rs and shared bath-
rooms (but no fans) around a small courtyard. Dorms Bs25 ; doubles Bs100
Hotel Amazonas Junín 214 03 3334583. Rooms here vary widely, so choose carefully:
some resemble darkened cells, but others are far nicer , with more space and light, and less of
a tropical-damp feel. All have TVs and phones. Bs150
Hotel Sarah Sarah 85 03 3322425, [e-mail] . A series of colourful,
slightly kitsch murals on tropical themes give this hotel plent y of character. The en-suite
rooms are on the small side, but well kept, and come with TVs. Bs160
Jodanga Backpackers' Hostel El Fuerte 1380 03 3396542, jodanga.com . Run by
an extremely helpful Bolivian-Australian couple, this excellent Hostelling International-af-
filiated backpacker haven is a 20min walk from the plaza. It has private rooms (with shared
or en-suite bathrooms) and six- to ten-bed dorms, plus a swimming pool, jacuzzi, TV/DVD
room ,commu nalki tchen,internetaccessandlaundryservice.Ratesincludebreakfast.Dorms
Bs70 ; doubles Bs170
Residencial Bolívar Sucre 131 03 3342500, [e-mail] . This
longstanding backpackers' haunt has helpful staff and small but clean rooms with fans and
shared or private bathrooms around a cool, leafy patio with hammocks and se veral resident
touca ns. It's very popular, so reserve in advance. Breakfast included. Dorms Bs70 ; doubles
Bs160