Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING AND DRINKING
There are several basic restaurants on Calle Santiesteban, all of which open late and close
early, and most of which offer good value
almuerzos
. If you're after an early breakfast, head
for the small
covered market
on the same street.
Doña Anita
Ballivián, just off the main square.
A longstanding San Ignacio institution pop-
ular with locals and conveniently open right through the day; egg and cheese-garnished ham-
burgers are the house speciality though they also do sandwiches, fresh fruit juices and the
like.
Daily 7am-11pm.
Restaurante Ecoturistico
Antonio de Orellana, three blocks from the plaza 03
4822709.
An über-designer mirage of plate glass and hardwood columns, this NGO-funded
restaurant is the unlikeliest edifice in San Ignacio, perhaps the whole Beni, designed and ad-
ministered by multi-talented architect Yadiye Herrera; she even sings her own self-penned
songs in the lovely upstairs bar. Service couldn't be friendlier and the great-value food
(Bs20-30) is excellent, ranging from fried fish with yucca and plantain to a creamy macaroni
cheese.
Daily 6.30pm-11.30pm; bar: daily 8pm till late.
SHOPPING
Centro Artesanal Tiurina
Alfonso Elorriaga 7688 3724.
Just round the corner from the
church, with a great selection of heavy, embroidered cotton hammocks, shirts, dresses and
tablecloths, as well as musical instruments and palm-leaf
artesanía
.
Reserva de la Biosfera del Beni
Entry must be arranged in advance with the reserve office in San Borja, at the junction of Trinidad and 18 de
Noviembre • 03 8953898 • Micros for San Borja (frequent; 3-4hr) depart throughout the day from the bus
terminal in Rurrenabaque; the reserve office can advise on transport to and within the reserve itself
Covering some 1350 square kilometres of savannah and rainforest to the east of San Borja,
the
Reserva de la Biosfera del Beni
(Beni Biosphere Reserve) was one of the first protected
areas to be established in Bolivia. Standing at the intersection of two important biogeograph-
ical zones, the reserve is exceptionally biodiverse, hosting some five hundred species of birds
and one hundred species of mammals - these include almost half the protected species in
Bolivia, among them many that are in danger of extinction. Illegal hunting, unfortunately,
still poses a major threat. While the reserve, did, at one time, offer very well-organized vis-
itor facilities and ecotours, funds have now dried up, with barely enough money to support a
skeleton staff of two rangers. You can still visit, though there's no accommodation and you'll
havetobringinallyourownfoodandwater,aswellasatentorhammock.Thefundingcrisis
may change in future; check with
SERNAP
in La Paz for the current situation if you don't
have time to visit the office in San Borja.
