Situated in a valley of the same name in the Andes Mountain Range lies the beautiful city of Cochabamba, the third largest city in Bolivia. It derives its name from the words Quechua, which means lake and Pampa, which means open plain. It is known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ because of the Spring-like climate that it experiences through out the year. It is also fondly known as ‘The Garden City’ and ‘La Llajta’, which means ‘town’ in the native language.
The city was inhabited more than a thousand years ago because of its pleasing climate and the fertile soil. The people who settled here first were those from indigenous tribes. Later in 1542, the first Spanish, Garci Ruiz de Orellana arrived here and bought a major portion of the land from the tribal chiefs. The House of Mayorazgo, which was his residence here, still stands to date in the Cala Cala area of Cochabamba.
Today Cochabamba is one of the most advanced and modern cities in Bolivia. It is also Bolivia’s industrial town while its mild climate makes it suitable for agriculture, which is also carried out here on a large scale. Crops such as potatoes, coffee, grains, cocoa beans, tobacco, sugarcane and fruits can be found in the Chapare Tropical Lowlands. The city presents a perfect blend of the past and modern architecture with fabulous parks that highlight the beauty even further.
With a vibrant nightlife, great gastronomical delights and a wonderful array of monuments and parks to explore, Cochabamba is a great place for tourists. The most famous landmark of the city is the Cristo de la Concordia, a gigantic statue of Christ that stands high up on the San Pedro hills overlooking the valley. One can climb up through this statue to the top to get a spectacular view of the marvelous city of Cochabamba down below in the valley.
The Palacio Portales is a remarkable example of French Renaissance architecture and houses a valuable art collection besides a huge library. If you wish to do some shopping, try the La-Cancha, a traditional market, which is one of the largest open air markets in South America. El Prado is where you will find all the restaurants, bars, nightclubs all of which remain open late through the night. Trekking, fishing, bird watching, swimming, paragliding and golf are some of the outdoor activities that visitors can indulge in here.
The Jórge Wilstermann International Airport in Cochabamba receives both domestic as well as international flights. It is also well-connected to the neighboring towns and cities.
Photo by Jaime Caviedes provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Jaime Caviedes provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Francis Jay provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Jaime Caviedes provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by matias Fogliacco provided courtesy of Panoramio.com