A few days in Caranavi
Known as the coffee capital of Bolivia, Caranavi is located 3 hours from the city of La Paz. The road runs through the summit that is more than 4000 meters (13100 ft) and then descend to 976 meters (3200 ft) high. With a tropical climate and on the banks of two rivers, this city has many tourist areas, typical food and customs to know.
The tour begins at the Minasa terminal, in the Villa El Carmen neighbor (north of the city) where vehicles leave at all hours, as they wait for all seats to be sold to leave. Once the trip begins, it passes through the Incachaca dam, which provides water to various areas of the city to go up an asphalt road that borders the mountains. In the span of an hour, you will reach the summit (the highest place of the trip) at more than 4000meters (13100 ft) high to begin the descent and enter the Yungas of La Paz. In a few minutes more humidity is felt, the vegetation begins to become more exuberant and the climate becomes more temperate. Little by little, the snow-capped peaks, the Andean area, are left behind and the terrain is leveled until reaching Caranavi.
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| Panoramic view of Caranavi |
With a population of 60,000 inhabitants, the city has a variety of hotels from one to five stars, restaurants, coffee shops, fast food stalls and transportation to the attractions that are further away. Among the gastronomic variety that this region offers, the coffee and chocolate-based drinks and ice creams that are grown and processed locally stand out. In the same way, you can taste the well-known yungueño breakfast, a variety of river fish, locro, fried banana, among others.
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| Yungas breakfast |
In the surroundings, a few minutes by mobility, are the Avaroa, Santa Rosa and Quijarro waterfalls.
The first is located in Eduardo Avaroa Park, 27 km from the city. The entrance has a cost of Bs. 5 and inside there is a parking lot for vehicles, bathrooms, tables to rest and eat something. Walking a few minutes you will reach the waterfall that falls several meters into a natural pool where the visitor can swim and dive.
The Santa Rosa waterfall is located 5 minutes from the city and mobilities can be hired that make this journey from the terminal. The waterfall is publicly accessible, you can go with children as it has no dangerous places and itself is a stream of water that slides through the rocks, without free falls.
Finally, the Quijarro waterfall is the furthest from the city. Located an hour and a half by road and an extra half hour of walking, you have to go deep into the jungle to get to this place. With crystal clear waters and large natural pools, the waterfall is hidden between the mountains and the vegetation, has a free fall of approximately 60 meters and is the most impressive of the three. Guided tours are held in high season and guides can be found at the terminal on some days.
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| Quijarro Waterfall |
