Chakana.info
La
Chakana
Café/ Restaurant/ Tours
Plaza
Principal
Samaipata
Bolivia
Tel:(591)39446146
chakanabol@
yahoo.com
Samaipata
Accommodation,
places to eat and drink, organized tours
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Samaipata, (Alt. 1600m)
"Descanso en las Alturas", or translated from (the Inca language) Quechua:
"Rest in the heights" is a perfect spot for a couple of days of
relaxation. Lots of sunshine, an all year round pleasant
temperature and beautiful surroundings make this a favorable holiday center
What
to do in
Town
Museo
Arqueológico
This regional museum has a model of the ruins of El Fuerte. Besides there is a display of provincial pottery and an exhibition on the 10.000 years old cave paintings at Mataral. Finally there is an exhibition about the inhabitants of the valleys around Samaipata.
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Entry is 5 Bs or a Combined ticket with entrance to El Fuerte Bs 20, -
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Opening hours are from 9 am to noon and from 2.30 to 5.30 PM.
Art, Souvenirs and Specialty shops
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Opposite the museum is an interesting shop selling local souvenirs, clothes, textiles and wines.
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Michael Blendinger sells textiles from the countryside around Samaipata.
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La Vispera (T:(3) 9446082) has a beautiful herb garden and they sell herb-/ medical teas and massage oils.
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Panadería Gerlinde, (T:(3) 9446175) a German bakery, sells delicious cakes, bread, yogurt and jam.
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German Lisa Lösel (T:(3) 9446061) next to the Entel office runs a Patchwork Quilt Shop.
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Landhaus (T:(3) 9446257) has next to their café a gallery selling ceramics
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Andoriña Galeria de Fotografias, one block south of Plaza, has a permanent exhibition
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El Sol, a co-operative shop run by local women sell organic products and local handy crafts.
Chess (Ajedrez).
Café International
an
imposing chess center, next to the museum offers any
visitor to play chess or to get some training/ advice.
The Samaipata youth chess club, which is located here, has won
many prizes.
Open all day, except Monday and Wednesday.
Swimming/ bathing/ sauna
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Traudi (T:(3) 9446094), has a lovely outdoor pool (Entry Bs 15,-).
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Landhaus (T:(3) 9446033) has a Finnish sauna. Entry US$20,-. (Up to 4 persons). Notice 2 hours in advance, as the sauna has to be heated up.
Market
Everyday
there is the partly indoor market, one block south of the Plaza, selling
mainly food products. On Saturday and Sunday the market extends with
many stalls selling household articles, clothes etc. Many farmers from
around Samaipata come to sell their products.
What
to do out of town
Excursions:
(click
on name to see description)
National
Park
Amboró,
La
Pajcha, ,Las Cuevas, Laguna Volcán, Volcanes, Laguna Quirusillas
Horse
riding
A nice excursion makes a ride to the ruins of El Fuerte.
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La Vispera (T:(3) 9446082) rents horses out for $7,- an hour.
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On Samaipata's main road going to the Santa Cruz highway there is a place renting out horses for Bs 10,- an hour
Cycling
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A nice but very demanding day tour is to La Yunga (Entrance point of the Amboró National Park) and back via Mairana (44 km).
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A strenuous day tour via Valle Abajo - Mairana- Samaipata (33km).
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Ultimately a ride all the way down to Angostura (60 km) on the paved road to Santa Cruz is fun.
Walking
The main plaza of Samaipata is the starting point for several splendid day- and half day walks into the surrounding hills.
There are two excellent, adventurous Car or Jeep trips possible but take into consideration the sometimes-bad road conditions, especially after rainfall.
2- day Tour to Postrevalle (180 km)-
(Inform at Samaipata about
road conditions.)
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Day 1: via the scenic road San Juan- La Pajcha (beautiful waterfall) to Postrer Valle. Here is accommodation available.
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Day 2: to La Willka (Waterfall) - Tierras Nuevas – Laguna de Quirusillas – Quirusillas - Mairana- Samaipata. This scenic roads takes you to traditional villages and there is hardly any traffic.
4-day Tour to Sucre via Tarabuco (440 km).
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Day 1: via Mataral (very old cave paintings, (Pinturas Rupestres) 10.000 year old) to Vallegrande a pleasant “white” colonial town with interesting textiles. There are many fiestas with traditional music and dancing. On Sunday there is a big market.
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Day 2: to Pucará from where it is possible to visit La Hiquera (20km) where Ché Guevara was executed. Via the cable bridge at the Rio Grande and Nuevo Mundo to Villa Serano a very pleasant mountain village.
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Day 3 is a very spectacular drive into the mountains and the high Plaines. Via Zudañez, a village which is worth to explore, to Tarabuco where on Sunday one of the most interesting markets of Bolivia is held.
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The 4th day is a 70 km drive to Sucre on a mainly paved road
How to get
there.
There is a paved road connecting Samaipata with the other parts of
Bolivia.
From Santa Cruz to
Samaipata:
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Bus: there are direct busses leaving from the old road to Cochabamba , tercer Anillo at 16.00. The fare is 15 BS and takes about 3 hours.
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Taxi service (T: 3335067) from Avenida Omar Chávez Ortiz, corner Soliz de Holquin (2 blocks from the old bus terminal). Price is 25 Bs p.p. with 4 passengers, or a private taxi: Bs 100,-. Driving time 2.5 hour.
From Samaipata to Santa Cruz:
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Public Bus: every morning at 4 .30 AM or it’s possible to stop a regional bus on the main road at any time (most in the morning after 7.00). On Sundays there are busses leaving from the main plaza between 12.00 and 16.00.
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Private bus of Don Ismael leaves every morning at at 5.30 (T:(3) 9446199)
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Taxi stand (T: (3) 9446133) is on the main road to Santa Cruz near the Petrol Station.
From Samaipata to Sucre:
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Buses: several services pass by Samaipata near the taxi stand on the main road between 6.30 PM and 7.30 PM Its possible to buy a bus ticket at the taxi office on the main road or at café Amboró one day in advance. The price is between 70 and 80 Bs. Best bus line is Flota Copacabana (servicio Cama).
From Sucre to Samaipata:
One can take any nightly bus heading for Santa Cruz.
From Samaipata to Cochabamba (via old road) :
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Bus: 2-3 times a week a direct bus is leaving from Mairana(16 km from Samaipata). This night service is rather inconvenient. It is recommended to travel to Cochabamba and La Paz via the new road. Busses leave from Santa Cruz.
From Samaipata to Vallegrande:
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Bus: daily, several busses pass by Samaipata. From there it is possible to go on to Pucara (4-6 hours) and La Higuera (the site of Ché Guevara’s execution) (Hardly any transport).
Services in Samaipata
Accommodation, places to eat and drink, organized tours