What are the best things to do in Cochabamba?
Top picks in Cochabamba include Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden, Medical Museum, Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny", Plaza Colon. See the full list and itinerary on this Cochabamba travel guide.
Photo: Parallelepiped09 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why visit Cochabamba
Travel guide for Cochabamba, Bolivia — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Cochabamba is a stop in Bolivia, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 2 days. If time is short, prioritise Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden, Medical Museum, Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny" instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 30–80 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal
Weather
From highland cool to tropical warmth
Experiences
Things to do in Cochabamba
1
Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden
2
Medical Museum
3
Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny"
4
Plaza Colon
Budget travel
Free things to do in Cochabamba
Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden
Plaza Colon
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Cochabamba itinerary (2 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Martín Cárdenas Botanical Garden
- Visit Medical Museum
- Visit Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny"
- Eat at Bufalo's Rodizio
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Plaza Colon
- Eat at Casa de Campo
Budget
Cochabamba trip cost
Budget
USD 15–35
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 30–80
per person / day
Luxury
USD 90–150+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Cochabamba
Estimated total (USD)
$1,760
≈ $880 per person · $251 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $55/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Cochabamba mid-range ground costs (budget 15–35 · mid 30–80 · luxury 90–150+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
Bufalo's Rodizio
A Brazilian churasco style restaurant where the waiters comes to your table with a good selection of freshly grilled meats. Delicious. Note
Casa de Campo
One of the upscale restaurants in Recoleta. Large plates of food (even the half-plate was too much) and good pique macho and other local dis
Dumbo
Bolivia's favorite family restaurant. The main joint on Heroinas is always packed, with four dining floors and enough dancers in animal suit
Heladeria Cristal
Very neat and clean.
Jacaranda
Not near the city center at all, but it has the reputation of best charque joint in town. Some people say that you can't leave Cochabamba wi
La Estancia
Upscale and pleasant Argentinian steak place. Portions aren't of the legendary Cochabamba size, but rather of the normal steak-portion size.
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Hotel Los Angeles
Decent budget hotel in a passable location, a solid 3-4 dark blocks from many of the restaurants and bars on Calle España. Singles Bs. 70, d
Apart Hotel Regina
The Apart Hotel Regina, offers both rooms and apartments with kitchens. It is close to El Prado and many popular night spots. However, noise
Gran Hotel Cochabamba
A range of options in terms of pricing from mid-range to high-end. A large convention center makes this hotel well-suited for business trave
Hotel Aranjuez
Free parking and daily breakfast provided. Caters to American tourists while also providing conference space. There is a restaurant, Los Esp
Hostal Bonaerense
Excellent location. Very thin walls. In-house restaurant.
Shopping
- La Cancha
- Paseo Aranjuez
- The Spitting Llama Bookstore & Outfitter
Nightlife
- Cafe Paris
- Cerebrito
- Lujo's Discoteca
- Panchos
- Picasso's
Museums & culture
- Medical Museum
- Natural History Museum "Alcide d'Orbigny"
In pictures
Cochabamba gallery
Photos: Parallelepiped09, MercedezMariaGuzmanArias, Jduranboger — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Cochabamba travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Cochabamba?
The dry season (roughly May–September) is ideal.
How many days do I need in Cochabamba?
Plan at least 2 days in Cochabamba for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Cochabamba?
Popular stays in Cochabamba include Hotel Los Angeles, Apart Hotel Regina, Gran Hotel Cochabamba. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Cochabamba cost?
On the ground in Cochabamba (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 15–35 per person per day, mid-range about 30–80, and luxury about 90–150+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
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