Bolivia : Destinations : Cochabamba

Cochabamba

Capital of the region of the same name, it's located 2,558 meters (8,400ft) above sea level. It covers an area of 55,631 Km (34,568mi) and accounts for a population of 1,110,205 inhabitants (Census of 1992).  Its name originates from the Spanish sound derived from the Quechua name Kochapampa, which speaks of an area subject to flooding, literally "The Plain of Chacos." It is the valley of eternal Springtime in the heart of Bolivia, half way between the large eastern flatlands and the high plateaus. Its inhabitants enjoy the ideal climate, with a landscape that offers peaked mountains, humid, tropical valleys, and a temperate countryside. In addition to this, various valleys are located at different altitudes, with the most important being those of Cochabamba, the highest of the valleys, that became the capital of all the surrounding valleys of Bolivia. History tells that Cochabamba was founded twice. The first founding occurred on August 15, 1571, by Captain Gerónimo de Osorio. Almost three years later, on January 1, 1574, Sebastián Barba de Padilla, "reestablished" the land of the valleys, under the express mandate sent by the viceroy Francisco de Toledo, who was called the "Great Organizer of Perú." Like the majority of cities in Bolivia, Cochabamba preserves, to this day, its colonial appearance, and the best way to observe this is to wander the streets and appreciate the Plaza 14th of September or the Portales Palace, a spectacular building constructed by Simón Patiño, the "baron of tin."