Welcome to our Travel Guide of Cobija City. You will find here a comprehensive information over Cobija, including Cobija hotels, Cobija history, Cobija climate, around Cobija, activities in Cobija, festivals and events, travel companies and hostels.
Capital of the Pando and wettest (1770mm of precipitation annually) and most humid spot of Bolivia, Cobija sits on a sharp bend of the Río Acre. Cobija means covering and, with a climate that makes you feel as though you are being smothered with a soggy blanket, it certainly lives up to its name.
Cobija was founded in 1906 under the name Bahía, and in the 1940s it boomed as a rubber-producing center. The fortunes of the town dwindled with the shriveling of that industry and it has been reduced to little more than a forgotten village, albeit with a Japanese-funded hospital and a hightech Brazil nut processing plant.
Emergency Police at main plaza.
Immigration Bolivian immigration (9:00-17:00 Mon- Fri) is in the Prefectural building on the main plaza, with another branch at the airport.
Internet Access Internet use is expensive and to connect you will need to head to Calle Mercado, predictably located next to the market.
Laundry Some near market.
Medical Services Main hospital for medical attention.
Money In addition to giving cash advances on Visa and MasterCard and changing US dollars, Prodem (T. 8422800, Plaza Principal # 186) has an ATM; there are a bunch of other ATMs around the plaza.
Post and Telephone The post office is also on the plaza and a number of telephone places are nearby.
Electricity 220V.
The saying Las golondrinas nunca migran de Cochabamba (The swallows never migrate from Cochabamba) aptly describes what cochabambinos believe is the most comfortable climate of the world, with warm, dry, sunny days and cool nights.
The town rambles over a series of hills, giving it a certain desultory charm. If you spend a day here, take a look at the remaining tropical wooden buildings in the center, and the lovely avenues of royal palms around the plaza.
The cathedral has a series of naive paintings from the life of Christ.
The biggest annual bash of Pando, the Feria de Muestras (August 18 to 27), features local artisans and is held at the extreme western end of town, near the Río Acre.
A small Natural History Museum (6 de Febrero, 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00 Mon-Fri) is filled with the usual collection of pickled animal bits.
Cobija is near Rio Acre, where is possible rent motor boats to surf over the river.
Cobija offers virgin forests to bird-watching and large rivers for fishing, ask at Alcaldia where to find information over guides you will need.
January 1: New Year 's Day.
February or March (changeable date): Carnival.
April (Changeable date): Easter.
Palm Sunday: The Saturday before Easter. People enter temples with branches which the clergy bless.
Holy Thursday: It is a tradition of the people to visit 12 temples of the city, one for each apostle, in this day.
Good Friday: Procession of the Holy Sepulchre.
June (Changeable date):
Corpus Christie: Commemoration of the Body of Christ.
September 21: Day of Spring. Youth and Students of Bolivia.
September 24: Anniversary of Pando.
November 1: Todos Santos (All Saints Day).
This is a pre-columbian tradition when the people go to visit the Tombs prepared at home by the relatives of the deceased and where the friends are offered the same food and drink liked by him.
November 2: Difuntos (Day of the Deceased)
The tombs are dismantled and the people celebrate in the memory of the deceased.
November 3: Alma Cacharpaya (Soul of the Calypsobreakers)
Those in charge of dismantling the tombs show up in the home of the deceased with an orchestra so that the soul of the deceased will be happy.
December 24 and 25: Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
Some tour company near main plaza.
Hostería Sucre (T. 8423944, Sucre # 56 near Suárez) A block and a half from the plaza, this is a supremely friendly family-run place with clean, airy rooms, all with cable TV, bathroom and ceiling fan. Coffee and cold water are available all day. It represents the best value at the lower end of the price scale.
Hotel Nanijos (T. 8422230, 6 de Agosto # 147) A large, modern hotel with the best facilities in town. All rooms have tiled floors and cable TV and the courtyard splash pool is very welcome in the sticky climate.
Panadería la Oriental (Molina) Cakes, bread and buns are on offer at this authentic Chinese bakery.
Hong Kong (Molina) Next door to the bakery, with standard Chinese fare in the usual big portions.
Esquina de la Abuela (Molina near Sucre) This is nicest eatery of Cobija with alfresco tables and fresh, well-cooked chicken and meat dishes served under a gigantic palapa wigwam.
Air Flights arrive and depart from Aeropuerto Anibal Arab (CIJ), five kilometers from the center at the top end of Av 9 de Febrero. The airline offices are located at the junction of Molina and Beni just off the main square, with the exception of AeroCon (T. 8424575, 16 de Julio). TAM (T. 8424145) flies directly to La Paz on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning. AeroSur (T. 8423132) has a direct flight to Santa Cruz on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. All companies fly daily to Trinidad for onward connections. Flights to Guayaramerín via Riberalta are in avionettas; ask at the airport or call (T. 76210035).
Bus Buses from Guayaramerin and Riberalta are available.
Boat It is possible arrive from Brazil via boats. Runs daily from 6:00-18:00.
Bolivia Independence Day
2014-08-10
Urkupiña Festival in Cochabamba
2014-08-10
Anniversary of La Paz Department on July 16th
2014-07-13