Tourism in the City of Oruro, Bolivia

Oruro is the folkloric capital of Bolivia. Here, you will find good hotel and lodging services and you will taste the gastronomy of the place.

The department of Oruro has 16 provinces and 119 cantons.

Oruro is the owner of a great and ancestral culture, in consequence, it has been declared Human Cultural and Intangible Patrimony by the UNESCO.

Oruro was an important mining center, a very rich place in terms of natural resources. Its economy was based on the production of lead, antimony, silver and tin.

The main mining centers that still work today are: the San José Mining Company and the Machacamarca, this last one is the oldest ore mill in Bolivia.

Tourist Attractions

Oruro has varied tourist attractions, among them, it is possible to mention the following:
  The Mineralogical - Geological Museum which keeps approximately 5.450 mineralogical samples. The pieces are sorted out into Petrography, Mineralogy and Paleontology sections.
· The Ethnographic and Mining Museum is a new museum that is placed underground the Cock Paw Mountain next to the Virgin of Socavón Sanctuary.
· The Culture House whose building belonged to The King of Tin, Simon I. Patiño. It presents a colonial architecture, and Louis XV and XVI furniture.
. The Sanctuary of Socavón that contains the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, in whose honor, the Majestic Folkloric Entrance is carried out during Carnival holidays.
· The Eduardo López Rivas National Anthropology Museum that shows an interesting collection of masks which belong to the different dancing folkloric groups that take part in the Carnival.
· The impressive Oruro Carnival, unique in the world and a Human Patrimony thanks to its religious sense. It is carried out 40 days before Easter.
· The Beaterium Gate, a beautiful Gate made of stone. It is one of the noblest expressions of the typical Baroque Mestizo style.
· The Chiripujio Chapel where, every Friday, crowds of believers come to worship the Lord of Chiripujio and Santa Vera Cruz. Such ceremonies are composed by diverse activities and rituals. Sporadic fairs take place every week, there, the visitor will find tiny items and traditional dishes.
· Serrato, a hill where the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel is seated.
· Beacon of Conchupata (Puddle Hill), a particular place from where, a panoramic view of the whole city can be appreciated. The National Flag was staffed up here for the first time.
· San Miguel Church was constructed in the XVI century. From this place, the official staff that was commended to found the “Villa de San Felipe de Austria” (the original name of Oruro) departed the first of November, 1.606.

Another attraction of Oruro is Chipaya town, this is a tourist point because of its old-age and its popular ceramics; it is also considered one of the most important archaeological locations of the country.
· The Chullpares are Andean cemeteries which date back before Columbus arrival.
· 40 minutes to the east of the city, in the millenary region of Cala Cala, impressive paintings can be found. The Señor de Lagunas Chapel (Lord of the lagoons) is situated in the same zone, there, an important religious celebration is carried out on September 14th; the event counts with a lot of rituals and folkloric groups.
. · The Curahuara of Carangas Church is located near the frontier with the Republic of Chile. It dates back from 1.606.
. Paria was the first town to be established by the Spaniards in 1.535. It was founded by the conquerors Diego de Almagro and Juán de Saavedra. The ancient tower of the colonial temple has been preserved. It was re-built in the decade of the 60`s. The temple holds a valuable collection of colonial paintings.
· Pumiri possesses diverse cavern formations of great attraction. The beautiful church of Toledo was made, completely, of stone.
· San José Mine whose exploitation dates back from two centuries ago. It is an important center for the economical structure of the country thanks to the silver, lead and tin deposits.

Ecotourism

In the surroundings of Oruro, it is possible to find important bathing spots such as:
· Poopó Lake. It is located in Poopó town. Its main attraction is Panza Island where it is possible to hunt and fish.
· Uru Uru Lake. In this lake of exotic vegetation, there are wild birds and a variety of fish. Here, it is possible to hunt and fish. It contains beautiful islands like Huariala, Chamarra, Chacaloma and Ayero (to the south).
· Capachos. This is a bathing spot surrounded by precious plateau sceneries.
· Obrajes. It presents special water springs distributed in a size pool and individual bathing rooms. The waters are medicinal and they are popular all over the country.
· Pazña. This is another tourist place, a bathing spot and a hot water spring.
· Estalza. This is a location of bathing spots of thermal waters.

Ethnic Groups

In Oruro, different native communities live: Aymaras, Quechuas, Urus, Uru Muratos and Uru Chipayas.

Hotels in the city of Oruro