GETTING TO KNOW COCHABAMBA (PART 1)

Chica quiero, chicha busco,

Por chica mis paseos.

Señora, deme un vasito

Para cumplir mis deseos.

-Chicha Cochabambina

Cochabamba is known for great weather, amazing food, friendly people and most of all for their chichi. This traditional fermented corn drink is part of any gathering be it a baptism, a ch’alla (traditional blessing) or a university party. Even the fabrication of chichi is a 48 hour communal celebration, and the focal point of the preparations for any major fiesta in what is known as the “la llajta”.

Cochabamba is situated in a fertile bowl between the mountains at an elevation of 2,558 mts in what is known as the central highlands of Bolivia. The name means khocha (swampy) and pampa (plain) in Quechua and the valley has been inhabited for 1,000 of years serving as a major agricultural area for a number of cultures (such as the Cotas, Cavis and Sipe-Sipes). Cochabamba houses an excellent archaeology museum run by the Universidad San Simon where you can learn about the pre-colonial cultures that populated the area.

The Spaniards, attracted to the lush fertile valley, first settles here in 1542 and on August 2, 1571 the area was officially “founded”. The Cochabamba valley was an agricultural production center that provided food for the mining towns of the relatively nearby Altiplano region, particularly the city of Potosí which became one of the largest and richest cities in the world during the 17th century - funding the vast wealth that ultimately made Spain a world power at the time. Originally named Villa de Oropesa the valley was renamed Villa of Cochabamba in 1786.

City of Cochabamba serves as a jumping off spot for visiting a number of Bolivia’s major attractions: Chapare, a tropical paradise; Toro Toro National Park ; Incallajta , the ruins of an immense Incan fort; and Tunari National Park, the highest peak in the central highlands. These attractions combined with the city’s central location make Cochabamba an ideal place to spend some time exploring local culture.

On September 14, Cochabamba will celebrate their Independence Day. Stay turned for more information on the celebrations.