Coroico is a hill top town in the La Paz department of Bolivia and is an excellent base for excursions into the surrounding Yungas Road region.
Coroico is a good place to explore the region around the Yungas Road or just spend a night before heading to the lowlands (inlcuding Rurrenabaque and the rest of the Beni department, or just back to La Paz. Because of the lower elevation, the weather is quite nice by comparison to La Paz, and has a resort-like feel to it. Weekends are busier with Paceños.
Coroico itself is not that spectacular. The surrounding is nice but besides its multiple accommodation option, it does not offer much additional reason to stay here.
- Soak up village life.
- Check out the church right next to the plaza.
- Most people just come to chill out at the pool, and at night go eat in one of the excellent restaurants. There is a large open air municipal pool (20 m) above the bus terminal with space for sunbathing.
- Yoga is available at Sol y Luna for Bs. 30, see #Sleep section for details.
- Chutokollo Uchumachi (2,533 m). It is an easy but long hike (2 hr, 800 m altitude) up from Coroico to the highest point in the area. The views of the valley are amazing and there are lots of wild flowers and the odd coca field. Towards the top you have to cross dense (rain)forest. There and at the top, if you are quiet, you can hear and spot Colibris (hummingbird). They are easily recognised by their loud flight—it will be harder though to take a picture of them, because they are quite shy. If you walk until the other end of the mountain, you can see and take pictures of the snow covered mountain range towards La Paz.
Most people just come to chill out at the pool, and at night go eat in one of the excellent restaurants. There is a large open air municipal pool (20 m) above the bus terminal with space for sunbathing.
Yoga is available at Sol y Luna for Bs. 30, see [[#Sleep]] section for details.
Chutokollo Uchumachi (2,533 m). It is an easy but long hike (2 hr, 800 m altitude) up from Coroico to the highest point in the area. The views of the valley are amazing and there are lots of wild flowers and the odd coca field. Towards the top you have to cross dense (rain)forest. There and at the top, if you are quiet, you can hear and spot Colibris (hummingbird). They are easily recognised by their loud flight—it will be harder though to take a picture of them, because they are quite shy. If you walk until the other end of the mountain, you can see and take pictures of the snow covered mountain range towards La Paz.
- Try the Comedor municipal for cheap food from Bs. 6.
- Pizzeria Erika has fairly cheap pizzas and pastas, but you can also go for a set meal.
- El Cafetal. A good restaurant is this French owned one. It's an open air restauramt under a jatata roof, with an excellent view down the valley (obviously no view at night!). Expect lamb curry, llama goulash, trout lasagna and crepes amongst others. They are also a hotel. Bs. 40+.
- Best value for money at the vegetarian Villa Bonita, which is also famous for its ice-cream.
- Hotel Esmeralda. has a huge All-You-Can-Eat buffet with fresh salads, meat and chicken, fresh vegetables, soups and vegetarian food. The food is always fresh, no microwave food, no frozen lasagnas. Service spotty and the owner is a grouch. Buffet at Bs. 32.
- Bamboo, one block from the plaza. Mexican restaurant favoured by local expats. The owner speaks English very well, so it is easy to get information!
- Cafe Arte, on the plaza. Great cakes, average coffee
- Empanadas, Main Plaza. Open daily from 16:00. Cheese empanadas appear at 16:00 in the main square. No tiendas sell them. Bs. 2.
- La Casa. Alpine food: Fondu and Raclet.
Try the Comedor municipal for cheap food from Bs. 6.
Pizzeria Erika has fairly cheap pizzas and pastas, but you can also go for a set meal.
El Cafetal. A good restaurant is this French owned one. It's an open air restauramt under a jatata roof, with an excellent view down the valley (obviously no view at night!). Expect lamb curry, llama goulash, trout lasagna and crepes amongst others. They are also a hotel. Bs. 40+.
Best value for money at the vegetarian Villa Bonita, which is also famous for its ice-cream.
Hotel Esmeralda. has a huge All-You-Can-Eat buffet with fresh salads, meat and chicken, fresh vegetables, soups and vegetarian food. The food is always fresh, no microwave food, no frozen lasagnas. Service spotty and the owner is a grouch. Buffet at Bs. 32.
Bamboo, one block from the plaza. Mexican restaurant favoured by local expats. The owner speaks English very well, so it is easy to get information!
Cafe Arte, on the plaza. Great cakes, average coffee
Empanadas, Main Plaza. Open daily from 16:00. Cheese empanadas appear at 16:00 in the main square. No tiendas sell them. Bs. 2.
La Casa. Alpine food: Fondu and Raclet.
- Carlas Garden Pub, Calle Adalld Linares (take steps down from the plaza, +591 72075620. 19:00-00:00. Dutch owned and chef run terrace bar/restaurant/bakery with live music on weekends. Easily the coldest beer, best cocktails and incredible made-from-scratch meals in Coroico. The location is perfectly Dutch-Clean including the WCs. English spoken. Closed Sundays.
- Jugo ladies, randomly around the plaza. Fresh jugos, fruits and carrot
Carlas Garden Pub, Calle Adalld Linares (take steps down from the plaza, +591 72075620. 19:00-00:00. Dutch owned and chef run terrace bar/restaurant/bakery with live music on weekends. Easily the coldest beer, best cocktails and incredible made-from-scratch meals in Coroico. The location is perfectly Dutch-Clean including the WCs. English spoken. Closed Sundays.
Jugo ladies, randomly around the plaza. Fresh jugos, fruits and carrot
You can find guides in the "Tourist Information Office" (actually a disguised tour operator) on the Plaza. Or you can ask your hotel to recommend one.
- There are minibuses to La Paz running 03:00-17:30 southwest from the church. You will easily recognise the ticket sellers shouting La Paz. The minibuses take the safe new road, but are a bit cramped, Bs. 20, 2.5 hours. For Bs. 25-30 you can get small micros 2 hr.
- A private taxi to La Paz should cost around Bs. 300-350. Also, there are shared taxis that cost Bs. 30-35. They take the curves a bit too fast, so it's best to take them only if you have a strong stomach.