Bolivia travel blog by Mark Berman -
October 2011
July 2019
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I have visited Oruro now twice! From La Paz it takes 3hrs 30mins to travel to Oruro by bus or from Uyuni 7hrs by train.
There are quite a few budget hotels and hostels around the center as well as some great places to eat. The city holds a few surprises as far
as sights go, there are indeed some things worth checking out while you are here. Trains from Oruro
From Oruro trains go to the south, these
places are Uyuni, Atocha,
Tupiza and Villazon. There are 2 trains, the Expreso del Sur and the Wara Wara. The Expreso del Sur leaves on
Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:30pm while the Wara Wara leaves on Wednesdays and Sundays at 7pm. If you take the Expreso del Sur from Oruro to
Uyuni, sit on the right side of the train, 20mins out of Oruro there are some wetlands where there are 1000's of birds including flamingos!
Trains to Oruro
Trains to Oruro come from Uyuni after stops further south in Villazon, Tupiza and Atocha. The Expreso del Sur leaves Uyuni on Thursdays
and Sundays at 12:05am and the Wara Wara leaves Uyuni on Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:45am. If you take the Wara Wara, sit on the left, you
will see the wetlands and flamingos in the morning just before arriving in Oruro.
What's Around Town?
Markets are always fun. The Oruro markets are your
typical Bolivian markets with fruit and flowers, snacks, coca, produce, products and cloths for sale. Not far from the train station are
a line of music shops selling guitars, pipes and percussion instruments. There is also a witches market here in Oruro very similar to the
one in La Paz with all kinds of potions and remedies. Oruro has a bunch of museums (at least 5), a zoo, a mine, mirador lookout, a cathedral,
palace of culture, university and nice plazas and parks.
Annual Carnival in Oruro
Oruros main attraction however
is the
annual carnival, usually held in February or March. If you plan to go, make sure you book a hotel early!
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The Anthropological Museum in Oruro has a fantastic history of masks and costumes from carnivals of the past.
With horns and big ears, the Lucifer mask from 1940-1950 used for the Diablada dance, Anthropological Museum, Oruro.
Devils suit and mask from 1920 with green horns at the Anthropological Museum, Oruro.
4 figures in traditional costumes and masks, amazing bronze work on a building side in Oruro, carnival.
