Tarija

Tarija is a city in the Tarija Department of Bolivia. Get in By plane, Aerocon [1] operates daily flights between Tarija and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. By Bus, there are direct connections from most cities including Villazon, La Paz (18 hours, 100 Bs) and Santa Cruz (14 hours, 90 Bs.) From Argentina, it is possible to take a bus or hire a colectivo (shared taxi) at the bus station from the Bolivian border town of Bermejo. If you have crossed by small ferry from Aguas Blancas and there is no Bolivian immigration officer to stamp you in on the Bolivian side of the river or at the bus station, take a taxi or instruct the colectivo driver to take you to the immigration office at the bridge. Get around Hop-on micros, many lines, ask the locals or watch the windscreen for routes & destinations; ride within city limits Bs 1.50. Some go further afield (e.g. San Lorenzo, San Jacinto). Trufis and colectivos go to El Valle de la Concepción from the stand at Calle Corrado (btwn. Trigo & Campero) - Bs 10 per person. Short rides in taxis cost Bs 3.50 per person. See El Castillo Azul, (Bolívar @ La Paz). Strange white and blue striped house in the gabled style of a castle. Old governor's house.  edit Do For visit to both Sama national park and Tariquia national park you need permission (free) from the Serdap at Av Jaime Paz Zamor 1161 ( across the bus terminal ) . Formalities for sama is only registration of details; bring a photocopy of your passport. Tariquia is more difficult, depending on weather and reason of stay. Learn Buy Eat Gattopardo, Plaza Luis de Fuentes (main plaza). Smart restaurant, very popular with local middle class, parillada, good pizzas, salads, salteñas, good selection of local wines; try the fillet steak finished rare or "a la Inglés" (Bs 40 or US$5.5) - heaven!  edit Pastelería Yenny (pronounced Jenny), Av. 15 de Abril (btwn. main plaza & D. Campos). Great cakes and real coffee, welcoming staff; definitely try "torta de tres leches y nuez".  edit Cafe Show, Sucre (corner Del Carpio). Simple, reliable budget option. Set lunch (starter, soup, main course and dessert) for 10Bs, limonada to drink. Also sells cakes and empanadas. Just don't expect coffee here.  edit El Molino, Calla la Madrid O-0803, near Ramon Rojas. Vegetarian 'comedor' for lunch until 14:00. Set menu includes soup, main course and salad bar for 15 bolivianos. Come around 12:00 to eat with the locals. (March 26th 2012 - seems to be operating at a different location nearby on Ingavi O-550)  edit Nature Center. Vegetarian food set menu for 14 bs, on the block of Gral Trigo 800, upstairs at the sign. Lunch only.  edit Drink Cafe Mokka, Plaza Sucre (Ave 15 de Abril). Great coffee and cakes, also fairly good speed free WiFi  edit Nougat, (General Trigo @ 15 de Abril). 9 am - 11 pm. Pretty cafe, nice decor, like most of S America, the milkshakes are mostly milk.Slow wifi, waitress unwilling to fix order when she got it wrong. Fair prices.  edit XOXO, (Sucre @ 15 de Abril). Americana-decorated diner-esque bar with a solid burger (29 Bs.) as well. Marilyn Monroe & Elvis Presley plaster the walls. One TV for watching sports. Split level seating. Quick wifi. Fair prices.  edit Sleep Hostal Bolivar, Bolivar (on Bolivar and Sulpacha). checkin: -; checkout: 12 noon. Great budget hostel, very clean with friendly staff, simple breakfast included. 100-120 Bs.  edit Hostal Miraflores, Sucre N-920. Close to the plaza and mercado central. Double bedrooms with private badroom and television 130 Bs. Breakfast included.  edit Residencial Guadalquivir, (left of terminal de autobuses (on Ángel Calavi)). checkout: 12:00. Cheapest hostel I could find, a little noisy due to the bus terminal across the street, but acceptable and clean. 20 minute walk from main plaza. No wifi. 1 bed in 2 bed room - 40 Bs..  edit Hostal Estrella, (Sucre @ 15 de Abril). Nice pace in an old building shared with Club Social de Tarija. Comfortable beds, creaky floorboards, and a nice outdoor balcony overlooking the main plaza. 2 br room = 180 Bs..  edit Casa Blanca Hostel, Ingavi #645 entre Ballivian y J. M. Saracho. Newly-opened backpackers' hostel (the only one in town). Small and cosy, terrace with hammocks and breakfast for 10 Bs. Also have a small bakery/pastelería on site. Run by young locals, knowledgable and friendly. 60 Bolivianos.  edit Contact Internet cafes and centros de llamadas (call centres) everywhere; expect modem- rather than broadband-like speed. Some places allow you to hook up with your own laptop, e.g. two shops in the plaza principal (opposite Bufalo). Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!