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Back to Quillacollo

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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia

Quillacollo

Half a day: see the Urkupiña sanctuary and hot springs, then return to Cochabamba. Not a base.

Quillacollo is a commuter town 13 km west of Cochabamba, best known for the August Urkupiña festival and as a gateway to Tunari National Park and hot springs. Outside festival dates, most travellers visit on a half-day trip from Cochabamba.

La PazChochísChulumaniConcepciónCopacabanaCoroicoGuayaramerínOruroPotosíPuerto SuárezQuimeRiberaltaRurrenabaqueSamaipataQuillacollo200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Bolivia
Best months
May–Oct (dry, cooler)
Avoid
Dec–Mar (rainy, roads may be muddy)
Stay
0 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
BOB
Money
Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
Daily spend
Budget Bs 100–200 · Mid Bs 200–400 · High Bs 400+ (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
Emergency
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
Plugs
Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
Tipping
Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
Water
Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
Toilets
Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Trufi from Cochabamba (one way)Bs 2–3
Hot springs entryBs 4
Street snack (salteña)Bs 5–8
Set lunch (menú)Bs 15–25
Taxi within townBs 5–10

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

CBB · Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (Cochabamba)
13 km (8.1 mi) east; taxi about 30 min

Typical fares

Cochabamba → Quillacollo (trufi)
Bs 2–3, 20 min
Quillacollo → hot springs (trufi + walk)
Bs 5 + 1.5 km (0.9 mi) walk
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Trufis and minibuses run along Blanco Galindo Avenue between Quillacollo and Cochabamba (20 min, Bs 2–3). Taxis within town cost Bs 5–10.

See and do

Known for

  • Fiesta de Urkupiña (August 14–16)
  • Hot springs (aguas calientes)
  • Tunari National Park access

Day trips

WhereHowTime
CochabambaTrufi or minibus along Blanco Galindo Ave, 20 minAbout 30 min
TarataBus from Cochabamba, about 1 hAbout 1.5 h
Villa TunariBus from Cochabamba, about 2 hAbout 2.5 h

Sleep

Quillacollo centre
Near Plaza Bolívar; basic hostels and guesthouses. Most visitors sleep in Cochabamba.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloHolaOH-lah
Thank youGraciasGRAH-syahs
How much?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah
Hot springsAguas calientesAH-gwahs kah-lee-EN-tes
Where is the bus?¿Dónde está el bus?DON-deh es-TAH el boos

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
  • Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
  • Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
  • Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters

Scams and watch-outs

  • Urkupiña festival (Aug 14–16) draws crowds; book transport and accommodation weeks ahead.
  • Hot springs: the last 1.5 km is a walk; ask the trufi driver if they go to 'aguas calientes'.
  • Tunari National Park trailhead is a few km from town; take a taxi or local bus.

Quillacollo is generally safe during the day. During the Urkupiña festival, watch for pickpockets in crowds. At night, stick to well-lit main streets.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Quillacollo yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Fiesta de Urkupiña (August 14–16)
  • Hot springs (aguas calientes)
  • Tunari National Park access

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Quillacollo

A esta dirección, por favor

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Spanish is the main language; English is rare.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/quillacollo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.