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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
San Joaquín
San Joaquín is a quiet mission town on the seasonal road from Trinidad to Guayaramerín. Worth a stop if you're crossing the Beni lowlands, but not a destination: half a day is enough.
San Joaquín is a small, walkable town of about 5,000 people (2018) in the Beni department. Founded as a Jesuit mission, it sits on a seasonal road between Trinidad and Guayaramerín. The main square, church and a local ice-cream shop are the highlights. Most travellers pass through on a shared taxi, staying one night or continuing the same day.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–October (dry season)
- Avoid
- December–March (rainy season, roads may flood)
- Stay
- 0–1 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 excl. bed · Mid Bs. 200–350 excl. bed · High Bs. 350+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 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
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shared taxi from Trinidad | Bs. 100 |
| Ice cream at heladería Doña Camenca | Bs. 5–10 |
| Basic room (alojamiento) | Bs. 50–120 |
| Moto-taxi within town | Bs. 5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TDD · Teniente Jorge Henrich Arauz Airport (Trinidad)
- Nearest commercial airport; shared taxi to San Joaquín about 4 h, check road conditions.
Typical fares
- Shared taxi Trinidad → San Joaquín
- about Bs. 100, about 4 h (check)
- Shared taxi San Joaquín → Guayaramerín
- about Bs. 80–120, about 3–4 h (check)
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
San Joaquín is small enough to walk. Occasional moto-taxis for longer trips.
See and do
Known for
- Main plaza and mission church
- Heladería Doña Camenca ice cream
- Town fiestas (check dates)
- Seasonal road to Guayaramerín
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trinidad | Shared taxi from the main plaza, about 4 h | 4 h |
| Guayaramerín | Shared taxi, about 3–4 h (seasonal road) | 3–4 h |
| Riberalta | Shared taxi via Guayaramerín, about 5–6 h total | 5–6 h |
| San Borja | Shared taxi via Trinidad, about 6–7 h | 6–7 h |
Sleep
- Main plaza
- One hotel or alojamiento on the plaza; basic, no online booking.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto?kwahn-toh |
| Where is the plaza? | ¿Dónde está la plaza?don-deh es-tah lah plah-sah |
| I need a taxi | Necesito un taxineh-seh-see-toh oon tak-see |
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
- Road from Trinidad is seasonal: check conditions before travelling in the rainy season.
- No ATMs confirmed; bring enough cash from Trinidad.
- Town fiesta dates vary: ask locally or search online.
San Joaquín is a quiet, safe town. Standard precautions: keep valuables out of sight, avoid walking alone late at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Joaquín yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Main plaza and mission church
- Heladería Doña Camenca ice cream
- Town fiestas (check dates)
- Seasonal road to Guayaramerín
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: San Joaquín (Bolivia), revision 5041768 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5041768
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/san-joaquin-bolivia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.