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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Villa Tunari
Half a day to one night: raft the river, visit a wildlife park, then move on. Not a base for more than two nights unless you plan to explore Carrasco National Park.
Villa Tunari is a small jungle village in the Cochabamba Department, off the main tourist route but growing for its tropical climate and adventure activities. The village itself has little to see; it works as a stopover for whitewater rafting, wildlife parks and bungee jumping. Most travellers spend one night or a long day.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (rainy season, river may be too high for rafting)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 150–250 excl. bed · Mid Bs 250–400 excl. bed · High Bs 400+ excl. bed (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
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus from Cochabamba | Bs 25–35 |
| Mototaxi ride within village | Bs 10–20 |
| Rafting trip (half-day) | Bs 150–250 |
| Parque Machía entry | Bs 40–60 |
| Bungee jump | Bs 200–350 |
| Meal at a local restaurant | Bs 25–50 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | Bs 5–8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CBB · Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (Cochabamba)
- About 4 h by bus from Villa Tunari
Typical fares
- Bus from Cochabamba
- about Bs 25–35, about 4 h (check)
- Mototaxi within village
- Bs 10–20
- Taxi to Carrasco park entrance
- about Bs 50–80 (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
Walk. The village is tiny. For parks and rafting put-in points, take a taxi or mototaxi (about Bs 10–20 per ride).
See and do
Known for
- Whitewater rafting and kayaking
- Parque Machía wildlife sanctuary
- Carrasco National Park
- Bungee jumping
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carrasco National Park | Taxi or tour from Villa Tunari, about 30 min to the park entrance | About 1 h |
| Parque Machía | Walk or short taxi ride from the village centre | About 15 min |
| Cochabamba | Bus from Villa Tunari terminal, about 4 h | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Villa Tunari village centre
- Walkable to restaurants and tour operators; most hostels and basic hotels here.
- Riverside lodges
- A few km outside the village; quieter, river views, need a taxi or mototaxi to get to activities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bus station? | ¿Dónde está la terminal de buses?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah ter-mee-NAHL deh BOO-sehs |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médiconeh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh |
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
- Rainy season (Dec–Mar) can make roads muddy and rivers dangerous for rafting.
- Mosquitoes: bring repellent, especially at dawn and dusk.
- No ATM in Villa Tunari: bring enough cash from Cochabamba.
- Parque Machía has limited opening hours and may close for animal care: check the official site.
Villa Tunari is generally safe, but watch for mosquitoes (dengue risk), river currents and muddy roads in the rainy season. Keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Villa Tunari yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Whitewater rafting and kayaking
- Parque Machía wildlife sanctuary
- Carrasco National Park
- Bungee jumping
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Villa Tunari municipal website: www.villatunari.gob.bo/
- Wikivoyage: Villa Tunari, revision 5046786 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5046786
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/villa-tunari). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.