Tarija

Where to stay

Budget travelers cluster within walking distance of the Plaza Principal, where the main sights, the Paleontology Museum, and the cheapest eateries are concentrated. The historic center is compact and flat, so staying near the plaza means you can reach the Casa Dorada, the San Roque church, and the bus terminal on foot without needing a taxi.

Getting around

• The Valle de la Concepción wine region is the main draw outside town. Take a trufi or colectivo from the stand on Calle Corrado (between Trigo and Campero streets) for a fraction of what a private tour or taxi charges, and spend the day hopping between vineyards.
• Hop-on micros cover the city for a very small fee per ride. Watch the windscreen for route destinations or ask a local, as the system is informal but connects the plaza to the university, the market, and outlying neighborhoods like San Lorenzo.
• Tarija sits at roughly 1,800 meters in a semi-arid valley, so the climate is mild compared to the Altiplano. However, winter nights from May to August can drop to freezing, so bring a jacket even if the daytime highs stay warm.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest during the rainy summer months of December through March, when fewer tourists visit the wine valleys. Prices rise and beds fill during the dry winter season (May through August) and around major holidays like Semana Santa and the December-January break, when domestic travelers flock to the region's mild weather.