Places and Destinations-Oruro, Bolivia

Oruro, in the department of the same name, is located in the high altiplano southeast of La Paz. This area of Bolivia is a natural marvel, a wild, windy wilderness with few people and towns. (See this interactive map from Expedia.) At an altitude of 12,159 ft (3,708.5 m), Oruro is the only city on the southern end of Bolivia's altiplano, and it is cold, arid and circled by mountain peaks. Sponsored Links

Oruro seems an unlikely spot for the capital of Bolivia’s folkloric traditions, yet UNESCO has proclaimed The Oruro Carnival - Bolivia a Tangible Heritage site.

Much of Oruro’s cultural traditions are based on the legend of Wari, Lord of the Earthquakes, who lived inside Mount Uru Uru. Every morning, the sun’s firstborn daughter, Inti Wara, the dawn, woke Wari, who tried to capture her with arms of smoke and fire but the Sun always rescued his daughter.

Seeking revenge, Wari turned the local farmers away from solar worship and their agricultural efforts and into activities pursued in the dark: mining, drinking too much chicha and the worship of snakes, lizards and frogs. The people became silent and apathetic.

Following a fierce rainstorm, Inti Wara descended to earth on a rainbow accompanied by handmaidens and chiefs Wari had exiled. The goddess reinstituted the ancient worship of the sun, taught the people to speak Quechua, and guided them along the righteous path.

In retaliation, Wari send four great plagues: La Vibora, a monstrous serpent that devoured livestock; El Sapo, a colossal frog; El Lagarto, a lizard that threatened to destroy villages; and las Hormigas, a legion of ants. Inti Wara fought each of these plagues, decapitated them and turned them into stone. (Today they are the rock formations of La Víbora, el Sapo, el Lagarto and las Hormigas.)

Following her victory, and to prevent further retribution from Wari, Inti Wara transformed herself into the Virgen de Socavón, Patrona de los Mineros, the patron saint of miners. Wari became El Tio, the uncle, who lives underground in the mines.

During carnaval, one group of dancers is dressed in devil costumes, led by the chief dancer, called Waricato, representing Wari. Presentación Del Afiche Del Carnaval De Oruro 2004 has history of carnaval.

Founded on November 1, 1606 by Don Manuel Castro de Padilla, Oruro was originally called Real Villa de Don Felipe de Austria, in honor of then Spanish monarch Felipe III, after silver was discovered the year before. The city became known as Oruro from Urus, one of the indigenous groups of the area, and during the 17th century, it became the largest city in what was then the Alto Peru region.

As the silver was exhausted, the Indian workers moved elsewhere, leaving behind an abandoned city. Agriculture is not possible at this altitude, and it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the city revived after Simon I. Patiño bought La Salvadora, a tin mine located east of the city. This mine became the world’s most productive and made Patiño one of the wealthiest men of the age.

With the decline in tin, Oruro (photo) again rested, although today Oruro (photo) still depends on mining of tin, tungsten, and copper as the foundation for its economy.

Mining and tourism, that is.

In addition to the cultural attractions of Oruro, the environment itself draws visitors to the altiplano. Hot springs, the flamingos and other wildlife at Lake Poopó, mystic desert mirages, volcanic activity, the great salt lakes, or salars, such as at Coipasa and Salinas de Garcia Mendoza, and the rock formations at Pumiri.

Getting There

The city of Oruro lies north of the salty lakes Uru-Uru and Poopó and is three hours (by road) south from La Paz. By Land:

By bus: from La Paz, Cochabamba, Sucre, Potosí, Arica and Iquique, Chile via Pisiga on the border. La Paz to Oruro, Bolivia – Note: very slow loading, large images

By train: from Potosí, La Paz, Cochabamba, Uyuni, Argentina via Villazón on the border, and Chile, via Avaroa or Charaña, both on the border. Oruro is considered the center of Bolivian railroading, due to the mining industry.

By Air: Private jets and air taxies only.

When to Go

Oruro is cold and arid most of the year. It is warmer, almost temperate between August – October. Summers are warmer and surprisingly wet between November and March.

Check today’s weather in Oruro.

The greatest influx of visitors to Oruro occurs with Carnaval, with the famed Devil’s Dance, or Diablada on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday in late February or early March. Reservations are a must.

Practical Tips

Be prepared for the cold! The combination of low temperatures and cool winds make for cold nights, and a number of hotels and restaurants are not heated.

Stroll through occasional fairs for handicrafts, food and traditional dishes, such as Rostro Asado, which is a lamb's head baked with the skin. Shop for local crafts and textiles at Artesanias Oruro.

Local Attractions

Things to Do and See

In Oruro:

The biggest tourist attraction is the annual Carnival when thousands of the faithful people parade through the city streets on the way to the Sanctuary of El Socavón. Along the way, dances such as the Diablada, the Morenada, the Tobas, the Llamerada and the Phujllay are performed by folkloric, costumed and masked groups dressed as archangels, devils, Incas, Spanish conquistadors and others. Browse through these photos of costumed dancers in the La Diablada y La Morenada photo gallery.

Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo Lopez Rivas displays tools and information on the Chipayas and Urus tribes as well as a collection of masks belonging to the different dancing groups.

The Chiripujio chapel draws crowds on every Friday of every month to worship the Lord of Chiripujio and Santa Vera Cruz.

These ceremonies mingle Catholic and pagan worship of the Viper and the condor.

Museo Mineralógico has approximately 5000 samples of minerals, fossils, precious stones and crystals in the Petrography, Mineralogy and Paleontology sections.

Museo Etnográfico Minero, housed in a mine tunnel, displays methods of mining

The Casa de Culture, also called the Museo Patiño, the former residence of Simon Patiño displays possessions, including colonial art paintings, Louis XV and XVI style furniture.

The Sanctuary of Socavon - the Historia de la Virgen del Socavon and photos.

Nearby:

Lake Poopó, south of Oruro. The main attraction is Panza Island for hunting and fishing.

Uru Uru Lake, also south of Oruro. The main attractions are the islands of like Huariala, Chamarra, Chacaloma and Ayero for wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing.

Warm water spas of Capachos, Urmiri Estalza, Pazea and Obrajes. The latter has individual pools, and is reputed to have medicinal benefits.

The Curahuara of Carangas Church, near the frontier with Chile, dates from 1606. The frescoes are particularly worth noting this "Sistine Chapel of the Highlands.”

Iglesia de Yarvicoya in Caracollo is an example of baroque art. Declared a national monument, the church dates from the 16th century. Photo of the Caracollo Church.

Chipaya town is considered one of the most important archeological ruins for its age and ceramics. The Chipayas were part of the Uru Chipayas and the culture is reputed to date from approximately 2500 BC. Photo of Chipaya Chruch.

The Chullpares are Andean cemeteries with pre-Columbian mummies.

Paria was the first Bolivian town founded in 1535 by Diego de Almagro and Captain Juan de Saavedra. Foundations of the colonial church still exist after the church was rebuilt during the 1960s. The church with its spledid altarpiece is a national monument.

The prehistoric ruins, stone formations and caverns at Pumiri recall the legends of Wari and Inti Wara.

San Jose Mine and Huanuni mine are two long producing mines in the region.

The Zoo in Oruro has an interesting variety of species and samples of all regions of the country, mainly condors, eagles, alpacas, llamas and others.

Cave paintings of Cala Cala include llamas, flmingos, condors and shepherds. The Señor de Lagunas Chapel draw visitors, particularly on September 14, when feast day celebrations include many folkloric rituals.

Ceramics dating from 1800 BC were found in the prehistoric ruins at Uru Uru, an important site in the Uru culture of the region. Many of these pieces are on display in the Casa de Cultura.

A tunnel in San Pedro mountain is thought to be a means of transporting precious metals from the mines around Oruro to Cuzco, capital of the Inca empire.

These photos of Oruro show the attractions of Sepulturas, Cala Cala, Urmiri, Quillacas Sanctuary and other locations.

Many visitors use Oruro as a base for expeditions to the salt lakes at Coipasa and Salinas de Garcia Mendoza, or trekking through the region, as well as climbing Andean peaks, such as Sajama, in the park of the same name, one of Bolivia's National Parks Whenever you go to Oruro, enjoy yourself and don't forget to post a trip report on the forum!