🇧🇴 Cochabamba, Bolivia
Hostal Relax
📍 Calle Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales, Cochabamba
Your stay — Hostal Relax
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Cochabamba.
The Property — Hostal Relax
Hostal Relax has the worn-in feel of a modestly priced city hotel that’s been reliable for decades. The lobby is a tiled, low-ceilinged space with a single desk and an old sofa, where the receptionist often doubles as the doorman. There is no restaurant or gym, but the rooms are clean, and the staff know the Centro area well. It suits a budget traveller or a business visitor who wants a no-fuss base within walking distance of Plaza 14 de Septiembre.
Chronicles of Cochabamba
Cochabamba was founded in 1571 as Villa de Oropeza on the site of an Inca settlement, its name later changed to the Quechua phrase for ‘swampy place’. The city became a breadbasket for the silver mines of Potosí, which left a legacy of handsome colonial buildings around broad plazas. Today it is known for the Cristo de la Concordia statue, which is 33 metres tall and stands on San Pedro hill, and for its fiercely independent civic identity, often stirred by the 2000 Water War protests. The cultural scene revolves around the weekly Sunday market at La Cancha, one of South America’s largest open-air markets, and a growing number of microbreweries and fusion restaurants along Avenida Ballivián.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cochabamba guide →Best months
April and September: dry, sunny days in the mid-20s °C, with thin crowds before the July-Fiesta and after the rainy season has settled. Early November also works well, when the jacaranda trees are in bloom and rain is still light.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak season, driven by the dry winter weather and the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen in mid-July in nearby communities. Hotel prices in Cochabamba can jump 20–30% for these months, and Hostal Relax often fills by mid-afternoon. IndependenceDaycelebrations on August 6 also draw domestic travellers.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are the best budget months. The weather is still pleasant – highs around 22–24 °C – but the crowds of the peak dry season and the Fiesta have thinned. You can often get a discount by booking directly for a Monday or Tuesday.
Weather & packing
Cochabamba sits at 2,550 m and has a mild, dry winter but cold nights: the temperature can drop to 5 °C even in July. Pack a warm jacket or fleece for evenings, and bring sunblock — the midday UV index is high even on a cool day.
Live City Briefing — Cochabamba
- The new Cochabamba Urban Train (Metro Cochabamba) is now partly operational, with Line 1 running from the northern suburbs to the central station near Avenida Ayacucho, cutting taxi demand in from the airport. Check if your hotel offers a shuttle stop nearby.
- Construction on the Avenida Circunvalación bypass is ongoing, causing some afternoon congestion on roads linking the south of the city – factor in 15 extra minutes if you’re driving from the airport to the centre.
- The annual Feria Internacional del Libro de Cochabamba is set for early July in Fexco; if you’re visiting that weekend, expect more domestic tourists and a busier Plaza Mayor than usual.
Hotel Facilities — Hostal Relax
Free WiFi throughout, 15 Mbps download; no login required
One lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader on lobby computer; no physical papers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 on request; late check-out until 16:00 for BOB 80
Free before check-in and after check-out in locked luggage room (no limit)
Step-free entrance from street; lift meets all rooms; no wheelchair-accessible bathroom on site
No on-site parking; free street parking overnight on side streets after 20:00; nearest public lot 2 blocks away at Estacionamiento Central, BOB 25 per night
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; hold BOB 200 on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capilla (613 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Capilla Cementerio Cochabamba (820 m · ~10 min walk)
- Place of worship: LifeCenter (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Centro de Asociaciones Gnósticas de Estudios Antropológicos, Culturales, Artísticos y Científicos (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galería Villarroel — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas y Museo Arqueológico — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Auditorio — 896 m · ~11 min walk
Juegos Infantiles Parque Pachamama — 1.2 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco Unión — 234 m · ~3 min walk
Farmacia Farma — 283 m · ~4 min walk
Juanita — 873 m · ~11 min walk
Parada a Irpa Irpa — 184 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bolivian Boliviano, BOB
Use official exchange houses (casas de cambio) in central Cochabamba; avoid airport counters and street changers for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in larger hotels, supermarkets and upscale restaurants; cash essential for markets, taxis and small eateries.
Not expected, but 5-10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated. Round up taxi fares or leave small change. No tipping for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Small black coffee at a neighbourhood cafe or bakery — around 8 BOB.
Set menu (menú del día) at a local eatery (almuerzo) including soup, main and drink — 20-25 BOB.
Main dish at a modest restaurant — around 30-40 BOB.
Street stalls and small markets (e.g., near La Cancha market) sell salteñas (stuffed pastries) and anticuchos (grilled meat skewers) for 5-15 BOB each.
Supermarkets like Hipermaxi or IC Norte are common in Cochabamba, including near Arenales area.
La Cancha market (one of the largest in South America) for cheap clothing and textiles; also chain stores like Tic Tac on the Avenida Ballivián strip.
Minibus (micro) or shared collective taxi — 2 BOB per ride within the city. From the airport, take a minibus to the centre for around 5-10 BOB, or a taxi for 30-40 BOB.
Eat set lunches (almuerzos) rather than a la carte. Use minibuses instead of taxis. Avoid tourist-oriented shops near the plazas for groceries and everyday items.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cochabamba, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostal Relax
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco Unión — 234 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Farma — 283 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Los Angeles → Cochabamba city centre (Plaza 14 de Septiembre)
💡 Use Radio Taxi Germán (tel. 442 5345) — they’re reliable. When calling from the hotel, confirm the fare before you get in; surge pricing isn't common but negotiate if it's heavy rain.
Av. Capitán Ustariz / Hotel Los Angeles stop (flag down) → Cochabamba city centre (Mercado Central)
💡 Look for 'Sacaba-Cochabamba' painted on the windscreen. Keep coins ready because drivers don't give change. During rush hour, it's cramped; hold your bag tight and avoid peak 07:30-08:30 and 17:30-18:30.
Av. Capitán Ustariz (same stop as micros) → Cochabamba city centre (Av. Heroínas)
💡 Slightly faster than micros but seats fill fast. If you're carrying luggage or a backpack, expect to pay an extra seat. Best for short trips when you're not in a hurry.
Jorge Wilstermann International Airport → Hotel Los Angeles (Av. Capitán Ustariz km 4.5, Sacaba)
💡 Avoid drivers inside the terminal. Walk out to the main road and flag a yellow taxi or use the Radio Taxi booth just outside arrivals. Bargain firmly but politely; 50 BOB is fair for this route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is check-in at Hostal Relax?
Check-in at Hostal Relax is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostal Relax have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, 15 Mbps download; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostal Relax?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostal Relax?
Set menu (menú del día) at a local eatery (almuerzo) including soup, main and drink — 20-25 BOB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostal Relax?
Minibus (micro) or shared collective taxi — 2 BOB per ride within the city. From the airport, take a minibus to the centre for around 5-10 BOB, or a taxi for 30-40 BOB.
When is the best time to visit Cochabamba?
April and September: dry, sunny days in the mid-20s °C, with thin crowds before the July-Fiesta and after the rainy season has settled. Early November also works well, when the jacaranda trees are in bloom and rain is still light.
Top Attractions in Cochabamba
💡 Combines local history with medical curiosity; ask the curator about the trepanation tools used by pre-Columbian cultures.
💡 Go on Sunday morning for the open-air aerobics classes by the lake; bring your own water.
💡 Go early (before 09:00) to see the fruit sellers and watch locals bargain; try a fresh jugo (fruit juice) for 3–5 BOB.
💡 The climb takes 20–30 minutes; go at sunset for cooler temperatures and good light. Watch your step – the path is uneven.
💡 Visit on weekday afternoons when guided tours are less crowded; ask about the original furniture and the unused ballroom.