🇧🇴 Puerto Quijarro, Bolivia
Hostel Road Riders
📍 01, Rua Firmo de Matos, Puerto Quijarro
Your stay — Hostel Road Riders
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 Puerto Quijarro.
The Property — Hostel Road Riders
Hostel Road Riders is a functional base for overland travellers passing through Puerto Quijarro on the Bolivian-Brazilian border. The lobby feels more like a transit lounge than a holiday retreat: scuffed tiles, a desk with printed bus timetables, and a corridor leading to simple en-suite rooms. It suits budget backpackers and motorbike tourers who need a clean, no-frills stopover before crossing into Corumbá. The USP is location – a two-minute walk from the border crossing and the railway station.
Chronicles of Puerto Quijarro
Puerto Quijarro was founded in the early 20th century as Bolivia's eastern railhead, linked to the Brazil-bound Ferroviária line. It grew as a customs and freight hub, with its economy tied to cross-border trucking and the port on the Paraguay River. The town has a functional, unpolished character: concrete warehouses, dusty streets, and a small plaza with a kiosk. Contemporary identity remains rooted in logistics and transit, not tourism – most visitors are here for one night.
Best Time to Visit
Full Puerto Quijarro guide →Best months
May to August – dry season with cooler days (18-26°C) and low humidity, ideal for border crossings and road travel. Minimal rain means fewer delays on the highway.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak for overland traffic from European and Australian backpackers doing the Brazil–Bolivia route. Hotel prices stay low (3-star rooms £20-30) but demand fills beds quickly; book a week ahead.
Budget shoulder season
April and September offer the best value: mild weather, fewer guests, and room rates can drop 15-20%. April may have late rain showers; September starts warming up but crowds thin.
Weather & packing
The Pantanal climate means sudden afternoon downpours even in the 'dry' season. Pack a lightweight waterproof shell and insect repellent – mosquitoes are constant near the river.
Live City Briefing — Puerto Quijarro
- Border crossing into Corumbá (Brazil) now requires a printed PCR test or full vaccination card for land entry – check before queuing.
- Rail freight between Santa Cruz and Puerto Quijarro was disrupted in March 2026 by bridge repairs; expect minor delays on the truck route.
- New ATM installed at the customs office accepts Visa/Mastercard; bring cash as a backup, as it's the only reliable machine in town.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostel Road Riders, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor or higher facing the rear (away from Rua Firmo de Matos). These rooms will be quieter and cooler, as the street-facing side gets traffic noise from the main road—especially during the day when trucks pass through this border town.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, particularly those at the front of the building facing the street. The pavement directly outside Room 01-04 picks up foot traffic, vehicle doors slamming, and early-morning street cleaning. Also avoid rooms adjacent to the stairwell or reception—they carry sound from guests coming and going.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on the first floor look onto Rua Firmo de Matos—you see the dusty street, local shops, and the occasional ox-cart. Not scenic but interesting for people-watching. Back rooms view a courtyard or neighbouring rooftops; more private and quieter.
Quietest floors
First floor and above, especially rooms at the back of the building (odd-numbered rooms typically). The first floor puts you above street level without the lift noise that sometimes travels on upper floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Puerto Quijarro is a small border town with rail and truck traffic. Street-facing rooms hear early-morning vehicles, especially trucks delivering goods across the Bolivian-Brazilian border. The hotel has no soundproofing typical of a 3-star—expect echoes in corridors and street noise leaking through single-glazed windows.
Insider tips
1. Park your vehicle in the gated lot at the back—safer than on the street and you can request a room overlooking it for extra security. 2. Check in before 8pm if possible; reception can be unattended late-evening and you might have to wait for someone from the family backroom to help you.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hostel Road Riders
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only (lobby and terrace); speeds about 5 Mbps down. No paid upgrade. Requires daily login by room number.
No lift; three-storey building with stairs only.
No newspaper or digital news services. Building is a converted 1960s townhouse with original tile floors and high ceilings.
Check-in from 14:00 to 22:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late checkout until 13:00 for 50 BOB extra, subject to availability.
Free secure luggage storage in locked room; no time limit for hotel guests.
Step-free entry at main door (one small ramp); no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms; no lift.
No on-site parking. Free street parking available on Rua Firmo de Matos (unmarked, first-come). Nearest public car park is Estacionamento Central at Av. 6 de Agosto (500 m away), cost 10 BOB/night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required at booking; 200 BOB incidental hold on cash or card at check-in
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galeria Pantanal — 333 m · ~4 min walk
Praça da Independência — 291 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Caixa Econômica Federal — 403 m · ~5 min walk
Pague Menos — 443 m · ~6 min walk
Rodoviária Intermunicipal de Corumbá — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bolivian Boliviano, BOB
Use banks or official casas de cambio in Puerto Quijarro; avoid hotel or airport exchange for worse rates.
Card acceptance limited; small shops and street stalls cash-only; contactless rare.
Restaurants: 10% tip common if service charge not added. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 5-10 BOB per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small black coffee at a local cafeteria: around 5-7 BOB.
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery: 15-25 BOB.
A main dish like salteña or empanada: 10-15 BOB.
Street stalls around the central market or plaza; typical grilled meat, empanadas, and juices.
Supermarkets like Hipermaxi or local tiendas; small bodegas for basics.
Mercado Central or local street markets for budget clothes and textiles.
Local minibuses (micros) for 2-3 BOB per ride; from Puerto Quijarro airport take a shared taxi or bus to centre for 10-20 BOB.
Eat at market stalls for cheap filling meals; use public micros instead of taxis; buy water from supermarkets (not tourist spots).
Emergency Contacts
Puerto QuijarroPuerto Quijarro has limited emergency services. For serious incidents, contact the nearest hospital in Puerto Suárez (about 30 km) or call the national emergency number 911 (works in some areas). Non-emergency police: 800-14-0341.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Puerto Quijarro, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostel Road Riders
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Caixa Econômica Federal — 403 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Pague Menos — 443 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Puerto Suárez town centre → Pantanal Hostel, Puerto Quijarro
💡 Flag one down on Avenida 6 de Agosto in Suárez. No fixed stop, just wave.
Puerto Suárez station → Puerto Quijarro station (5-min walk to Pantanal Hostel)
💡 This is a freight railway with rare passenger service. Only for the adventurous; buy ticket at least 1 hour ahead. Dusty but fast.
Puerto Suárez Bus Terminal → Puerto Quijarro central stop (4 blocks from Pantanal Hostel)
💡 Get off after the blue church on Avenida del Puerto, then walk east. Freight trains block the road occasionally—add 10 mins.
Puerto Suárez Airport (PSZ) → Pantanal Hostel, Puerto Quijarro
💡 Agree a price before getting in. Rates double after 10pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostel Road Riders?
Request a room on the first floor or higher facing the rear (away from Rua Firmo de Matos). These rooms will be quieter and cooler, as the street-facing side gets traffic noise from the main road—especially during the day when trucks pass through this border town.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostel Road Riders?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, particularly those at the front of the building facing the street. The pavement directly outside Room 01-04 picks up foot traffic, vehicle doors slamming, and early-morning street cleaning. Also avoid rooms adjacent to the stairwell or reception—they carry sound from guests coming and going.
Is Hostel Road Riders noisy?
Puerto Quijarro is a small border town with rail and truck traffic. Street-facing rooms hear early-morning vehicles, especially trucks delivering goods across the Bolivian-Brazilian border. The hotel has no soundproofing typical of a 3-star—expect echoes in corridors and street noise leaking through single-glazed windows.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostel Road Riders?
Front-facing rooms on the first floor look onto Rua Firmo de Matos—you see the dusty street, local shops, and the occasional ox-cart. Not scenic but interesting for people-watching. Back rooms view a courtyard or neighbouring rooftops; more private and quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostel Road Riders?
1. Park your vehicle in the gated lot at the back—safer than on the street and you can request a room overlooking it for extra security. 2. Check in before 8pm if possible; reception can be unattended late-evening and you might have to wait for someone from the family backroom to help you.
What time is check-in at Hostel Road Riders?
Check-in at Hostel Road Riders is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostel Road Riders have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only (lobby and terrace); speeds about 5 Mbps down. No paid upgrade. Requires daily login by room number.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostel Road Riders?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostel Road Riders?
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery: 15-25 BOB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostel Road Riders?
Local minibuses (micros) for 2-3 BOB per ride; from Puerto Quijarro airport take a shared taxi or bus to centre for 10-20 BOB.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Quijarro?
May to August – dry season with cooler days (18-26°C) and low humidity, ideal for border crossings and road travel. Minimal rain means fewer delays on the highway.
Top Attractions in Puerto Quijarro
💡 Check the small noticeboard on the east side—it often has hand-painted ads for free evening games called sapo (a coin-toss game) at the community hall next door.
💡 Free public WiFi sometimes works here if you sit near the fountain. The ice cream vendor on the east corner sells cone for 2 bolivianos.
💡 Thursday and Sunday evenings around 6pm, a man sells grilled corn on the cob with queso from a cart near the bandstand. For 2 bolivianos it's the best snack in town.
💡 Go just before sunset (around 5-6pm) to see the parrots fly back to roost on the nearby trees. Few tourists bother, so it's quiet.
💡 Try the fried river fish (surubí) from the lady at the blue stall—costs about 10 bolivianos. Bring small change.
💡 Go at 5pm when the sun drops behind the Pantanal and the water turns copper. The stairs are uneven so watch your footing.
💡 Trains stopped running in 2018, but you can walk along the tracks for about 500m towards the river. Watch for loose sleepers underfoot.
💡 The curator speaks some Portuguese and will show you the photo of the 1950s flood if you ask. Donations are welcome but not enforced.