On the Titicaca Lake shores, the highest navigable lake in the world, is the biocultural and gastronomic tourism venture called “KOA” restaurant & lake cabins. This project receives visitors in order to learn about food and environmental preservation.
In its menu, dishes prepared with Andean zone traditional products stand out, such as chairo – a soup made with chuno (dried potato), wheat, corn, and potato; fish soup or wallake, and other dishes prepared with fish such as trout, ispi or silverside accompanied by potatoes, chuno and fava bean mote.
In addition to the impressive views offered by the lake, tourists have the opportunity to learn local gastronomy ecological practices and knowledge, linked to the communities’ cultural identity at this area of Bolivia, at the La Paz department.
This enterprise is developed in the Tajocachi community and benefits more than 200 families in the Huata municipality region.
Travel services:
- Restaurant with capacity for up to 40 people
- Two cabins with private bathroom, hot water, and heating:
o Mutu Mutu Cabin: Capacity for four people, with a double bed (king size) and a cabin with two single bunk beds.
o Ispi Cabin: Capacity for three people, with a double bed (king size) and a sofa bed for two people.
• Full day package
o Offers a unique gastronomic experience with a heritage identity, followed by guided visits to unmissable tourist places such as Sunata Island and the Santiago de Huata main square. During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to explore the iconic Tata Santiago church and admire the Chiripa culture impressive Illas or monoliths.
Location:
- 78 kilometers from the La Paz city, in the Tajocachi community, Kalaque canton, in the Santiago de Huata municipality.
- See location: http://bit.ly/3lVFnJs
Best time to visit:
• All year
Way to get there:
- If you are traveling in your own vehicle, you can follow this route from La Paz: From the city, head towards San Roque toll square on the road to Copacabana. Then, continue to Huarina, Achacachi, Pucuro (Santiago de Huata), Tajocachi and finally Koa.
- To return to La Paz, you can take the route through the Janko Amaya Community, exiting towards the road that leads to Copacabana. Then, go through Huatajata, San Roque and finally the La Paz city.
- In Public transport: The minibus leaves from the El Alto Interprovincial Terminal, with a Bs 12 (equivalent to 2 dollars) cost. The journey lasts approximately two hours and when you reach the community main square, you must walk for 30 minutes to Koa. Along the way, the cultivated fields, the majestic Titicaca Lake, and the imposing snow-capped Illampu can be appreciated, among other impressive landscapes.
- Another alternative is to contact this enterprise managers, who can arrange a taxi for Bs 10 per person (equivalent to 1.5 dollars). This way, the visitor arrives comfortably and quickly.
Essential clothing and accessories:
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunscreen
- Warm clothes
- Towel in case you want to enter in the lake
- Water Bottle.
Food:
- Lunch or Dinner: Wallake or chairo soups.
o Main dish: Trout, ispi or silverside accompanied by potatoes, chuno and fava bean mote.
o Barley drink
o Koa or eucalyptus tea
- Price: Bs 35 ($us 5)
- A la carte dishes are also prepared.
Lodging:
- Price per person: Bs 150 ($us 21.5)
Includes:
- One lodging night
- Andean breakfast
- Lunch or dinner
o Children under 5 years of age do not pay, they share services with their parents
Contact:
- Benedicto Bautista: + (591) 67074656
- Paula Arias Loza+ (591) 70585952
- https://wa.me/59169751919
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057106284795&sk=about
This content is taken from the “Soy Bolivia” verified guide, prepared in April 2023 with information
provided by organizations and communities involved. This guide is updated annually to ensure its
validity. In order to suggest a community tourism venture, free of charge, you are welcome to send a
WhatsApp message to the number (591) 70079347.
• Note: Prices are updated to May 2023.
Warning. The images in this guide were provided by representatives of the involved communities, who assured that they use these photographs for the respective promotions of their ventures.