Oruro Department · Bolivia
Oruro travel guide
Oruro is a city in Oruro Department, Bolivia, home to about 297,000 people.
- Best months
- April and October to December
- Nearest airport
- ORU5 km · Juan Mendoza International Airport
- Currency
- BOBboliviano
- Time zone
- America/La Paz
- Language
- Aymara, Guarani, Quechua
About
About Oruro
Oruro (Hispanicized spelling) or Uru Uru is a city in Bolivia with a population of 264,683 (2012 calculation), about halfway between La Paz and Sucre in the Altiplano, approximately 3,709 meters (12,169 ft) above sea level.
Oruro is famous for its carnival. It's been a major mining centre and railway hub, but with the closing of the mine and with more and more rail connections ceasing the town is about to lose its importance. But only 3 hr and Bs. 15 by bus from La Paz, this is a nice getaway from the prices and stress of the capital.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Oruro to stay in
Budget accommodation in the center is surprisingly rare, and either the options are far below any known standard or prices start at Bs. 80.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Oruro
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Oruro are April and October to December. November is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C; January is the wettest, with about 99 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Oruro: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Juan Mendoza International Airport (ORU), about 4.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Jorge Wilsterman International Airport (CBB, 117 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Classes/prices are popular (only Wara Wara) / salon / executive. Executive also includes drinks but is basically the same as salon. Sometimes Wara Wara del Sur just goes as salon without other options. As of 2018-02-18, the route between Uyuni and Villazon is closed due to flooding. It is expected to reopen in October 2018.
Getting around
The streets are well planned and orientation is simple. The easily recognized Av. 6 de Agosto, featuring a railway track in the middle runs from north to south with the bus terminal in the north and the town center in the south. The center is small enough to get around by foot and micros heading to the main bus terminal cruise Av. 6 de Agosto, otherwise it's a ten minute walk. The main square garden (Plaza 10 de Febrero) is the reference for all the locals and visitors. The Virgen del Socavon temple, is where the carnival ends.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ORU · Juan Mendoza International Airport
CBB · Jorge Wilsterman International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Oruro
Eat
Fastfood places serving cheap burgers, chicken and papas fritas are found just about everywhere. They are especially common around the bus station. One fancier restaurant in the International Park Hotel connected to the bus station, all others in the same bracket are in the center.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Oruro: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Oruro?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Oruro are April and October to December. November is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C; January is the wettest, with about 99 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Oruro?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Juan Mendoza International Airport (ORU), about 4.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Jorge Wilsterman International Airport (CBB, 117 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Oruro?
boliviano (BOB).
Nearby
Destinations near Oruro
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.