Tarija Department · Bolivia
Tarija travel guide
Tarija is a city in Tarija Department, Bolivia, home to about 180,000 people.
- Best months
- April to November
- Nearest airport
- TJA4 km · Capitan Oriel Lea Plaza Airport
- Currency
- BOBboliviano
- Time zone
- America/La Paz
- Language
- Aymara, Guarani, Quechua
About
About Tarija
In the central valley of the district, at 1,800–2,000 m, the climate in Tarija is mild and semi-arid, in contrast to the harsh Altiplano and the humid heat of the Amazon Basin. Average daily highs are 27–30 °C year round, while average nightly lows vary 8–17 °C depending on season. Freezing temperatures in winter are not uncommon. The winters (May–Aug) are dry, while summers are more rainy. As the Inca Empire conquered the valley, the original population was dispersed. The stone roads might have been built by the pre-Inca cultures. The city was founded in 1574.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Tarija
See
- Paleontology Museum
- Plaza Principal Luis De Fuentes y Vargas
- El Castillo Azul
- Mirador de los Suenos
- Casa Dorada
- Iglesia San Roque Tarija
- Mirador de la Loma de San Juan
Do
- Valle de los Condores
- Nature reserves
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Tarija
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tarija are April to November. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C; January is the wettest, with about 131 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 Tarija: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Capitan Oriel Lea Plaza Airport (TJA), about 4.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
There are direct connections from most cities including Villazón, La Paz (18 hr, Bs. 100) and Santa Cruz (14 hr, Bs. 90).
Getting around
The main plaza is picturesque and pleasant. The plaza is surrounded by restaurants of various cuisines, local handicraft shops, and internet cafés. The public market, a university campus and a number of sights are nearby. These areas are easily walkable.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
TJA · Capitan Oriel Lea Plaza Airport
Questions
Tarija: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tarija?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tarija are April to November. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C; January is the wettest, with about 131 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Tarija?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Capitan Oriel Lea Plaza Airport (TJA), about 4.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Tarija?
boliviano (BOB).
Nearby
Destinations near Tarija
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.