Bolivia's third largest city, it lies high in the valley of Cordillera Oriental. It is an agricultural hub of the country, especially for grains. Founded in 1574 by a conquistador, it is the home of an excellent archeological museum.

Reputed to have the world's most perfect climate and Bolivia's most hardcore drinkers, the city of Cochabamba occupies a fertile green bowl in a landscape of fields and low hills. The city, founded in 1574, is Bolivia's largest market town and was once the nation's granary. It is still prosperous and progressive, and has a clutch of historical and archaeological attractions, including the 400-year-old cathedral, the Convento de Santa Teresa and the Museo Arqueológico.