Downtown Cochabamba Walking Tour: Colonial Architecture & Passages

Navigate Cochabamba's colonial heart on your own terms, with audio and GPS in hand

This self-guided walking tour of downtown Cochabamba uses an audio guide in English, GPS directions, and offline maps so you move through the city at your own pace. Starting at Colon Square, the route passes twelve stops including the Monasterio de Santa Teresa, Pasaje Histórico San Rafael (the Devil's Passage), Teatro Achá, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. You get lifetime access to the tour and can explore it before your booking date and after, with the flexibility to pause, linger, or skip stops as you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Self-guided walking tour of Cochabamba

• Start at Colon Square
• Pass by historic church
• Walk through Devil’s Passage
• Visit Francisco del Granado Square
• See Santa Teresa Convent exterior
• Pass Teatro Achá theater
• View Gildaro Antezana’s art gallery
• Explore traditional and contemporary art gallery
• Stroll September 14 Square
• Admire Metropolitan Cathedral
• View Museo Arqueológico exterior
• Stop at Santo Domingo Church

The experience

The tour begins at Colon Square and winds through downtown streets lined with colonial architecture, convents, and galleries. You'll pass Francisco del Granado Square, stop outside the Santa Teresa Convent to hear its spiritual history, and walk through Pasaje Histórico San Rafael: a legendary alleyway also known as the Devil's Passage, layered with local myths. The route takes you past Teatro Achá, once a convent and now a cultural hub, and through art galleries including Gildaro Antezana's studio and the Museo Arqueológico de la Universidad, where you'll learn about Bolivia's ancient cultures from outside the building. The audio guide explains why certain shops cluster on specific streets and shares stories about Cholitas' traditional dress as you move through the city.

You navigate using GPS directions and offline maps on your phone, so there's no guide to keep pace with and no fixed start time. The audio plays as you arrive at each stop, letting you linger as long as you want: at the fountains and gardens of September 14 Square, in front of the ornate Metropolitan Cathedral, or simply watching the rhythm of downtown life. Strollers can handle most areas, though some sections have steps and uneven terrain. The tour ends near Santo Domingo Church, but since you have lifetime access, you can return to any stop or walk the route again whenever you're back in Cochabamba.

The app works offline, so you don't need data or Wi-Fi once you've downloaded it. Directions guide you to the starting point, and once you're there, the tour activates automatically. You'll need your own smartphone and headphones to hear the audio commentary in English.

What’s included

• Lifetime access to the tour in English, usable before and after your booking date.
• offline audio guide, maps, and GPS data.
• iOS and Android app.
• directions to Colon Square so the tour starts automatically when you arrive.
• flexibility to explore at your own pace without a guide or fixed schedule.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “The tour starts in Plaza Colón. Stand in the center of the plaza while the tour begins. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Is this one for you?The audio guide is in English only, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably if you speak English. Since there's no guide keeping pace with a group, you move through downtown at whatever speed suits you: linger at a colonial square, skip a stop, or return to the route another day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I start the tour whenever I want, or is there a set departure time?

This is entirely self-guided with no set time. You download the app, head to Colon Square when it suits your schedule, and the audio begins once you arrive at the starting point. You can pause, explore longer at any stop, or return to the tour later.

What is the Pasaje Histórico San Rafael and why is it called the Devil's Passage?

Pasaje Histórico San Rafael is a legendary alleyway running through downtown Cochabamba, shrouded in local myths and stories. The audio guide shares the tales and history behind its nickname as you walk through it.

Do I get to go inside the Monasterio de Santa Teresa and other churches on the route?

The tour shows you these buildings from the outside and tells their stories through the audio guide. Entry to attractions like the Museo Arqueológico is not included, though you can choose to visit them separately at your own cost.

What do I need to bring to use this tour?

You'll need a smartphone with the tour app downloaded and headphones to hear the audio commentary. The app includes offline maps and GPS, so you don't need mobile data once everything is downloaded.

How long does the full walking tour take?

The tour typically takes one to one-and-a-half hours to complete, but since you set your own pace, you can spend more time at stops that interest you or move through quickly. You can also split it across multiple visits.

Is this tour suitable if I'm traveling with young children or a stroller?

Strollers can navigate most of the downtown route, and infants and small children can ride in a pram. Some sections have steps and uneven terrain, so you may need to manage those stretches carefully, but the tour is designed for all fitness levels.