Enjoying Bolivia 217of balconies, interior gardens, rooms with antique furniture,
a dank atmosphere and bulging mattresses. Right next to
it is the colonial Paraíso Hotel. Full course lunches in plaza
restaurants range from just under US$ 1 to US$ 2.50, and
the eating is remarkably good considering that this town is
so remote.
These prices will remain relatively low as long as Sorata
remains elusive and is eclipsed by the other more resort
oriented part of Los Yungas.
A Wealth of Exploration
The bat cave is only the beginning of Sorata hiking experiences.
The soft-spoken Quebecois, Louis, at Residencial Sorata will point
you to guides, beginning at about US$ 12 per day for groups.
Hiking and trekking are just as challenging as they are rewarding,
from simple lagoons to the complex circuit around Illampu. Old
gold miner trails offer a Wild-West experience.
The most ambitious can take the roughest of Inca roads, the
Mapiri trail, which drops more than 2,000 m (6,561 ft) into the
rainforest. Guides and porters are absolutely necessary.