Arapata and the Green Lagoon

There is a road circumventing the Uchumachi mountain. The landscape changes suddenly when you cross to the other side: it suddenly becomes one big coca plantation, with most forest cleared. The landscape can sometimes look like a semi-desert, but the cocafields can be very green too. Because coca plantations leave the soil vulnerable for erosion, some of the mountains are coming down. One particularly big mountain slide blocked a valley, forming a small lake, the “Green Lagoon”. Although it doesn’t look like much form far, it’s the best place to go for a swim in the whole area. The water isn’t cold like the rivers, and it’s big enough to actually go for a swim. The lakeside beach is a great place to enjoy the sun and admire the coca fields.

From Arapata back to Coroico, you can take an alternative route passing San Agustin, a small village with a ruined Hacienda House, which has two beautiful coca presses. On the road there you can see a palm tree just beside the road, which must have at least 50 Uchi (weaver bird) nests.

An interesting trip is to drive all around the Uchumachi, which can feature a visit to a Hacienda House, a coffee plantation, an artisanal mine, a spectacular waterfall, and the Laguna or the Vagantes to go for a swim. Meanwhile, you’ll have the chance to take a short walk in wonderful cloudforest. See the following section for details.