Hacienda Houses

 

The “Casas de Hacienda” are the former residencies of the feudal lords who until the 1950s controlled agriculture in the Yungas, especially coca production. These lords played an important role in Bolivian history. The mining industry relied heavily on coca to feed the starving slaves or workers, and to keep them awake during 24 hour shifts (as it still does).

 

Coca growing was exclusively done in the Yungas, organised from the Haciendas. The coca was yielded by slaves or peasants, dried on the cachi, and transported to La Paz on muleback, via the Urpuma and El Choro pre-Columbian route (see chapter C.1. Urpuma).

In 1952-3 a revolution broke out in Bolivia, which included a thorough agricultural reform. In the turbulence lots of Lords lost their house, their lands or even their lives.

Most Haciendas are in disrepair, but they are still worth a visit because of their historic relevance and the prettiness of their huge coca and coffee drying floors (the cachi).

 

Some of the many Hacienda Houses in the area:

 

Casa de Hacienda de Miraflores: the closest to Coroico, and in relatively good shape. The cachi is big and beautiful. There is an old lady guarding the house, you have to pay her whatever you like to visit the house. She won’t give you a tour though, as she doesn’t know anything about the history of the house.

 

Casa de Hacienda de Yalaca: at four kilometres from Coroico, on the road to Incapampa. Pretty, but in disrepair. The guard isn’t allowed to let people in.

 

Casa de Hacienda de San José: at an hour and a halves walk from Coroico. The main house didn’t survive until today but the cachi did. Worth a visit as it has a beautiful 15 hectare terrain, a lagoon, a camping ground, a coffee washing spot, an old coca press, beehives for honey production and various productive trees (coffee, mango, citrus fruits, rubber …). Talk with Ronald, the Alojamiento La Abuelita Juanita manager, for details (tel. 712 88247 or 715 16494).

 

Casa de Hacienda de San Agustin: In a terrible state of disrepair, but it is being reconstructed. At fifteen kilometres from Coroico, but close to the “Laguna Verde”. It was built in the 1920s by a German immigrant. It has two beautiful coca presses. You can visit anytime to have a soft drink on their porch annex viewpoint, and they might be able to prepare a traditional dinner. You can spend the night in three rooms with a shared bathroom.