Parentheses Cabins: Live Like a Local

Entire cottage in Copacabana, Bolivia

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bath
Rated 4.96 out of 5 stars.81 reviews
Hosted by Helder
  1. 9 years hosting
Some info has been automatically translated.
Welcome to Parentheses Cabins! The first adobe house we’ve created looks like any other Bolivian residence on the outside but the inside offers satellite TV, a loft with a dream mattress, original artwork and even a grownup slide! The rural area is surrounded by sheep, llamas, and Bolivians in traditional dress, yet we're just a 15-minute walk from the center of town. You also have a view of Lake Titicaca from the loft window.

The space
My husband Helder and I took nearly two years to design and construct this cabin (our first), and we did all the interior work ourselves, including the kitchen counters, the living room sofas and all of the bathroom details (okay, maybe not the toilet or sink). Helder is a Bolivian filmmaker who grew up in the jungle area of El Beni and learned about house construction from his father. I’m an American travel author who has spent more than a third of her life in Latin America, starting from the age of four. Our goal was to create a unique space that was comfortable, modern and aesthetic but one that also respected traditional building materials. In the end, we hope that a stay here provides a unique glimpse into the culture for anyone in search of a genuine Bolivian experience.

Other things to note
There are lots of problems when it comes to the infrastructure of Copacabana: lack of water and natural gas, to name a few. Nevertheless, we've done our best to create a comfortable environment that minimizes these inconveniences. We have a portable gas heater to warm up the cabin. (We're the only place in Copacabana to offer gas heat.) And while water supply is limited in Copacabana (the city only offers an hour of running water each day), Parentheses Cabins has two reserve tanks so you should never feel the lack of running water.

We have the best wi-fi connection in town, but don’t get too excited about this. It’s incredibly expensive to get internet in this small town (most hotels, even the expensive ones, don’t have internet fast enough for a voice-only call). Our internet is speedy, but far too expensive for watching Netflix as we pay for our connection by the MB. But the wi-fi will definitely let you stay in touch with your kids, your ex, or your mother-in-law, as needed.

We offer you an internet credit of 10 Bs. per day, which is what we typically use in about three days, making many Skype calls per day (without camera). If you need more than this, we're happy to offer this, though we do ask that you pay for it yourself.

You also have a kitchen with an electric kettle, mini-fridge, a two-burner hot plate, and dishes.

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Free street parking
TV with standard cable
Backyard
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm
Unavailable: Smoke alarm

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4.96 out of 5 stars from 81 reviews

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 96% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 4% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Copacabana, La Paz, Bolivia

We are outside of the tourist corridor, so you'll be the only non-Bolivians in the area. At night, you'll be able to see the stars. And during the day, you'll see neighbors in traditional dress often herding their sheep.

If you want to walk into town, it's about 15 minutes on foot to the main plaza. The cabin is in a very safe area. Though it is a dirt road, so it gets a bit muddy during rainy season (during the Bolivian summer).

Taxis charge 15 bolivianos (2 dollars) to pick you up and take you anywhere in town though they usually only run till 9.30 pm at night. If you wind up walking back to the house late, you might need a flashlight for the last few blocks (the one on your cellphone should work fine) but the area is incredibly safe.

Meet your host

Host
83 reviews
4.96 out of 5 average rating
9 years of hosting
Speaks English and Spanish
Lives in Cusco, Peru
I am a filmmaker who grew up in the tropical area of Bolivia called El Beni. I am married to a Random House travel author who was born in the United States. We met when we were both living in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Later we moved to the Bolivian city of Trinidad, which my wife Wendy liked to call "the jungle." To me, it was just a city with a tropical climate. Wendy still insists, "I was riding my bike and nearly ran over an anaconda. It was the jungle, damn it." Fortunately, it is the biggest conflict we've ever had between us.
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm not reported
Smoke alarm not reported
Not suitable for children and infants