Capinota, land of changes

Capinota is found in the Lower Valley of the Department of Cochabamba. It limits to the north with the Cercado provnce, on the northeast with Quillacollo, to the southeast with Arque, to te south with the departmet of Potosi and to the east with the Esteban Arze province (Tarata). It has an area of 1.495 square km.

Until 1908 it was part of the Arque province, year in which it was divided throught a State Decree on the 1st of Octobre. Throught its territory go two important rivers: Rocha and Arque, which unite near the town of Capinota, forming the Caine river and thus connecting this regions with the rest of the interandine valleys, and to the highlands of Oruro and Potosi. It was here that certain contacts happened that influenced the development of the cultures of North Potosi. They also served as a natural and short access route between the mesotermic valleys of Cochabamba and the Altiplano. The Capinota province contains a series of arquelogical grounds, where the prehistoric past of this town is hidden.

Valley of excellent grape production, each year in April there is a special Guarapo (local drink) Fair. But its most important feast, as for most of the capital province towns of Cochabamba, is that of the their local holy protector. Each fifteen of August Capinota celebrates the feat of the Virgen de Asunta (Asunta Virgen). It's the mos important feast in the province. Capintoa is a hard working and festive town. In 1844 the Estate “Convento” which belonged to the Order of the Agustines, was sold to Don Juan Antonio Santivañez. “The Herald”, a newspaper of those days, mad a raning in 1889, where it placed that landed estates as “the best among the 240 properties included in the Caraza canton”. It included an estate house, two grain mills, an orchard, barns, the Cayacayani thermal waters and a stable. The people from this vigorous community is dynamica and respectful. With clear ideas and firm attitudes, they complain that even though the Law of Popular Participation was implemented they still suffer certain tax unjustices. They say “After Popular Participation, Capinota lost the taxes it got from COBOCE (big bolivian cement company)”. In Capinota there are three cantones. The first of them is Charamoco, which works as a Major Office, with canton officers, and generates its own economical resources. The cantones of Villcabamba and Tochcalla are also starting to incorporate to the municipal dynamics.

Capinota: the natural bridge between the valleys and the highlands. Its culture has a characteristic of producing unity.