The most spectacular day trip from Cochabamba is to Torotoro National Park, about 140 km south — a high-altitude canyon landscape with perfectly preserved dinosaur footprints embedded in limestone, dark caves, a waterfall, and dramatic geology. The road is now fully paved and the journey takes about three hours; colectivos (shared minibuses) depart from the corner of Avenida Valle Grande and Avenida República. You need at least one night in Torotoro to do it justice.
The Chapare region to the northeast — humid cloud forest descending toward Amazon lowlands — is reachable in a half-day and offers a dramatic contrast to Cochabamba's dry valley. Villa Tunari on the edge of the rainforest is the main base.