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Santa Cruz

Get more ideas on what to do on the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Travel Guide.

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA

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Founded in 1561 and later moved and established on the Pirai River this once small outpost town has grown to over 2 million people making it one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It is located in the eastern part of Bolivia and has a tropical Savannah climate.

One of the first thing one will notice about Santa Cruz is the modernisation of the city and the vast array of cultures here, with most of the 15 percent of the countries white and ethnic communities calling Santa Cruz home. Whilst this city lacks the exposure and publicity of La Paz in terms of tourism the department itself offers a vast array of adventures and is the perfect stepping stone for National Park trips and more.

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Santa Cruz Bolivia also known as the unofficial Sloth Capital of the World is a new and up and coming destination, it’s soon going to have a large international Airport which will provide direct routes from Europe, USA and other parts of the world.

Santa Cruz is also famous for its nightlife, which is constantly changing, from Irish bars through to pumping night clubs there is everything that the party traveller needs. Santa Cruz also has a wide selection of local and international restaurants ranging from street markets through to Hard Rock Café and the usual fast food chains like KFC and Burger King.

Our recommend bars/Nightclubs include

  • Pallet Bar

    Which is excellent from Thursdays – Saturday for meeting young upper students whom also speak English

  • Duda

    Very popular student bar, especially busy on Thursdays- Saturday

  • Aviator Bar

    Chicken wings, excellent tap beer and live sports

  • Hard Rock Café

    Expensive but great for business type travellers for food and drinks

  • Brown Fox

    Excellent bar / Restaurant which is popular for locals

  • Centrosfera, San Bartolo and Klinskaya

    Are all lively and popular options as well

Recommend restaurants include

  • Kiwis

    New Zealand themed bar/ restaurant with very friendly English speaking owners and simple but delicious food

  • Aviators

    Is the best for Chicken Wings, Burgers and beer on tap

  • La Swisse

    Upmarket and best Gormet restaurant in Santa Cruz

  • El Arrieros

    Best Steak restaurant in Santa Cruz

  • Casa de Camba

    For local Bolivian Food

ATTRACTIONS INSIDE THE CITY CENTRE

  • Plaza 24 Septembre

    Main Plaza where a lovely Cathedral and people watching are the main highlights

  • Ventura Mall

    A new mega shopping mall complete with Cinemas, restaurants, Bowling alleys and the latest fashion shops

  • Museums

    There are a small but growing collection of Museums inside the City, ones of importance include: Noel Kempff History Museum, Guarani Museum and the Museum of Sacred Art

  • Agua land

    A small yet popular water park

ATTRACTIONS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY INCLUDE

  • Jardin Botanico

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    A 187 hectare forested area, is an excellent area to observe pristine forests and many native species of wildlife which includes the Iconic Sloth, 5 species of Monkeys and much more. We also offer special wildlife tours here to find the elusive Sloth which are hidden in the forest of Jardin Botanico

  • La Rinconada

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    A restaurant/Eco Park which is famous for having the world’s largest Queen Victoria Water Lilly

  • Bio Centro Guembe

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    A mega Eco Park complete with 15 swimming pools, giant walk through aviary and the world’s largest butterfly house. This is combined well with a full day tour with La Rinconada

  • Porongo

    Small town which is very popular with locals on the weekends, not much to see apart from an old Jesuit Mission styled Church in the main plaza

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT

  • LOMAS DE ARENA NATURAL DESERT

    A spectacular Reserve just 20 km from the city. This location offers excellent Sand boarding, trekking, birding/ wildlife watching and is a must visit destination while in Santa Cruz

  • KAA IYA NATIONAL PARK

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    BIG MAMMAL WATCHING – The best National Park in Bolivia if not the world to see big mammals like Tapirs, Jaguars and Pumas. Very hard to access and is only accessed by tour

  • JESUIT MISSION CHURCHES

    Stepped in history and culture these incredible Jesuit Mission churches are one of the most popular cultural attractions in Bolivia, you can do overnight through to 5 day Jesuit Mission Circuits

  • AMBORO NATIONAL PARK

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    One of the world’s most bio diverse National Parks which is just a few hours’ drive from Santa Cruz, here you can have world class bird watching as well as visit spectacular waterfalls hike through pristine Rainforests and if lucky get a glimpse of the elusive Jaguar or the Spectacled Bear. The best locations to visit are Refugio los Volcanes lodge or the Northern Side via La Chonta or Villa Amboro

  • CHIQUITANIA REGION

    One of the most incredible yet rarely visited parts of Bolivia, this easily accessible Paradise is just 5 hours from Santa Cruz, here you have the tourist town of Santaigo de Chiquitos which is a base for a huge variety of incredible attractions. The main attractions include Waterfalls, Thermal Rivers and the must see Mirador of Santiago de Chiquitos

  • SAMAIPATA

    Just 3 hours’ drive from Santa Cruz is the mega tourist town of Samaipata, this town is the base for a huge variety of adventures which include the world’s best Condor trek, Amboro National Park, Incan Ruins of El Fuerte and much more

  • BOLIVIAN PANTANAL /UTUQUIS NATIONAL PARK

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    Another of Bolivias least visited destinations, the Bolivian Pantanal is incredible for seeing Marsh Deer, Capybara, Spectacled Caiman and the Anaconda. If you are a birder then this is a must visit destination

  • JARDIN DE LAS DELICAS WATERFALLS

    Just 2 hours from Santa Cruz is this series of incredible waterfalls which are set deep in the rainforest, this is one of the most special areas in Bolivia and is the perfect day trip to escape Santa Cruz

  • ESPEJILLOS WATERFALLS

    Beautiful series of waterfalls just 1.5 hours from Santa Cruz

  • NOEL KEMPFF MERCADO NATIONAL PARK

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    One of the world’s most diverse and remote National Parks, this immense park is home to thriving populations of Jaguars, Giant Otters, Pumas and some of the most incredible eco systems found anywhere

  • SAN MIGUELITO JAGUAR RESERVE

    A private reserve which is just 3 hours from Santa Cruz. This property has been the centre of many scientific studies of big cats and wildlife and has some of the highest densities of Jaguars in the world, it’s open for tourism and is a very important step in conservation between Ranchers and Big Cats. Activities include treks, canoe trips, bird watching, and night spotlighting trips, working with cattle and much more

  • BUENA VISTA COFFE ROUTE

    3 hours from Santa Cruz a visit to Buena Vista can include exploring the private reserve of the Bosque de Jose where you can look for many birds and animals, furthermore there is an interesting Coffee Plantation and Cheese Factory which are also worth visiting. Buena Vista is also the main base for trips to the North of Amboro National Park