Santa Cruz

Tropical Santa Cruz is a great place from which to explore the nearby national parks and Jesuit Missions.

Situated on the banks of the Piraí River, close to the point where the tropical rainforest begins to meet the foot of the Andes and just 416 metres above sea level, Santa Cruz provides a welcome respite to the high altitude cities of Bolivia. It is one the most rapidly developing cities in South America and the most prosperous and dynamic in Bolivia, with lively local markets, a booming night scene and a calendar full of fiestas and celebrations. However, the pace of life ebbs and flows here, where the embrace of the local Cruceños is as warm as the climate and colonial architecture glistens in the late afternoon sun. Whether you want to do a little or a lot, you can do it in Santa Cruz.

The city is surrounded by beautiful national parks, providing wonderful opportunities for trekking, wildlife spotting and adventure sport, whilst the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos to the east and northeast of Santa Cruz are UNESCO world heritage protected and amongst the most popular tourism destinations in Bolivia.