Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz Department · Cities

Santa Cruz is the big city of Bolivia's east: hot, tropical, modern and lively, very different from the Andean cities. You stroll around the large shady main square, swim at the Biocentro Güembé and try cruceño food. It's often where people fly in or out internationally.

416 maltitude

1 to 2 daysto spend there

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Things to do

Plaza 24 de Septiembre and the cathedral (view from the bell tower)
Biocentro Güembé (butterflies, pools)
Los Pozos market
Lomas de Arena (dunes) next to the city

What to eat

MajaditoRice cooked with charque or chicken, served with a fried egg and fried plantain. The dish of Santa Cruz and the Beni.
Sonso de yucaCassava and cheese dough grilled on a skewer. A speciality of the east, eaten hot.
Cuñapé and pan de arrozLittle cheese breads made with cassava or rice flour, served warm with coffee in the morning.
Tropical fruitMangoes, pineapples, papayas, achachairú (a small tangy fruit) and fresh juices everywhere for a few bolivianos.

Tip. Hot and humid. Often the international entry or exit point.

Also here

Festivals Santa Cruz CarnivalThe tropical carnival: costumed comparsas, a big parade, music day and night, and water and paint fights all over town.
Crafts and markets Los Pozos marketSanta Cruz's market for tropical fruit, fresh juices and local food: ideal for trying a majadito or a cuñapé.

How to get to Santa Cruz

Cotoca Road (bus, car) · 30 min
Micro or taxi from Santa Cruz.
Sucre Flight · 45 min flight
BoA flights.
Lomas de Arena Road (bus, car) · 45 min
Taxi or tour (sandy track: 4x4).
Cochabamba Flight · 55 min flight
Daily BoA flights to Viru Viru airport.
Trinidad Flight · 50 min flight
BoA flights.
Tarija Flight · 1 h flight
BoA flights.
La Paz Flight · 1 h flight
Very frequent BoA flights.
Espejillos 4x4 tour or excursion · 1 h 30 to 2 h
Car or 4x4 tour: the last stretch is rough.
Buena Vista Road (bus, car) · about 2 h
Buses and minibuses towards Yapacaní (get off at Buena Vista).
Laguna Volcán Road (bus, car) · about 2 h
Samaipata road to Bermejo, then a track.
Samaipata Road (bus, car) · 2 h 30 to 3 h
Shared taxis and trufis from Santa Cruz (Avenida Grigotá, 4th ring road).
San Javier Road (bus, car) · 4 h 30
Bus from the Bimodal terminal.
San José Road (bus, car) · 4 h 30
Frequent buses.
Camiri Road (bus, car) · about 5 h
Bus from Santa Cruz's Bimodal terminal.
San José Train · 6 h
Ferroviaria Oriental train (Santa Cruz to Puerto Quijarro line).
Villamontes Road (bus, car) · 7 to 9 h
Night bus from Santa Cruz's Bimodal terminal.
Yacuiba Road (bus, car) · 8 to 10 h
Night bus from Santa Cruz's Bimodal terminal.
Trinidad Road (bus, car) · 8 to 10 h
Night bus.
Roboré Train · 9 to 10 h (overnight)
Ferroviaria Oriental night train (Expreso Oriental or Ferrobus) from Santa Cruz station.
Handy: you sleep on the train and arrive in the morning.
Cochabamba Road (bus, car) · 9 to 11 h
Very frequent night buses (Cochabamba terminal to the Bimodal terminal in Santa Cruz).
Sucre Road (bus, car) · 12 to 15 h (overnight)
Night bus.