Tarija

Things to do

• Wine and singani route (Valle de la Concepción)
• Town centre and main square
• Sama reserve (lagoons and an Inca trail)

What to eat

• SaiceA spicy stew of minced beef and peas, served with rice and potatoes. Tarija's signature dish.
• CangrejitosTiny fried river crabs, eaten whole with mote (corn) and lime. A Tarija speciality, best tried by the San Jacinto lake.
• Tarija wineHigh-altitude wines (up to 2,000 m): tannat, malbec, muscat. Tastings at the valley's bodegas.
• SinganiA muscat grape brandy and a national pride. Drunk as a “chuflay” (with ginger ale).

Also here

• Festivals · UNESCO Fiesta Grande de Tarija (San Roque)Weeks of celebration for San Roque, with the chunchos in feather and ribbon costumes, the cañas (long horns) and the September processions.

How to get to Tarija

• San Jacinto Road (bus, car) · 15 to 20 min

  Taxi or minibus from Tarija.

• San Lorenzo Road (bus, car) · 20 to 30 min

  Minibus from Tarija.

• Coimata Road (bus, car) · 20 to 30 min

  Taxi or minibus from Tarija.

• Tarija wineries Road (bus, car) · 40 min

  Taxi or winery tour.

• Cochabamba Flight · 1 h flight

  Direct BoA flights on some days.

• Padcaya Road (bus, car) · about 1 h

  Bus or minibus from Tarija.

• Santa Cruz Flight · 1 h flight

  BoA flights.

• La Paz Flight · 1 h flight

  BoA flights.

• Tajzara Road (bus, car) · 2 to 3 h

  Day tour, or the bus towards Villazón to Iscayachi.

• Camargo Road (bus, car) · 3 to 4 h

  Potosí – Tarija buses passing through Camargo.

• Villazón Road (bus, car) · 3 h 30 to 4 h

  Bus on the paved road via Iscayachi.

• Tariquía 4x4 tour or excursion · 3 to 4 h to the entrance

  With a Tarija agency, then on foot.

• Tupiza Road (bus, car) · 6 to 7 h

  Daily buses.

• Potosí Road (bus, car) · 7 to 8 h

  Day or night buses.

• Villamontes Road (bus, car) · 7 to 9 h

  Bus from Tarija's terminal.

  Mountain road down to the Chaco.

Photos of Tarija

More places in this region

• Valle de la ConcepciónTarija's wine and singani cellars.
• San LorenzoA colonial Chapaco village, home of the hero Moto Méndez, 15 km from Tarija.
• CoimataA river, natural pools and a tall waterfall, 20 minutes from Tarija.
• San Jacinto lake and TomatitasA lake among the hills and a river for swimming, on Tarija's doorstep.
• Padcaya and ChaguayaA valley village south of Tarija, and the great sanctuary of the Virgin of Chaguaya.
• BermejoA tropical border town on the Bermejo river, facing Argentina.
• Sama reserve: Tajzara lagoonsHigh lagoons, dunes and flamingos in the Sama reserve, above Tarija.
• Tariquía reserveCloud forests and wild rivers, for multi-day treks with a guide.
• Camargo (Cinti valley)Old vineyards and red cliffs in the Cinti valley, between Potosí and Tarija.
• Villamontes (Gran Chaco)Gateway to the Gran Chaco, on the Pilcomayo river and its canyon, El Angosto.
• YacuibaThe Chaco's big border town, facing Argentina.
• CamiriThe Chaco's "oil capital", among hills and Guaraní culture.