Vallegrande
Santa Cruz Department · Culture and history
Vallegrande is a quiet little colonial town high in the mountains west of Santa Cruz. It was here that Ernesto “Che” Guevara's body was displayed in 1967, in the hospital laundry, then secretly buried near the airstrip, where it was found in 1997. You can visit these places of memory, and the town is the base for going on to La Higuera.
2,030 maltitude
1 to 2 daysto spend there
Things to do
- The laundry of Señor de Malta hospital
- Che mausoleum and the mass grave
- Colonial centre and main square
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.
- FricaséA spicy pork soup with yellow chilli and mote, said to cure hangovers.
- Cuñapé and pan de arrozLittle cheese breads made with cassava or rice flour, served warm with coffee in the morning.
Tip. 3 h from Samaipata. Base for La Higuera: guides and taxis available.
How to get to Vallegrande
La Higuera Road (bus, car) · 2 to 3 h
Shared taxi or car with driver from Vallegrande.
Dirt track, hard going after rain.
Samaipata Road (bus, car) · 3 h
Bus or “Che Route” tour from Samaipata.
Photos of Vallegrande
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More places in this region
Santa Cruz de la SierraThe big, modern tropical city of the east, with an international airport (Viru Viru).
CotocaThe sanctuary of the Virgin of Cotoca and its potters, 20 km from Santa Cruz.
Lomas de ArenaWhite sand dunes and lagoons south of Santa Cruz.
EspejillosNatural pools and waterfalls on a river near Santa Cruz.
Laguna VolcánA lake hidden in a bowl of forested mountains.
SamaipataA bohemian village between the Andes and the forest: El Fuerte (UNESCO) and Amboró park.
Amboró National ParkCloud forests and tree ferns, very rich in birds.
Buena Vista (northern Amboró)A small village at the foot of Amboró park, on the rainforest side: rivers, birds and coffee.
La HigueraThe hamlet where Che was executed in 1967, now a place of memory.