Bolivia à la carteBolivia travel guide

Villamontes (Gran Chaco)

Tarija Department · Nature and hiking

Villamontes (Gran Chaco), photo 1
Photo: Ruditaly, CC BY-SA 4.0

Villamontes is the town of the Bolivian Gran Chaco, a hot region of dry forest, on the great Pilcomayo river. A few kilometres away the river cuts through the mountains in the El Angosto canyon. The region also keeps the memory of the Chaco War with Paraguay. A very different, still little-visited corner of Bolivia.

400 maltitude
1 to 2 daysto spend there
Open on the interactive mapGoogle Maps

Things to do

  • El Angosto canyon on the Pilcomayo
  • Hot springs near town
  • History of the Chaco War
  • Fishing on the Pilcomayo (May to September)

What to eat

  • River fishSurubí, pacú or dorado, grilled over a wood fire or fried, with rice, cassava and plantain. Delicious by the water, in the Llanos and the Amazon.
  • Beni beefThe Beni is cattle country: big grills (churrasco) and dried meat.
  • Tropical fruitMangoes, pineapples, papayas, achachairú (a small tangy fruit) and fresh juices everywhere for a few bolivianos.
Tip. Very hot from October to February. Buses from Tarija or Santa Cruz, about 8 h.

Also here

How to get to Villamontes

  • Yacuiba Road (bus, car) · 1 h 30

    Bus or shared taxi.

  • Camiri Road (bus, car) · about 3 h

    Bus towards Villamontes and Yacuiba.

  • Tarija Road (bus, car) · 7 to 9 h

    Bus from Tarija's terminal.

    Mountain road down to the Chaco.

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

    Night bus from Santa Cruz's Bimodal terminal.

Photos of Villamontes (Gran Chaco)

Villamontes (Gran Chaco), photo 2
Photo: josue-Flores, CC BY-SA 4.0
Villamontes (Gran Chaco), photo 3
Photo: Lapachal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Villamontes (Gran Chaco), photo 4
Photo: Lapachal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Villamontes (Gran Chaco), photo 5
Photo: Jimmy Sanabria, CC BY 3.0

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