Santa Cruz department is located in eastern Bolivia, and is the largest in the country.

Regions

Bolivia's geographical composition can be easily divided in three major terrains or regions: Lowlands; valleys; and high plateau or altiplano. Because of this country´s history, from the times when the first humans arrived up until today, population distribution and land surface is inversely proportional in these three regions. The altiplano is the smallest and has the biggest portion of the population, the lowlands occupy more than 1/2 of the country and have about 1/3 of its population. Original natives in all three areas are also of different ethnic origins. All this is explained simply because since colonial times, Bolivia was a mining country in which the economy was based in the mines that were located high in the mountains and the valleys fed them. The rest was the frontier.

Santa Cruz is in the lowlands at the east of the country and for its first 400 years was very poor and far from potential markets to be able to grow at all. It shares this with the rest of eastern, northern and south eastern Bolivia for most of its history, up until some 50 years ago when a paved road was opened and the possibility of markets opened which summed with some royalties from oil production they also started receiving served as seed to one of the fastest growing cities and economies in the continent. Growth was slow to start but after some 20 years it was spectacular. Today it is difficult to imagine this city and provincial towns of the department for what they really were some 25 or 50 years ago.

One very interesting testimony of this history can be downloaded (in Spanish for free) from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The document is called Informe de Desarrollo Humano de Santa Cruz and the first chapter relates the history of Santa Cruz in this last half of the 20th century.

Cities

• Santa Cruz - The capital.
• Puerto Suarez / Puerto Quijarro - On the border with Brazil.
• Samaipata — 2.5 hours east of Santa Cruz with heavenly climate and lots of things to do and see

Other destinations

• Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

Understand

Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Santa Cruz city is a boomtown whose population has increased tenfold in the last 25 years, it is almost in the center of Bolivia and is the capital city of the department of Santa Cruz. It lies at one end of the Death Train's line.

This department concentrates 27% of the country´s population, several of the major universities of Bolivia and it's responds for over 30% of the country wealth production, forty something percent of the national taxes. It´s population is variate, some 40% of it´s inhabitants were born elsewhere (mainly in the rest of the Bolivian departments). They seek what more of what they cal they call "Autonomia" which means autonomy and intends to separate more functions from the central government in a way similar to Spain government system, more independent and locally managed. In this country like many others of South America, citizens have to support the burden of time and cost of doing most bureaucratic administrative procedures from far away from La Paz in a corrupt and inefficient system.

When the Spaniards originally arrived to these lands, they came from Paraguay and Argentina. The local indigenous peoples came from two lines, or as they are called Tupi-Guarani. The first, the Tupi originally came from the Caribbean through the Amazon jungle down to these latitudes. The Guarani´s came here down the Atlantic coast through what today is Brazil and Argentina, and upriver from there. They were the original humans in this region and they had gone well into the lower Andes. In actual times it is only possible to find possible reminders of the onetime greatness of this two cultures in Moxos (Beni department) or in southern Bolivia or northern Argentina and it requires investigation because little is known and they are not part of touristic routes.

The blend of these three and other latecomers are the local native population, they call themselves "Camba or Cambas". These people are mostly of peasant origin that dedicated itself to farming related activities, this still is the main department´s activity. Today, with the migrations of this last quarter century these people are maybe around one half of the local population. One interesting characteristic of this region is that most of the more recently arrived inhabitants have integrated fairly well. Obviously there are exceptions to this. Being a land with so many bloods, sympathy and tolerance to outsiders is fairly high by any standard.

One interesting characteristic of the "Cruceños" or people from Santa Cruz is that apparently they prefer not having to work in public services (Government, armed forces, police, diplomatic services, church, others) and as someone said, they don´t migrate, they just move around. This probably explains why of some 100 Bolivian presidents in almost two centuries, only three were from Santa Cruz department. And all three were military, which is a factor that changes people through doctrines embedded into its members during their careers.

Talk

The country´s official language and main language is Spanish. However, most places (stores specially) will be able to understand Portuguese and English. If they do not speak those languages, they will probably get someone that does. The people are REALLY friendly, they will try their truly best to talk to you if you are a foreigner.

Get in

Direct airplane flights are available to and from Santa Cruz city regularly several times a week and in cases a day to most South American countries, Miami in the USA, and Madrid in Spain. Airlines that fly to this destination VVI or Viru Viru airport are: Air Europa / American Airlines / Copa / GOL / TAM Mercosul / LAN Chile / Avianca / Aerolineas Argentinas

Some domestic flights operated by TAM (Transporte Aereo Militar) are operated from the downtown airport, El Trompillo.

If you are coming from Brazil, you can take the Tren de la Muerte or Death Train. The name does not reflect the degree of safety of the train, but rather how many people died building the railroad along this route.

So, if you are in Corumbá, a Brazilian border city, you just have to cross the frontier, take a taxi to the train station in Bolivia (they don't accept Brazilian taxi drivers there) and go to the train station. Depending on the class of train you want to take, it will take a different time to get to Santa Cruz.

If you are coming in from Argentina or Paraguay, you will have to come in by highway (bus or other), information is available in any major city´s bus station. Trains are occasionally available from the Argentine border.

Note: Several countries have consulates in Santa Cruz city in case of necessity.

Get around

Get a taxi; distances are long and walking in the heat is not recommended. Taxis are more expensive here than any other city in Bolivia. Make sure you settle on a price before getting in. It may be anywhere from Bs. 15-35 depending on where you would want to go. Locals usually use radio taxis and some fixed route/collective use taxis called "trufi", because they find them either safer or cheaper or both.

See

• Kaa Iya National Park - Just 6 hours from Santa Cruz, this is one of the world's best places to see jaguars, tapirs and pumas. It's an extremely remote National Park. Use of satellite Phone, 4WD and special permits are required to enter this park.

• Lomas de Arena is a 14,000-hectare protected area which is a spectacular Natural Desert which is surrounded by tropical forests. It's an excellent place for bird watching as well as sand boarding, trekking and photography.

• El Rio Pirai - this is the river that symbolizes so much to Santa Cruz citizens).

• Monseñor Rivero (Boulevard Cruceño) - this is where most people spend the late afternoon portion of the days; starting at 5 PM.

• Equipetrol - this is the neighborhood where all the night life happens!

• Cine Center - good place to go especially on Sundays.

• La Plaza - go on a Sunday, at around 11 PM... just feel the breeze, relax, and close your eyes. Also, and *very* important: get a "cafe con leche" or "cafe cortadito" from anyone who sells them, especially if you see on their shirts the name "Cafe Marcelino". Best coffee of your life.

• Estadio Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera. You gotta go to "el clasico", it is a soccer match between Blooming and Oriente Petrolero. Go and set in preferencia... Is cheap and a nice view. You will feel and see some good soccer.

Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

The Jesuit Missions comprise six individual towns in remote locations in the Gran Chaco. Each was founded in the 17th and 18th centuries as Jesuit Missions, and have survived as living monuments to that time and culture.

• San Javier
• Concepción
• Santa Ana de Velasco
• San Miguel de Velasco
• San Rafael de Velasco
• San José de Chiquitos

Do

Depending the time of the year, there are other seasonal activities. Most are concentrated around the capital city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, but many are in the provincial towns, which usually are fairly easy to reach. These include baroque music, theater, orchids, and other festivals, international commercial fairs, music concerts, sports competitions and more. Depending on ones interests some addresses which might be useful to search in are:

APAC - Asociacion Pro Arte y Cultura / Music and theater festivals (In English available)

CEPAD -Centro para la Participación y Desarrollo Humano Sostenible / Orchid festival

FEXPOCRUZ - Feria Exposicion de Santa Cruz / Exposition fairs

Gobierno Municipal de Santa Cruz de la Sierra / City hall - general tourism information

Gobierno Departamental de Santa Cruz / Local government - general tourism information available

Buy

• La Feria Barriolindo (not a very clean place, however, you will be amazed of how cheap clothing and food is in there... A must see!)

Eat

• Y se llama Perú, en equipetrol. Fantastic Peruvian seafood!
• Irish pub, located in the main plaza is a must (T-bone) is exceptional a bargain at 35 pesos (2007).

• Some great places: La Casa del Camba, Puerto Madero, El Mandarin, El Horno Caliente, Pasteleria Glamour (you should go to El Horno Caliente or Pasteleria Glamour weekday at around 4:30 - 6:00pm).

• Brasargent (excellent restaurant).

• Snacks: Orange juice on every street corner, popcorn homemade chips are also great for snacking.
• Los Lomitos. - Delicious steakhouse,with a mix of typical Argentine and Bolivian foods. 

• Churrasqueria Montero. Very excellent buffet style. Try the ubre, chinchulin, and corazon. 

Drink

• Beer (Pacena, Ducal and Bock), rum, vodka (ask for "un combito de Vodka"), wine (Navarro Correa).
• Simba -. Take advantage of the different kinds of soda flavors you can't get outside of Latin America! The Coca Cola company makes a delicious brand of fruit sodas called Simba. Try the guarana or manzana verde flavors... 

Stay safe

Do not go beyond the fourth ring "El Cuarto Anillo" alone with or without a car.

Do not participate in political manifestations before finding out more.

In the case of civic or political struggles or events, locals are usually peaceful and don´t mind foreigners. Peaceful rallies are truly a party and safe, this is how these people are. Violent ones should be avoided, although foreigners normally having fairer skin and/or different clothing than any of the locals are easily identifiable by them and are usually left alone.

These last two comments do not apply to Bolivia as a whole, there are many towns and areas of the country with less mixed and more closed societies that react differently to outsiders or foreigners.

Go next

• Samaipata - Small town in the mountains 2 hours away - Samaipata is old and beautiful, it has El Fuerte ruins and other attractions!

• Cotoca - little town 30 minutes away from Santa Cruz - Extremely old and filled with culture!

• Buena Vista - little town 1.5 hours away - Colonial town with tropical climate and filled with culture / beautiful!

• San Javier - little town 3.5 hours away - Colonial Jesuit town with semi tropical climate and filled with culture baroque music and old cattle ranches!

• Concepcion - little town 4.5 hours away - Colonial Jesuit town with semi tropical climate and filled with culture (spectacular church) and baroque music!