During my trip in Bolivia, I spent most of my time in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. I had a bit of trouble figuring out what to do there. In this article I’m going to share with you everything you need to see and do during your trip to Santa Cruz if you’re staying there for a few days, to help you prepare for your stay. If you’re planning to visit other parts of Bolivia, I recommend reading the following articles:
- Preparing your trip to Bolivia.
- The ultimate guide to spending a few days in La Paz.
- Everything you need to know before heading to Lake Titicaca.
- Ultimate guide for a few days in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
- The best restaurants, cafés and bars in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Must-try food in Bolivia
Before going any further, don’t forget to find me on Instagram, on Pinterest and on Youtube. You can also watch my Bolivia vlogs on Youtube.
Things to know about Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Before going any further, you should know that it gets dark relatively early in Santa Cruz. By 6.30pm it was already dark, and the locals told me that it’s like this all year round. So you have to plan your days accordingly.
Secondly, I found that Santa Cruz is not a very touristy town. Don’t expect to have tons of things to do. It’s very different from my experience in La Paz. On the other hand, if you want to try restaurants, party and visit outside the city, you’ll find things to do.
Finally, Santa Cruz is not the capital of Bolivia, but it is the largest city in Bolivia and the commercial heart of the country.
Where to stay in Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
As I was visiting friends who were getting married there, I chose to stay in their neighbourhood to get the most time with them them and make it easier to get around. It was in the Equipetrol district. I had a supermarket and restaurants nearby. I thought it was a good neighbourhood.
If you look at a map of Santa Cruz, you’ll see that everything is in a circle around the center. That’s how neighborhoods are divided: by ring, anillos in Spanish.
Here are the 2 Airbnb’s I stayed in:
I also stayed in a hotel on the night of the wedding, which was fine but still different from airbnb in a residential area. I found the Airbnb experience closer to the everyday life of the locals.
Getting around Santa Cruz de la Sierra
During my stay I mainly got around on foot or by Uber. Ubers were very inexpensive on a Canadian budget. Of course, this is relative, depending on the person and the budget.
What to visit in Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Square September 24
The square is the center of the town. All the surrounding streets lead to this square. Its name has changed several times over the decades. From Place des Armes to Place de la Concorde. It is now called Place du 24 septembre, in honor of the date when Santa Cruz declared its independence from Spain in 1810. You’ll see tourists strolling around, but also locals chatting and dancing: it’s a very lively square, as you can see in my video.
Catedral Basilica Menor de San Lorenzo Martir
This is the main church in the town of Santa Cruz. It was designed by a French architect at the end of the 19th century. Its architecture is beautiful, both inside and out. It’s a much-loved landmark for locals and visitors alike.
Take a stroll through the streets
I also explored the streets around Place du 24 septembre and around my home. It was great to see the different styles of house, the little stores and discover a bit more of the city. Be careful, though, there aren’t many signs and directions.
Historical Museum of the Heroes of the Chaco War
This museum pays tribute to the heroes of the Chaco war. A war that took place between Bolivia and Paraguay to gain control of the Chaco Boreal region. Learn more about Bolivian history.
Santa Cruz History Museum
We continue our trip to Santa Cruz with another museum. The Santa Cruz History Museum. It’s a beautiful building! You can learn more about the history of Santa Cruz through exhibits and stories told by locals.
The museum of contemporary art
If you’re an art lover, you might want to find out more about Bolivian art. The museum mainly features art from the second half of the 20th century to the present day. This building was donated by a family to the government and also served as a hospital during the Chaco war.
The Altillo Beni town museum
I’m sure you’ll find lots of museums in this town! This museum is housed in one of the oldest houses in town. It retains its original architecture, and inside you’ll find photos of Santa Cruz in the 1950s.
Santa Cruz Botanical Garden
Discover over 500 species of flowers in this botanical garden. You can also discover a lagoon with aquatic flowers and migratory birds. It’s a beautiful place to discover several different areas, each representing the diversity of the region.
What to do around Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Guembe Biopark
You’ll have to leave the city center to explore this part of town. But it’s worth it! It’s a park where you can observe the flora and fauna. You can also relax by the pool. You can spend several hours there; in my case, I spent an afternoon.
Guembe Biopark
A little more out of the way than the previous option, this is also a good park to discover the local flora and fauna. In a truly beautiful setting.
Samaipata
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to explore this place during my trip to Santa Cruz. But the rest of the group did. The photos were amazing. I can only encourage you to go if you get the chance. It’s a very touristy town, but it’s also a very popular spot for Santa Cruz residents because of the milder climate.
Amboro National Park
Explore the 6,000 km2 Amboro National Park. This is known as the Bend of the Andes, as it is here that the mountain range changes direction and heads south. If you like waterfalls, you can take the opportunity to see the Ingreso waterfall in Espejillos; a very pretty waterfall in this nature reserve outside Santa Cruz. Also, try to spot the wild animals – over 120 species live in this reserve.
Lomas de Arena Regional Park
I’ve saved this for last, but it was my favorite activity in Santa Cruz. We booked a guided tour with Nicks Adventure to explore the Lomas de Arena park, but more importantly … to surf the sand dunes! It’s a lot harder than it looks! I’ll let you see my prowess in the vlog. It was really great, between the ride in the sand dunes, the ride on the roof of the car, and the exploration of the jungle. If you can go: go. But make sure you’re accompanied. Our guide was in a 4×4, but we came across quads if you prefer other options.
I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Santa Cruz de la Sierra and enjoy the beauty of Bolivia. If you go after reading this article, send me photos or tag me in your stories on Instagram! I want to be part of your trip!
Bon voyage !
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