Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia: travel guide
Bolivia's largest and most prosperous city, a hot lowland business hub with a relaxed tropical vibe, ring-road layout and gateway to the Jesuit Missions and Amboró.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Currency
- BOB
- Time zone
- America/La_Paz
- Nearest airport
- SRZ
Plan a Santa Cruz de la Sierra trip
Top places to visit in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Plaza 24 de Septiembre
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
The leafy main square of Santa Cruz, full of sloths in the trees, ringed by the cathedral and colonial arcades.
Catedral Basílica de San Lorenzo
Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · entry BOB 10
Santa Cruz's 19th-century cathedral on the main square, with a climbable bell tower and a small religious museum.
Biocentro Güembé
Wildlife · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry BOB 120
A lush eco-park with the world's largest butterfly dome, orchids, aviaries and natural pools on the city edge.
El Fuerte de Samaipata
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry BOB 50
A UNESCO-listed pre-Columbian ceremonial site carved into a giant sandstone rock, 120 km west of Santa Cruz.
Parque Nacional Amboró
Wildlife · about 8 h · entry BOB 100
A biodiverse national park where the Andes meet the Amazon, with cloud forest, giant ferns and abundant birdlife.
Things to do
- Samaipata & El Fuerte Day Trip Day Trip · 9 h · from BOB 450 per person
- Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos Tour Cultural · 48 h · from BOB 900 per person
Day trips and tours
- Samaipata & El Fuerte Day Trip 10 h · from BOB 450
Where to stay in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- Equipetrol about BOB 550 per night
Santa Cruz's upscale district for hotels, restaurants and nightlife, north-west of the centre.
- Centro about BOB 400 per night
The historic core around Plaza 24 de Septiembre, walkable and close to the cathedral and museums.
Hotels
- Hotel Cortez 4-star · BOB 550 to BOB 750 per night
- Jodanga Backpackers Hostel 2-star · BOB 95 to BOB 320 per night
- Los Tajibos Hotel & Convention Center 5-star · BOB 1,500 to BOB 2,400 per night
Where to eat
- Jardín de Asia Asian, Fusion · about BOB 250 per person
- Casa del Camba Bolivian, Grill · about BOB 95 per person
- Los Hierros Steakhouse, Bolivian · about BOB 120 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Express taxi robbery
Street taxis at night, near terminals
Unlicensed cabs detour to rob passengers or force ATM withdrawals.
How to avoid it: Use app-based ride-hailing (Yango) or hotel-arranged cars at night; avoid hailing on the street.
ATM card skimming
Standalone street ATMs
Skimming devices and "helpful" strangers capture card data and PINs.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks or malls, cover the keypad, and watch for anyone hovering.