OVERVIEW OF BOLIVIA

Bolivia is the country with the greatest biodiversity in America and one of the 5 countries with the biggest biodiversity in the world.
Bolivia provides you:
-  1865 tourist attractions throughout the country.
-    385 archaeological sites.
-      87 of the 107 ecosystems that exist in the world.
-      81 protected areas in National Parks, Reserves, Biological sites.
- Colonial churches and jesuits missions of the century XVIII, declared CULTURAL INHERITANCE of the humanity by the UNESCO.

Bolivia is a country completely out of the ordinary weird!
Considered as the paradise of South America, like the surreal landscapes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende.
It's the kind of place where you start taking the strangest things for granted.

Highest of all the Andean nations, Bolivia is the breathtaking beauty of Lake Titicaca in the North and the brackish salt beds of the Salar de Uyuni in the South. An untouched Amazon basin and the Pantanal lowlands, make Bolivia the perfect country to explore.

The country is surrounded by Brazil to the north and to the east, Peru and Chile to the west; Paraguay and Argentina to the south. Bolivia is an incredibly beautiful country with many different types of climates and terrains.
In the western part of the country, running north to south, rise the majestic and mysterious Andes, the second highest mountain range in the world. Due to the average elevation in Bolivia, many people refer to the country as the "Tibet of the Americas". The Andes that run through Bolivia are some of the highest and most remote regions found anywhere in South America. The scenery is absolutely stunning.

 

Along the eastern slopes of the Andes lie dense forests and lush mountain valleys known as the Yungas. Further eastward, one finds the vast, and seemingly endless steaming jungles of the Bolivian Amazon Basin. Finally, to the south, stretches the dry, semi-tropical plains known as the Chaco.
It is a beautiful country with 20,000 foot high snow capped peaks, a 12,000 foot high plateau (the altiplano) and beautiful and productive mountain valleys which fall away into the Amazon basin.

It is a country with a proud indigenous background mixed with European people and rich colonial traditions. It is a country of more than one million square miles and yet with a population of less than eight million.

There is no danger of falling into a tourist trap when traveling anywhere in Bolivia.
According to the last indices of security published including all the countries of Latin America , Bolivia is in the first place, being the country with the rate of insecurity the lowest compared with any country in Latin America.

While visiting the high Andes seems to be the most popular attraction for travelers, many people consider the lush mountain valley areas known as the Yungas, and the Bolivian Amazon Basin to be the best places to visit. Besides great scenery, one has the opportunity to see various exotic birds, plants, insects, and animals living in the rainforests of this region.
 
If you thought all jungles were the same, you will quickly find out how wrong you are.
Elevation and rainfall create vastly different types of rainforest and/or jungle. As a result, the life found in one type of rainforest is vastly different from that found in another type of rainforest. This region is also very interesting due to the people living here. Over the centuries, these people have created a culture entirely different from that found high in the Andes.
The cities and towns that make up Bolivia are another reason why the country is such an interesting destination.
 
For those individuals interested in people or wildlife, there are few places in the world that surpass the marvels of Bolivia. The people of this country have a way of life and customs completely foreign to outsiders.

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REFERENCES/ USEFULL INFORMATION

Bolivian Quality of Life
For the foreign tourist, Bolivia is a very economic country. You can enjoy a luxurious trip, to discover a whole culture and sample Bolivian cuisine for less than half of price of any other country in Latin America.

Security in the Country
Bolivia is the safer country of Latin America. According to the last indices of security published by the ONU concerning the countries in Latin America, Bolivia is in the first place, being the country with the lowest rate of insecurity compared with any country in Latin America.

Currency: Peso boliviano ($)
Exchange Rate:  1 $USD = 8 $pesos

Credit Cards
Mayor credit cards are accepted in the most important hotels, restaurants and commercial centers, however the same thing doesn't happen in the smallest establishments neither in the remote towns. Credit card are generally not accepted if the amount is superior to 1000 US$. 
In general, Mastercard, Visa and American Express are accepted. There are cash machines everywhere in the principal cities of Bolivia; they all accept international debit cards and credit cards.   

Traveler Checks
In the main cities of Bolivia, the Exchange offices, Money Exchange, Banks,  and some other establishments accept travelers checks, reason why selling them won’t be any difficult; but, the situation is different in the smallest towns, for what is recommended to take cash.
One more thing, if you plans to take travelers checks, the best thing will be to have them issued in American dollars.

Costs of Reference
Food:u
Economic / Budget-oriented: US $1 - 2
Medium range: US $3-4
High class: from US $6 upwards

Taxis service (Radio Taxis)
A move within the city US $1
Rent for one hour US $3
Rent for one day US $20-25

Climate
The climate in Santa Cruz is semi-tropical with average temperatures between 29 to 35oC (84 to 95oF) in spring and summer, and dropping down to 20 or 21oC (68 to 70oF) in winter.

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  ACTIVITIES WE SUGGEST IN SANTA CRUZ      

"SANTA CRUZ, THE HEART OF SOUTH AMERICA"

Modern City of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the economical capital of Bolivia and also the biggest center of biogeography convergence in the heart of South America, since within the Department of Santa Cruz five of the most important ecosystems in the continent come together:

- The southernmost Portion of the Amazon
   Basin.
- The westernmost part of the Cerrado and
   the Pantanal Wetlands.
- The easternmost part of the Foothills of
   the Andes Mountains.
- The northernmost part of the Chaco Dry
   Forest, known as the Chiquitania.

Santa Cruz was made for lovers of nature, adventure and culture because of its impressive and extensive geographic environment full of varied forms and landscapes, amongst them there are outstanding mountains and valleys, plains and swamps, rivers and lagoons, salt deposits, canyons, dunes, caves and caverns.

Among the more famous bodies of water we can highlight the Rio Grande, Yapacaní, Ichilo and Iténez rivers, as well as the lakes and lagoons of Gaiba and Concepción. For those that like to navigate through virgin waters, these can turn dreams of adventure into reality and surrounded by the exquisite and beautiful landscapes that will captivate you by their tranquility.

Santa Cruz: Tropical Forest & Parcs

A collection of natural wonders possesses unequalled natural fauna, since it contains some of the most exotic animals on the planet.

 

In Santa Cruz you can find a wide variety of species. There is the Jucumari (spectacled) bear. There are also anteaters, guanacos–from the llama family. There is the Chaqueño wild pig, and the giant otter, also known as the river wolf.
Amongst the reptiles, there are also species such as the Sicurí, renowned Anaconda, and the and the Cayman.
In Amboró Park, one of the most beautiful nature’s gifts to mankind, biologists have found at least seventy nine new, undiscovered species, of these it is expected that fifteen of them are completely unheard of and new to science.

As far as culture is concerned, Santa Cruz offers a wide ethnic variety, of which we can highlight the guarayo, chiquitano, and ayoreo indigenous, nomadic peoples who continue living as hunters and gathers.

Discover the night life in Santa Cruz and its people:





http://www.us1.2night.com

AMBORÒ NATIONAL PARK

Amboró National Park is an ecological masterpiece of almost half a million hectares. It is located about 100 kilometers (65 miles) from the city of Santa Cruz. The road to this park is a completely asphalted highway.

This park is unique, because in this park three ecosystems converge: the Andes Mountains, the Chaqueño Dry Forest, and the Amazon Rain Forest. It is a magical place where we find an incredible range and number of migratory birds.

The park’s biodiversity is so abundant that without having finished the inventory of the bird species, more than 830 species have been identified, more than the USA and Canada together! This in itself transforms the Amboró National Park into an ornithology observation center of international significance.


The area also abounds with endemic species, both animal and plants. The latest investigations have yielded new species for scientific study.

If you want to stay and enjoy a little more the nature, the hotel spa at the Amboró Resort is the ideal place and it offers a wide variety of attractions for all type of preferences.

Buena Vista is one of the natural access points to the Amboró National Park–one of the places that offers the richest flora and fauna in all Bolivia.

The Jipijapa palm grows in the numerous hills surrounding the community of Buena Vista. This palm is an excellent source for textiles having a special flexibility.

SAMAIPATA, INCA RUINS
(´Rest in the heights´ which means in Quechua)

Samaipata is an ideal destination for those who are looking for a tranquil place, where one can dream and relax. Meet the friendly people or go off in search of adventure in the surrounding area of incomparable natural beauty.

Located approximately 120 kilometers from Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the most important archaeological site in eastern Bolivia and was named as a Cultural Heritage for Humanity by UNESCO. At this site there is a settlement of pre-Hispanic towns.

It is one of the most important pre-Columbian sites in Latin America. Its origin is mysterious and its importance, unknown. Most likely, it was an Incan ceremonial center.

Samaipata, is a town located near the southern entrance to the Amboró National Park. Just outside in you can see “El Fuerte” [The Fortress], one of the largest carved rocks in the world.

El Fuerte is divided in distinct two parts: the first part is on a hill 250 meters high by 50 meters wide. On top of the rock there are numerous and gigantic carvings in the sandstone that represent snakes, pumas, jaguars, crisscrossing geometric designs, etc. and seem to be part of an Incan ceremonial center that was active during the 14th and 15th centuries. The second part of “El Fuerte” the an administrative and residential area just south of this hill.

Samaipata is considered an important temple, where it is thought that here the Incas communicated with the gods. This archaeological monument is surrounded by different ceremonial enclosures and has a hydraulic system that allows us to verify the intensity of the rains of the agricultural works. Their location also allowed them to complete an astronomical function.

THE JESUIT MISSIONS  …A living museum…

Santa Cruz, had within its territory an important Jesuit presence in America: the Chiquitos Missions that in spite of their age continue being the “House of God” to the chiquitano people, who still maintain both their European and American culture roots.

The music of the Baroque Chiquitano is one of the most beautiful examples of this culture preserved through more than five thousand original scores. These scores are the central attraction of the renowned International Festival of Baroque Chiquitano Music held every two years in the scenarios that they saw created.
With a great color and ceremony, the Holy-Week festivities can only be described as nothing short of memorable. Here the indigenous towns folk take great pains to recreate the path of the cross and the crucifixion together with dancers and musicians that give tribute to their ancestral ceremonies and to the Christian divinities.

The Jesuit Missions were declared, just like Samaipata, as "Cultural Heritage of Humanity." They are a sample of the American Baroque that doesn't have ruins, but rather has temples and towns that are heirs of the native-mission culture. The primary merit of these works of art is found in the effort with which the Jesuit taught the natives the hand-carving techniques that can be appreciated in the churches, as a true art form.

The Jesuit Missions at San Javier and Concepción:
The Jesuit missions at San Javier and Concepción are one of the most important Jesuit Mission in South America. San Javier, was the first mission founded by the Jesuits in 1691 and it became the headquarters of a music school and a workshop for producing musical instruments. 

Around the town, the vegetation is characterized by the surprising symbiosis of the bibosi and motacú plants. Their rustic appearance of dirt roads and streets and the large traditional houses, with adobe walls decorated with murals and shady verrandas with wooden columnades, creates an ideal environment showing the true majesty of the missions. Traveling through the low lands of the east, primarily agricultural and cattle areas, one can visit the lagoon and the dam at Sapocó where you can bathe in its crystal-clear waters.

The Chiquitos Missions:
To travel to the Chiquitanía is to be transported to another world, the world of the Jesuit missions, and to discover the towns that were founded by the Jesuits at the end of the seventeenth century. Here these men wanted an utopia, and they turned it into reality: they created on earth, the "City of God" and brought about the peaceful evangelization and civilization of the native population.

Located in the middle of the Bolivian jungle, the Jesuit Missions have become the primary Jesuit settlements in the new world. The Jesuit remained in the Chiquitania lands for less than one century, but they created remarkable societies of productivity, order, and architecture.

The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos have been around for more than three centuries. Built between 1691 and 1760, they arouse the admiration and interest of those who visit them for their architecture and as temples of the mestizo Baroque style. Here one can clearly see paintings, murals, splendid golden altars, colossal, carved wooden columns and a variety of beautifully carved altarpieces adorning the pulpits. The churches emulate the appearance of European architecture, because of the influence of Swiss priest, Jesuit Martin Schmit. As the main architect of the Missions, he worked among the indigenous Jesuit people and built these impressive churches. It is here you can truly appreciate the technique learned by the natives which become art enriched by their own visions.
The high artistic level and the deep cultural meaning of these works of art motivated UNESCO in 1991 to declare the towns of San Javier, Concepción, San Miguel, San Rafael, Santa Ana, and San José de Chiquitos as Cultural Heritage for Humanity. 

CARNIVAL IN SANTA CRUZ

Santa Cruz amongst its festivities every year carries out the Cruceño Carnival held between February and March. Its most anticipated event is the so called "Corso" or parade, in which different groups in the processions exhibit their beautiful floats and they perform traditional, taquiraris, chovenas and carnavalitos.

In the city of Santa Cruz and the immediate surrounding areas there are several local, beautiful places to be able to go to enjoy oneself with family and friends, namely, the Sand Dunes, the Piraí River, Espejillos, to mention just a few of nearby places.

With all this one can see that Santa Cruz has a variety of tourist attractions; hence, we could call it the land of many options.

 PIRAI RIVER

It is a tourist area where people of different ages converge, drawn by the sport fields, beaches, and cabins where a variety of traditional regional dishes are served. The easiest access is located at the end of Avenida Roca Coronado, a few minutes from the main Town Square, the “Plaza 24 de Septiembre."
 

ESPEJILLOS

This is a local tourist area with its impressive and beautiful waterfalls and natural pools where you can swim. Nearby there are several good quality hotels with all the necessary services. There are also comfortable places where you can spend a day camping or on a picnic. It is located 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Santa Cruz and can be accessed only by a 4X4 vehicle.
 

SAND DUNES  

This regional park is enhanced by the unique scenic beauty of the sand dunes, crystalline waters, natural forests and wild animals. Nearby there are also some cabins which serve different traditional dishes to visitors. The park is located 18 kilometers (11 miles) from downtown and to get there you would require a 4x4 vehicle.

RATE TABLE

SAMAIPATA - EL FUERTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL - FULL DAY
Leave Santa Cruz at 8.00, after breakfast, the road trip lasts 2½ hours over asphalted road (120 Km. and 1968 meters/ 6460 feet above sea-level), to the picturesque town of Samaipata, with intermediate refreshment stop in the mountainous sector where there are beautiful landscapes of the sub-Andean mountains. We allow about 2 hours to explore this important pre-Columbian archeological site in eastern Bolivia and one of the most important in America. the “EL FUERTE” Archaeological Complex and Ceremonial Temple was inhabited by diverse pre-Columbian civilizations: Amazonian cultures and Incas. EL FUERTE was declared by UNESCO to be a Historical-Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After lunch in a restaurant in Samaipata, you could visit the Archeological Museum, look at handcrafts, and walk about the picturesque town. Your return to Santa Cruz scheduled for 16.00. On your return trip you could stop off and explore the waterfalls in "LAS CUEVAS".

SAMAIPATA - CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL 2DAYS/1 NIGHT
First Day:
After breakfast leave the Hotel in Santa Cruz at about 8:00 AM and travel by road for 2½ hours to the picturesque town of Samaipata. Along the way there is a refreshment break in the mountainous sector where there are beautiful landscapes of the sub-Andean Mountains. We have scheduled 2 hours to explore this important pre-Columbian archaeological site in eastern Bolivia and one of the most important in the Americas. The "EL FUERTE" Archaeological Complex and Ceremonial Temple that was inhabited by several pre-Columbian civilizations: Amazon cultures and Incas. You are scheduled to eat lunch in a restaurant in Samaipata and then visit another interesting Archaeological Museum, look at handcrafts, and then a stroll around the picturesque town. You will eat dinner and then spend the night in Samaipata.

Second day:
After breakfast you are scheduled to go and explore the southern sector of Amboró National Park, including a light, 5½-hour hike through the mist forests of giant ferns and the rich biodiversity of the flora and fauna. In the middle of the forest we will offer you a refreshing picnic and refreshments. Then at 17.00 you will return to Santa Cruz. Optional: You could extend this tour package and take different trips over 3 or 4 days.

SAN JAVIER AND CONCEPTION MISSIONS - FULL DAY
You are scheduled to return to Santa Cruz at 15.00.


JESUIT MISSIONS OF SAN JAVIER AND CONCEPTION:
   2 DAYS/1 NIGHT
First Day
After breakfast, you are scheduled to leave the Hotel in Santa Cruz at 08.00, and travel by road for 3½ hours over asphalted road (230 Km/145 mi) to the town of San Javier and are expected to arrive about 1300. Lunch is scheduled to be eaten in a local restaurant. Then you will travel to Concepción (60 Km./20 mi), stopping at the Stones of Paquío Ranch. Here you can see cattle wrangling and raising buffalo within the context of the Amazon forest. You will proceed to Concepción, where you will visit the Jesuit Church, the local museum, the local handcraft and restoration workshops, and the orchid cultivation center. You have dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night in Concepción.

Second Day:B
You will leave the hotel in Concepción at 08:30, after breakfast, and go to San Javier where you will visit the Jesuit Church and the houses specializing in local handcrafts. You eat lunch in a local restaurant and later return to Santa Cruz, arriving around 18:00.


CHE GUEVARA ROUTES - 2 DAYS/1 NIGHT
First Day:
After breakfast, you are scheduled to leave the hotel in Santa Cruz at about 08.00. You will be taking a 6-hour road trip of (250 Km/155 mi) to the town of Vallegrande, stopping for lunch in Samaipata and refreshments along the way. In the afternoon, after checking in at the Hotel in Vallegrande, you will visit some of the local historical monuments, the museum, and the places where "CHE" Guevara had greater influence. You will have dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night at the Hotel.

Second Day:B
You are scheduled to leave the Hotel at 06:00, after breakfast. You will be going to a nearby community known as “la Higuera del Che” (3-hour road trip and 1985 meters/ 6500 feet above sea level). Along the way you will have the chance to see different picturesque little towns like Guadalupe, El Cruce and Pucará within the context of the beautiful Vallegrande valley landscape. Once you arrive at “la Higuera del Che” (110 inhabitants) you can visit the Community School where on October 9, 1967 Che Guevara was executed and the Community Museum. Following this you to on a 2-Km hike to “Quebrada del Churo o Yuro” (the Churo or Yuro Gulley) where on October 8, Che was wounded and captured, along with his guerilla partner Simón Cuba, by the elite Bolivian Army Company, the Rangers, commanded by Captain Gary Grassland Salgado, Chief of the Ranger Company of the Second Regiment, and by Colonel Andrés Selnich, Major of the Third Tactical Group who personally put Che to death. After lunch you will return to Santa Cruz, going through Samaipata, and should arrive at 19:00.B

CITY TOUR OF SANTA CRUZ – TIME: 3 HOURS.
You are scheduled to leave the hotel in Santa Cruz, at 9:00 and be gone until 15:00. During this time you will explore the city’s main locations, attractions, and areas; You eill visit the Cathedral Museum, the tourist center at the Prefecture, the Ethno-folklore Museum, the Handcraft Centers, the “Mansion”–an important religious center in Santa Cruz, and the social and restaurant area near the “El Cristo” boulevard (there is an optional visit to the zoo). Also included is are visits to the traditional cabins at the Pirai River, a tour of the main residential neighborhoods (Las Palmas, Equipetrol, Urbari, Zona Sur, etc.). During the tour you will be offered refreshments, and then you will return to the hotel.

SHOPPING SPREE – TIME: 3 HOURS.
You are scheduled to leave the hotel in Santa Cruz at about 9:00 AM, and you will be gone until 15:00. During this tour you will travel to the main Commercial (Shopping) Centers and Perfumeries around the city. Likewise, you could also visit the Barrio Lindo Fair and handcraft stores depending on what your fellow passengers choose. During the tour you will be offered refreshments, and then you will return to the hotel.
 

BOLIVIA A PLACE FULL OF MAGIC...

UYUNI SALT PANS… A Sea Of Salt                       

On the Altiplano high plateaus at 3,660 meters above sea level, south of the city of La Paz, we will find the Uyuni Salt Pans, the largest in the world - a sea of salt, in a fantasy world of its own.
 

It looks like an endless frozen over lake or a white expanse of desert, and is actually the evidence of a very ancient sea that existed here. Its total area is 10,580 km2. its average annual temperature ranges from 20°Celsius in the daytime to -25°C at night; it has a typical high-mountain climate: dry and cold, with low rainfall and intense solar radiation. As a result of the instant evaporation of ground water that occurs in the southern high plateau due to the dryness of the air, enormous flat salt beds have formed consisting mainly of sodium chloride, together with the sodium and magnesium carbonates present in the original water. The township of Uyuni, departure point for tours to a region rich in landscapes, places of interest and natural wilderness areas, has tourist facilities for information, lodging, local and international cooking, unrestricted communications, medical assistance, foreign currency exchange and the purchase of local arts and crafts. Its weather is rainy from November to March and dry the rest of the year.

The surface crust is 10 m thick, and the amount of salt in the Pans is estimated at 64000 millions tons. They also contain huge amounts of boron, chlorine, magnesium, sodium, potassium, strontium and other elements in smaller amounts, including lithium, which is considered a strategic mineral in high demand worldwide. At the edges of the salt pans potatoes and quinua are successfully farmed.
In winter, the salt pans are transitable and can be visited from the different towns in the surroundings.

TITICACA… A Lake Willing To Be a Sea…

Is the highest navigable lake in the world.

An inexpugnable mantel of fog wraps up the vault of the sky in this morning of fine rain drops, uncertain clarity of shades and blurred images. Indications of beauty are shown off in the unconcluded lines of the horizon; suddenly, the curtain of fog is ripped by the phantasmagoric silhouette of a fragile craft, obstinate in crossing the legendary waters of a lake willing to be a sea.

The sighs of the wind shiver, slap and fatten the sails of the solitary craft, headed by a man of elusive eyes and prominent cheekbones that knows the whims of the Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,810 m.a.s.l.) and the bigger in extension in South America, With an area of 8,300 square kilometers.

The fragile silhouette disappears diving in the fog. The fog cover the blued immensity of the Titicaca, the cradle of the biggest empire in the Pre Columbian America, because of its cold and calm waters, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo arose and founded the Incan society in the heights of Cuzco, following an order given by their father, the Sun.

Source of life, myths and legends, the lake is located in the highland of Bolivia and Peru, becoming a natural border between both countries. In the Bolivian area, the islands of El Sol, Suriki and Kalahuta, are rural but fascinating places, in which the features of the old Andean cultures can