Santa Cruz Department

Understand

Santa Cruz is in the lowlands at the east of the country. This department concentrates 27% of the country´s population, several of the major universities of Bolivia and is responsible for over 30% of the country wealth production, forty something percent of the national taxes. Its population is variate, some 40% of its inhabitants were born elsewhere (mainly in the rest of the Bolivian departments). They seek what more of what 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.

History 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. Nowadays 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

Getting there

By bus Mostly Santa Cruz city will be your transfer hub. 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.

By plane Direct airplane flights are available to and from Santa Cruz city's Viru Viru International Airport (VVI IATA) and El Trompillo Airport (SRZ IATA).

By train If you are coming from Brazil, you could once 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.) However, it suspended service in 2020 and apparently still hasn't resumed as of 2025. Also, trains are occasionally available from the Argentine border.

By boat You can get in but slow and authentic cargo boat from the Beni department—read there for more details.

Getting around

There are numerous minibuses if not buses from Santa Cruz city into all directions. Ask the locals, they will know best where to find the bus stations, especially for the minibuses.

Do

Rent a boat 1 near Bulo Bulo or in 2 Villa Tunari, or take a cargo ferry in 3 Puerto Villaroel and go down the river 4 near Trinidad or even further into the Amazon region. Stack enough food, and bring chlorine tablets for clean water and mosquito net. See the Beni department for all the details. 6 Santiago de Chiquitos. Besides being one of the Jesuit Missions, this place in addition offers spectacular nature and hikes. (updated May 2018)

Events Depending the time of the year, there are other seasonal activities. Most are concentrated around the capital city of Santa Cruz, but many are in the provincial towns, which usually are fairly easy to reach. These include baroque music, theatre, 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

Drink & nightlife

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.