Santa-Cruz-de-la-Sierra Travel Guide
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858km (532 miles) SE of La Paz; 473km (293 miles) E of Cochabamba; 612km (379 miles) NE of Sucre
Santa Cruz (also known as Santa Cruz de la Sierra) is the least Bolivian of all Bolivian cities. In a country defined by the peaks and valleys of the Andes, the flat roads here seem terribly out of place. If you come here after you have acclimated yourself to the cold nights and thin air so characteristic of the high plateau area, the tropical heat and humidity might feel a bit oppressive. Unlike Potosí or La Paz, Santa Cruz -- Bolivia's largest city -- doesn't have much history or a charming historic area. It's a major railroad hub, and oil refining is a major industry here, so people come to Santa Cruz to make money and to escape their past. In this brash and flashy city, SUVs outnumber trufis. But visitors should make Santa Cruz their base for exploring the wealth of attractions -- Inca ruins, historic Jesuit missions, and a unique national park -- only a few hours away from this booming metropolis.
