Santa Cruz of the Sierra became, in the 20 years
space, the pole of the Development of Bolivia, it is also the
most populated city of Bolivia (more than 1,5 million inhabitants).
It grew rich thanks to oil and gas.
But Santa Cruz is also and especially the door of entry of other
Bolivia. Bolivia different and complementary of that of the
Andes and valleys. Manners are somewhat different there. The
inhabitants of Santa Cruz are open, fêtards and of a merry
nature which is in general opposed to apparent hardness inhabitants
of the Andes.
To see in the city.
The cathedral dominates Plaza 24 of Septiembre, where one finds
in the branches of the tamarins, ten lazy constitute the principal
attraction of the place.
The museum of the Cathedral is modest but it gives a good outline
of the religious art of this part of Bolivia.
The museum of the Folklore recalls the principal characteristics
of the Bolivian dances.
The zoo of Santa Cruz concentrates the various species which
populate Directs it: condors, macaques, pythons, bear with glasses,
tapirs, caimans, panthers and a collection of tarantulae and
snakes.
In the surroundings of Santa Cruz.
With hundred kilometers in the west of Santa Cruz, one can visit
the astonishing fortress of Samaipata which marks the limiting
point between the cordillera and Amazonia.
Santa Cruz is also a base starting for excursions towards the
fabulous national parks of Amazonia, Pantanal and the missions
Jesuits of Chiquitos and Moxos.
Excursions:
Espejillos. With 47 kilometers of Santa Cruz is a paradisiac
site where natural cascades and swimming pools invite to paresser
in water.
Porongo. A 22 kilometers, a colonial village of Oriente proposes
a range of traditions and plays different from those of the
Andean culture. It Sunday should be gone there.
The national park Kempff is located at the extreme North-East
of department of Santa Cruz. It is accessible only by plane
or in 4x4. It acts of one of most extraordinary the national
parks of Amazonia in Latin America. One counts there 600 species
of birds and several cascades give to this site a spectacular
character.
