'''Samaipata''' is a small town in the Santa Cruz Department Bolivia at an altitude of 1600m.

Get in

By car

  • From Santa Cruz it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Shared taxis (3 U$ per person with four persons) leave from Avenida Omar Chavez, corner Soliz de Olguin.
  • Get around

    See

    Do

  • '''El Fuerte'''. This UNESCO World Heritage site is not really a fuerte but a holy place the pre-inca and Incas used to stand on ceremonies. If you can see the Incas in one's mind's eye, the place would be very impressive.
  • '''Amboro Park'''. Offering hikes in the tropical forest. You can hire a guide from one of the agencies downtown. This is more of a ''must'', because there are no trails and you won't be able to hike by yourself.
  • Other tourist attractions are the following areas:

  • Bella Vista and Volcanes mountain ranges (Sandstone mountains with different types of forest, rivers and jungle in canyons and valleys)
  • Cuevas - easy to visit waterfalls with a beautiful area to discover on your own.
  • Condor Mountain, to visit on clear days. The hike will take a long day with 4 hours car driving and six hours spectacular hiking. A perfect alternative to the Colca Canyon in Peru. Condors almost always appear around midday.
  • La Pajcha waterfall, close to the condor mountain, great for camping
  • There_Ls some great but simple canyoning through spectaculair canyons, self guiding hikes but not in rainy season december-february
  • Other destinations are Vallegrande, Pucara and La Higuera (where Che Guevara was killed) and Laguna Quirusillas. The highway from Santa Cruz city to Samaipata is very scenic.
  • Buy

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Finca "La Vispera"''' An Unsurpassed Paradisiacal Retreat, where the owners welcome those visitors who long for silence and nature. http://www.lavispera.org Guesthouses, Horses, Camping, Garden Cafe.
  • La Posada del Sol. Three blocks from the main plaza on a hill with spectacular views. Prices are a bargain and service is attentive.

  • El Pueblito Resort Hotel and Restaurant. 91-7-214-7994. nfo@elpueblitoresort.com. ttp://www.elpueblitoresort.com/web_in/inicio_in.html.

  • '''Residencial Vargas''' - simple rooms from 20 Bs. Lovely owners.
  • Andorina Hostal, Art & Culture. taxis leave you at the doorstep - noilenna@hotmail.com). alle Campero. 1/2 blocks before main square. 0 591 (0) 3 944 6333. ttp://www.andorinasamaipata.com. 4 hours. 4 hours. -9 U$ p.p.. The most complete and informative hostel in this lovely hiking & relaxing area. Great views from balconies and rooms, many common services, great breakfast included. Many pictures on the wall and the perfect place to meet other travellers. The owners focus on more sustainable tourism and have lots of tips for hiking and other activities. This hostel offers a good deal at very accessible prices.

    Get out

    Swiss Bolivian Adventures is a highly recommended tour operator based in La Paz Bolivia. They specialize in Culture and Adventure tourism and are currently running _eRuta Del Che_f (The Che Guevara Route) tours to Vallegrande and La Higuera. Follow in the footsteps of a Revolutionary!!! Find them in Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz, esq. Socabaya No 240 (Handal Center) Planta baja Oficina Tel: 591(2) 2406470 Po Box: 7184 La Paz Bolivia http://www.andes-bolivia.ch