Santa Cruz

Bolivia’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, the colourful Santa Cruz in the Bolivian tropics acts as a gateway into the country for many international flights. Despite its size, the charm of its colonial architecture gives the city a small-town vibe and a relaxed, sunny atmosphere. Highlights of a few nights in this booming city include time spent exploring the vibrant town centre, a visit to the 400-year-old colonial cathedral, boasting a fabulous exhibition of religious art, the Museum of Ethnography & Folklore, the Museum of Modern Art, and the charming, verdant Botanical Gardens.

The city also offers a dynamic culinary scene, where traditional Bolivian dishes are fused with international influences, making dining out an adventure in itself. Boutique shops, lively street markets, and trendy cafés line the central avenues, adding to Santa Cruz’s cosmopolitan appeal. Further afield, aficionados of political history travel to the sleepy Bolivian town where Che Guevara made his last stand; and lovers of South America’s exotic wildlife can explore the Amboró and Kaa-Iya National Parks, the latter famed for its population of the elusive jaguar.

An intriguing mix of laid-back locals, Cuban emigrés, Brazilian immigrants, Mennonite colonies and international business-people, Santa Cruz is boundlessly energetic and might just surprise you.