9-Nights Bolivia’s Sleeping Giant Presidents Pick

Santa Cruz

This attractive large city is Bolivia's richest—you'll see expensive cars and luxury merchandise for sale (and plenty of affordable arts and crafts as well). The people of the city and the department (Santa Cruz), known as Cambas, are very proud of their success. By any measure, the Santa Cruz region is the country's wealthiest, and the city is considered the country's most progressive. It is also among the fastest growing, with a population roughly equal to La Paz. There are many Mennonites and Japanese immigrants to the east who have been credited with teaching the local farmers more productive techniques.

This rich agricultural area once benefited those engaged in illegal activities: Santa Cruz was a banking center for the Colombian-Bolivian cocaine trade in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although the region no longer produces cocaine.

See the Basilica Menor de San Lorenzo (visited by the late Pope John Paul in 1988) and its museum (rare ecclesiastical garments and colonial-era silver vessels), the zoo and the Casa de la Cultura Museum (native crafts and art). Relax in Arenal Park (which has an interesting Ethno-Folkloric Museum) or the central plaza (Plaza 24 de Septiembre). Until very recently, three-toed sloths could be seen in the eucalyptus trees that shade the plaza.

Day trips can be made to the pre-Incan ruins at Samaipata. A wonderful five-day excursion to the region east of Santa Cruz called the Chiquitania is also a highlight. There the gorgeous colonial lost-in-time towns of San Xavier, Concepcion, and San Jose de Chiquitos and others have restored churches that date from the Jesuit missions of the late 1600s. There is also the aquatic wonderland of the Pantanal to explore, and the border with Brazil is nearby.

For local entertainment, the Rio Pirai and its adjacent recreation area 10 minutes from the city center is the place to go on weekends. The atmosphere along this shallow river is that of a beach party. Buying food from kiosks, cruising the beach and racing dune buggies are all part of the fun. To really be included, however, you absolutely need to go with a native of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is 350 mi/550 km southeast of La Paz.

La Paz, Bolivia

Uyuni

Sucre

The country's constitutional capital, Sucre is located in a scenic valley at an elevation of 8,900 ft/2,700 m. It is home to the Supreme Court of Bolivia and three universities.

Sucre is one of the most relaxing and pleasant cities in Bolivia—the architecture has a European flavor, and the region has a delightful climate. It offers several interesting sights, among them the Cathedral and Chapel of Guadalupe, the Casa de la Libertad (colonial artifacts related to Bolivian independence), university museums and Immaculada Convent (shop there for handicrafts). In fact, the entire city is eye candy: By law, all of the houses and structures in the central area must be painted solid white, and the contrast of colorfully clad native peoples against a pure white backdrop is a sight to be seen. Also see the ruins of Calle-Calle in the Zudanez neighborhood.

But the real highlight is a day trip to nearby Tarabuco for the colorful Sunday carnival. Amerindians from throughout the area go to town to dance and have a good time. The clothing and singing are fabulous. Sucre is 260 mi/420 km southeast of La Paz.

Tarija

This beautiful colonial city in the isolated southern highlands has a distinctive Mediterranean flavor. Not without reason is it called the Andalucia of Bolivia. It has festivals and special events year-round, including a lively Carnival and a rodeo (mid-April). Its central plaza is a good place to people-watch and spend an evening, and the Mirador Loma de San Juan (a park on the slopes overlooking the city) is a favorite afternoon hangout. The nearby pueblo of San Lorenzo is a pleasant place to spend a Sunday afternoon, where you can soak up tradition and singani, a locally produced alcoholic beverage made from grapes. Much of the region north of Tarija has given over to viniculture. If you fancy a wine-sampling tour—with plenty of samples—head to the Concepcion or Kohlberg wineries. You won't be disappointed.

From Tarija, you can visit the scenic desert town of Tupiza and the nearby village of San Vicente, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are said to have died. (The famous U.S. outlaws "retired" to South America in 1902 but were still robbing banks when the Bolivian Army caught up with them six years later at San Vincente. Cornered in a local inn and vastly outnumbered, Butch and Sundance died fighting the Bolivian soldiers.)

If you're in Tarija in late October, you'll want to visit the village of Entre Rios (a three- or four-hour drive), which holds a traditional festival celebrating the Guarani people of the region. Tarija is 160 mi/255 km southeast of Potosi.