If you are keen on traveling, you must travel to Bolivia! It is a premier adventure destination. The fifth-largest country in South America, it is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world. Visitors experience Bolivia's great indigenous heritage and enjoy traditional native architecture, clothing, colorful markets, handcrafts, dances, music, and seeing the daily life of Aymara communities. And, what is not the least thing, the trip is one big adventure! Bolivia has hikes and treks along Inca trails, jungle tours, bird watching, wild mountain bike adventures, fishing, mountain climbing, sailing on Lake Titicaca, travel on jungle rivers, sightseeing in Spanish colonial towns, and interesting archeological sites.
Santa Cruz, the capital; La Paz, the most important Bolivian city; Cochabamba, the city surrounded by valuable pre-incas vestiges; Sucre, Declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity by UNESCO; Potosi city with old houses and narrow sidewalks; the lake Titicaca, the cradle of the biggest empire in the Pre-Columbian America; Oruro, the folkloric capital of Bolivia and lots of other picturesque and challenging places are offered to you by this adventurous South American country.
If you do decide to travel to Bolivia, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as simply Santa Cruz should be the first place you visit. With a population of roughly 1.3 million residents it is the capital city of the Department of Santa Cruz, founded in 1561 by the Spanish captain Nuflo de Chavez.
Santa Cruz, which shares many historical links with neighboring Argentina and Brazil, is Bolivia's fastest-developing city, as well as the center of the country's economic growth. The region around the city is rich in tradition and folklore and the nearby rainforest offers abundant opportunities to lovers of outdoor activities (such as fishing or swimming). The area's rich cuisine is also to be sampled.
In Santa Cruz de la Sierra you will not get bored and will not loose your time in vain. There are lots of tourists' attractions every traveller should visit:
The Metropolitan cathedral with outstanding wooden vaults decorated by pictorial ornaments cannot leave anyone untouched.
The most complete collection of sculptures, paintings, silver jewels and the religious objects used by the Jesuit in their evangelizing missions is preserved in the Museum of Sacred Art.
Thanks to the front statues, the Church of San Andres resembles old Greek constructions.
One of the biggest and most famous attractions in Santa Cruz is El Arenal, a park with nice a artificial lagoon.
To taste exquisite dishes of the "crucena" cuisine prepared by expert cooks is a good reason to travel to Bolivia and visit The Cabins of Piray in Santa Cruz.
A trip to the Yapacani River is a chance to test your luck in fishing or just to relax on white beach sand.
The enigmatic and unknown carved rock Samaipata still charms investigators. Its size is quite impressive - 200 meters long and 60 meters wide. For those who travel to Bolivia to meet their challenge - this place is a must.
Sensual and festival, warm, modern and agitated, full of challenges and places to visit - that is Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the tropical paradise of Bolivia, the South America country which presents visitors with a brilliant opportunity to absorb Indian cultures and dramatic superlative landscapes.