What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Photo: Parallelepiped09 / Wikimedia Commons
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is a large Bolivian city, though not the capital. For visitors, the heart is the Casco Viejo (Old Town), where Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the cathedral and the Manzana Uno Art Space sit close together. Markets such as Los Pozos and Siete Calles show daily life, and Lomas de Arena Regional Park lies south of the city. Equipetrol suits nightlife and dining, while Urbarí and Sirari are quieter. The best months to visit are June, July and August.
There is no fixed recommendation. The Old Town sights take about 1 hour each, and the markets 1–2 hours. The zoo and the Botanical Garden take 2–3 hours each, and Lomas de Arena half a day. Add these up to plan your stay.
Casco Viejo (Old Town)
The main square of Santa Cruz, shaded by tall trees and lined with colonial-style arcades. Locals come here to sit, talk and watch the city go by. It is the easiest place to start a walk around the old centre.
Casco Viejo (Old Town)
The large brick cathedral on the main square, with a painted wooden ceiling inside. You can climb the bell tower for a view over the plaza and the red-tiled roofs of the old town. A small museum of religious art sits inside the building.
South of the city
A protected area of large sand dunes surrounded by forest and small lagoons. Visitors walk or sandboard on the dunes and look for birds. A 4x4 or a guided trip is the usual way to get there, because the access road is sandy.
East of the city
A large garden with forest trails, where you have a good chance of seeing sloths, monkeys and many birds in the trees. It is a quiet escape from the city traffic. Bring insect repellent.
North of the centre
A zoo focused on animals of Bolivia and South America, including jaguars, tapirs, spectacled bears and many birds. It gives a good overview of the wildlife of the lowlands before trips to national parks.
Centre
A museum covering the plants, animals and insects of the Bolivian lowlands. It is small but useful if you plan to visit the forests and parks of eastern Bolivia.
Casco Viejo (Old Town)
A contemporary art gallery right next to the cathedral on the main square. It shows changing exhibitions by Bolivian and international artists and is easy to combine with a walk around the plaza.
Centre
A large covered market selling fruit, vegetables and household goods, with many simple food stalls. It is a good place to try tropical fruit juices and local dishes such as majadito and empanadas.
Centre
A maze of streets and stalls selling clothes, fabrics, shoes and everyday goods. It is crowded and busy, so keep an eye on your bag, but it shows daily commercial life in Santa Cruz better than any mall.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 22°C | 18 days (190 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 4.0/10 |
| February | 30°C / 22°C | 17 days (166 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 4.3/10 |
| March | 29°C / 22°C | 18 days (145 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 4.4/10 |
| April | 28°C / 21°C | 15 days (121 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 6.1/10 |
| May | 25°C / 18°C | 13 days (102 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| Best month: June | 24°C / 17°C | 10 days (61 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| Best month: July | 25°C / 17°C | 8 days (56 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 8.4/10 |
| Best month: August | 27°C / 18°C | 7 days (72 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| September | 30°C / 20°C | 7 days (70 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| October | 31°C / 22°C | 12 days (106 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| November | 30°C / 22°C | 14 days (161 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 4.0/10 |
| December | 30°C / 22°C | 19 days (234 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 4.1/10 |
Hot and wet, with highs of 30°C, 18 rain days and 190 mm of rain. Expect heavy downpours most weeks. Verdict: ok (score 4).
Highs of 29.5°C with 17 rain days and 166 mm of rain. It is still the wet season, so plan around storms. Verdict: ok (4.3).
Highs of 29.3°C and 18 rain days. Rain stays frequent at 145 mm, though sun still averages 9.3 hours a day. Verdict: ok (4.4).
Rain eases to 15 rain days and highs drop to 27.8°C as the wet season winds down. Verdict: good (6.1).
Cooler, with highs of 24.7°C, lows of 17.9°C and 13 rain days. Sun falls to 7.1 hours a day. Verdict: good (7.1).
Mild highs of 23.7°C, lows of 16.8°C and 10 rain days, with only 61 mm of rain. Verdict: best (7.9).
The top-scoring month (8.4, best). Highs of 24.6°C, just 8 rain days and the lowest rainfall of the year at 56 mm.
Warming up to 27.2°C, with only 7 rain days and 9.3 hours of sun a day. Verdict: best (8).
Hot again at 29.8°C, but with the fewest rain days of the year at 6.5. Verdict: good (6.8).
The hottest month, with highs of 30.6°C. Rain returns, with 12 rain days and 106 mm. Verdict: ok (5.3).
Hot at 30.4°C and getting wetter, with 14 rain days and 161 mm of rain. Verdict: ok (4).
The wettest month, with 234 mm of rain over 18.5 rain days and highs of 29.8°C. Expect frequent heavy rain. Verdict: ok (4.1).
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Bolivia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for nightlife, business travellers, dining
This modern district north-west of the centre has the city's main cluster of bars, clubs, restaurants and newer hotels. Stay here if you want evenings out and a more upscale feel. Bars can be loud on weekends, and you will need a taxi to reach the old centre.
Good for couples, quiet, longer stays
Sirari is a leafy residential area next to Equipetrol, with tree-lined streets, cafés and a calmer pace. You get easy access to Equipetrol's restaurants without the weekend noise. There are few sights here, so most trips mean a taxi ride.
Good for families, quiet, nature lovers
This green neighbourhood south-west of the centre is mostly residential, with gardens and a relaxed feel. It is close to the Biocentro Güembé butterfly park and nature reserve area on the city's western edge. Restaurants and nightlife are limited, and it is a long walk to the main plaza.
Good for families, shoppers, longer stays
Las Palmas is a well-off, spread-out area in the west of the city, with large homes, shopping centres and good supermarkets. It suits travellers who want space, quiet and modern facilities. It feels suburban, and you will depend on taxis or ride-hailing to get almost anywhere.
Rice cooked with dried beef (charque), onion, tomato and annatto, often served with a fried egg and fried plantain. It is a filling lunch dish found in homes and simple local eateries.
Small, soft bread rolls made with cassava starch and fresh cheese. Locals often buy them warm from bakeries and street sellers and eat them in the afternoon with coffee.
Mashed fried plantain or cassava mixed with dried beef or cheese. It is a typical breakfast in the region, usually served with coffee or hot chocolate.
Cassava mashed with cheese, wrapped around a stick and grilled until golden. It is a popular snack at street stalls and is often eaten with grilled meat.
Large chunks of beef grilled on a skewer, usually served with cassava, rice and fresh cheese. It is a favourite meal for gatherings and in grill restaurants.
A cold, sweet drink made from boiled white maize, often flavoured with cinnamon. Locals drink it on hot days, and street sellers and markets often sell it.
June, July and August are the best months to visit. They are the driest and mildest part of the year. July scores highest at 8.4, with about 8 rain days, 56 mm of rain and highs near 25°C. June is the coolest month, with highs of 23.7°C and lows of 16.8°C.
December is an OK month, but it is the wettest of the year. It gets about 234 mm of rain over 18.5 rain days. It is also warm and humid, with highs of 29.8°C and lows around 22°C. You still get about 9.5 hours of sun a day, so showers usually come between dry spells.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is warm all year, and it is hottest in October and November. Average highs reach 30.6°C in October and 30.4°C in November. Nights stay warm too, at about 21–22°C. The coolest weather comes in June and July, when highs drop to about 24°C and lows to about 17°C.
Yes, September is a good month, with the fewest rain days of the year at 6.5. Rainfall is low at 70 mm, and there are about 9.7 hours of sun a day. It is hotter than midwinter, though, with highs of 29.8°C. That is why it scores 6.8, below June to August.
A short stay covers the main sights, because most take only 1–3 hours. Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the Cathedral and Manzana Uno Art Space are all in the Old Town and take about 1 hour each. The markets and the Natural History Museum take 1–2 hours each. Plan half a day for Lomas de Arena Regional Park.
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