Centro
Sightseeing, budgetAround Plaza 24 de Septiembre, with arcaded streets, the cathedral and most budget hostels.
City guide
Things to do in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bolivia's biggest city sits in the tropical lowlands, hot, flat and full of energy. Not much like the rest of the country, and the gateway to cloud forests, Jesuit missions and sand dunes.
6
Hostels in the city
8.4
Average, from 1,779 reviews
400m
Roughly, no altitude worries here
2–3
Days in the city
The other Bolivia
Santa Cruz is Bolivia's largest and fastest-growing city, and it feels like a different country from the altiplano. At around 400 metres above sea level, the air is warm and humid, the people are known as cambas, and life moves to a tropical rhythm of long lunches, siestas and late nights.
The city is laid out in rings around Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the leafy main square with the cathedral and benches packed with people in the evening. Further out, the rings are lined with shopping centres, restaurants and the bars of Equipetrol, the city's nightlife district.
For travellers, Santa Cruz is above all a gateway. It has Bolivia's main international airport, Viru Viru, and is the base for Samaipata and Amboró National Park, the UNESCO-listed Jesuit missions of Chiquitos and the lowland wilderness further east. Two or three days is enough for the city itself, with time for a sand dune afternoon or a butterfly park.
Where to base yourself
Stay near Plaza 24 de Septiembre for walkable sightseeing and cheaper hostels, or in Equipetrol for nightlife and restaurants.
Equipetrol
Nightlife, restaurantsThe city's nightlife and dining district, north-west of the centre. Modern, lively and pricier.
Avenida Monseñor Rivero
Cafés, evenings outBetween the first and second rings, lined with cafés and ice cream shops. Easy walking distance from the centre.
Near the Bimodal
Early buses and trainsClose to the long-distance terminal east of the centre. Handy for departures, quiet otherwise.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Santa Cruz
Start at Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the heart of the city, and climb the cathedral bell tower for a view over the red roofs. The streets around the square have colonial arcades that shade you from the sun, and the Casa de la Cultura hosts free exhibitions.
On the edge of the city, Biocentro Güembé is a nature park with a huge butterfly dome, an orchid garden and swimming pools, ideal on a hot day. Lomas de Arena, a regional park of sand dunes and lagoons south of the city, is good for sandboarding and swimming, best reached by 4x4 or tour.
Santa Cruz is also the jumping-off point for bigger trips. Samaipata, three hours west, has the UNESCO-listed El Fuerte ruins and Amboró's cloud forests. The Jesuit missions of Chiquitos, a circuit of beautifully restored churches in the eastern lowlands, are a multi-day trip by road.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The main square is free and full of life, especially in the evening when families, couples and street vendors fill the benches.
The Casa de la Cultura on the square often has free exhibitions, and the arcaded streets around it are good for a shaded walk. The Mercado Los Pozos is a lively market for tropical fruit and cheap eats, and fun to explore even without buying.
On Sundays, some streets become car-free for cyclists and runners, and the city's parks fill with families.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Lowland food is a world away from highland soups. Majadito, rice cooked with dried beef, egg and fried plantain, is the signature dish, and sonso, a grilled cassava and cheese snack, and cuñapé, chewy cheese bread, are everywhere.
Meat is big in Santa Cruz, with churrasquerías serving grilled beef in generous portions, and the tropical fruit is superb: try juices of guapurú, achachairú and passion fruit at the markets. Breakfast is often a cuñapé with coffee or a glass of mocochinchi, a drink made with dried peach.
The city also has the country's most varied restaurant scene, especially in Equipetrol, with everything from sushi to vegan cafés. Prices are a little higher than in the highlands but still cheap by European standards.
Nightlife
Going out
Santa Cruz has Bolivia's liveliest nightlife after La Paz, and many would say the best. Equipetrol is the centre of it, with bars, clubs and terraces along its avenues, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
The warm evenings make outdoor drinking easy, and nights start late and go on until morning. Around the main square, bars are smaller and more relaxed.
At around 400 metres above sea level, the altitude is no longer a factor, but the heat is, so drink water between rounds. Take a radio taxi or ride-hailing app home.
Getting around
Getting around
The city is big and spread out in rings, so you will use micros (minibuses), taxis or ride-hailing apps beyond the centre. Micros are very cheap but confusing at first; apps are easier and safer at night.
Viru Viru International Airport is about 15km north of the centre, with flights across Bolivia and to other South American cities, plus some long-haul routes. Taxis and buses connect it to town.
The Bimodal terminal, east of the centre, handles long-distance buses and trains, including services to Samaipata, Cochabamba, Sucre and towards Brazil. Shared taxis to Samaipata leave from the south-west of the city.
Costs
What Santa Cruz costs
Santa Cruz is slightly more expensive than highland Bolivia but still very good value. Dorm beds run from around €6 to €12, a plate of majadito or an almuerzo costs a few euros, and juices at the market even less.
The extras are the parks and day trips: Biocentro Güembé has an entry fee, and tours to Lomas de Arena or Samaipata are affordable, especially in a group.
Card payment is more common here than elsewhere in Bolivia, but carry cash for markets and micros. The exchange situation has changed a lot since 2024, so check current advice before you travel.
Safety
Safety and scams
Santa Cruz is generally safe in the centre and in Equipetrol, but it is a big city, so take normal precautions. Petty theft happens in markets, on micros and around the bus terminal, and phone snatching is the most common problem.
Use radio taxis or ride-hailing apps at night rather than hailing cars in the street, and avoid walking alone in quiet areas after dark.
The heat and sun are the other risks. Drink plenty of water, use sun cream and, in the wet season, mosquito repellent. In an emergency, call 110 for police or 118 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the city for
Santa Cruz is the base for the lowlands and the eastern Andes.
Samaipata
A laid-back village near El Fuerte and Amboró's cloud forests. Stay a few nights.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Carnival is the city's biggest party, and one of the biggest in Bolivia.
February or March
Carnaval cruceño
Santa Cruz
Parades, water fights and comparsas, one of Bolivia's biggest carnivals.
24 September
Santa Cruz Day
Santa Cruz
The city celebrates the anniversary of its 1810 independence uprising.
April, in even-numbered years
Festival of Baroque music
Santa Cruz and the Jesuit missions
Baroque concerts in the mission churches of Chiquitos.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Santa Cruz, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Sustainable
TRAVELERO HOSTEL & TOURS
Dorms from €1 a night
See dates and book
Adventure 360º Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
My Green House
Rooms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Ibiza Hostel
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
SurBackpackers
Rooms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Hotel Lido
Rooms from €3 a night
See dates and book
When to go
Santa Cruz is hot all year. May to September is drier and slightly cooler, the best time for trips into the countryside; November to March is hot, humid and rainy.
Jan
Hot, humid and rainy
Feb
Carnival, the city's biggest party
Mar
Hot, rain easing
Apr
Warm and drying
May
Drier, cool spells possible
Jun
Mildest month, surazo winds
Jul
Dry season, good for trips
Aug
Dry and warming. Smoke from fires possible
Sep
Hot, the city's anniversary on the 24th
Oct
Hot, rains approaching
Nov
Rainy season begins
Dec
Hot and festive
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Cold southern winds, called surazos, can bring sudden cool spells between May and August.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Santa Cruz prices.
Treat these as a guide, as prices and exchange rates have moved a lot.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Santa Cruz questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Santa Cruz worth visiting?
Yes, as a base. The city is lively and has the best nightlife and food variety in Bolivia, and it is the gateway to Samaipata, Amboró and the Jesuit missions.
Is Santa Cruz safe?
Generally yes in the centre and Equipetrol. Watch for phone snatching and pickpockets in markets and on micros, and use radio taxis or apps at night.
How do I get from Santa Cruz to Samaipata?
By shared taxi, in around three hours. They leave from the south-west of the city when full.
What is the weather like in Santa Cruz?
Hot and humid most of the year, with rain from November to March. Between May and August, cold southern winds can bring sudden cool days.
Where should I stay in Santa Cruz?
Near Plaza 24 de Septiembre for sightseeing and cheaper hostels, or Equipetrol for nightlife and restaurants.
What should I eat in Santa Cruz?
Majadito, rice with dried beef and plantain, cuñapé cheese bread, sonso, and juices of tropical fruit like achachairú.
Is there altitude sickness in Santa Cruz?
No. The city sits at around 400 metres, so altitude is not an issue here, unlike La Paz or Potosí.
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