Situated in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, San Jose de Chiquitos or simply San Jose, is best known as one of the historical UNESCO-listed Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos. The town serves as the capital of the Chiquitos Province and provides an excellent base from which to explore the scenic region, including the extensive Kaa-Iya National Park and the Santa Cruz la Vieja Historical Park. Reminiscent of a Wild West town, San Jose boasts a frontier aesthetic replete with dusty streets lined with heritage buildings. Visitors can look forward to climbing Cerro Turubo to enjoy panoramic views and sample traditional Bolivian cuisine at a local eatery. Lucky visitors can participate in the annual Patronal Feast, a fascinating cultural and religious celebration featuring masked dances, traditional ceremonies and locally-made wooden handicrafts. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the five other Jesuit Missions scattered around the area.
Bolivia’s largest city and one of the world’s fastest growing urban centres, Santa Cruz is home to a diverse mix of people; from trendy yuppies and Japanese rice farmers to indigenous migrants from the Altiplano. Visitors to the eastern tropical city can play in Equipetrol - an old wealthy neighbourhood that has since become a vibrant nightlife hub - or relax in the town square with the cruceños (as the locals are known), or spend some time discovering the many cultural and historic sites.
