We are not showing airfare because Travel Restrictions are in place. The U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS has flagged Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory on travel to Bolivia due to Civil unrests and Covid-19 related health risks. We’ll be back with flight deals once the restrictions are revoked.
Santa Cruz Bolivia Travel Guide
Santa Cruz is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz department. Its soccer academy “Academia de Futbol Tahuichi Aguilera” has become an identity of the city. Young players from around the world come to this academy to experience its training method. Sightseeing include Jardín Botánico Municipal, Sloths of Cotoca, Biocentro & Resort Güembé, and CineCenter.
Geographical Location
The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is located in the eastern part of Bolivia (17°45′, South, 63°14′, West) at around 400 m above sea level.[10] It is part of the province of Andrés Ibáñez and the capital of the department of Santa Cruz. The city of Santa Cruz is located not far from the easternmost extent of the Andes Mountains and they are visible from some parts of the city.
Airport
Viru Viru International Airport (IATA: VVI, ICAO: SLVR) is Bolivia’s largest international airport, which handles domestic, regional, and international flights from Bolivia, North America, South America and Europe and is the hub for Bolivia’s biggest airline Boliviana de Aviación. The airport is able to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 747-400.
Carrier Choices from US Cities
| Origin City/Airport | Airlines | Connecting Airport |
| From San Francisco (SFO) | Copa Airlines Avianca American Airlines Latam Airlines Group United Airlines Aerolineas Argentinas Aeromexico | San Salvador – SAL Bogota – BOG Panama City – PTY Miami – MIA |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | Avianca American Airlines United Airlines Copa Airlines Aeromexico Latam Airlines Group | Mexico City – MEX Lima – LIM Bogota – BOG |
| From Chicago (ORD) | Copa Airlines United Airlines Vrg Linhas Aereas S A Latam Airlines Group American Airlines Aerolineas | Fort Lauderdale – FLL Bogota – BOG Panama City – PTY |
| From New York (JFK) | Avianca American Airlines Copa Airlines Aerolineas Aerolineas United Airlines | San Salvador – SAL Lima – LIM Bogota – BOG |
| From Houston (IAH) | United Airlines Avianca Vrg Linhas Aereas S A Latam Airlines Group Copa Airlines Aerolineas Argentinas American Airlines Aeromexico | San Salvador – SAL Bogota – BOG Quito – UIO Lima – LIM |
| From Philadelphia (PHL) | American Airlines Copa Airlines Jetblue Airways Avianca | Newark – EWR Panama City – PTY Chicago – ORD |
Flight to Santa Cruz: Distance and Time
If you are flying to Santa Cruz for the first time, you are likely to have this question on your mind. We appreciate your eagerness. The table below lists the flight distance and flight time from a few cities in the US to Santa Cruz.
Best Time to Visit Santa Cruz
The best time to visit Santa Cruz is from October to mid-April. The number of visitors takes a plunge in summer, from May to September. The upper marks of the mercury swings between highs of 90s and lows of 100s degree Fahrenheit. Showers starting with the fall season starting with October brings temperature into comfortable range.
Top Attractions in Santa Cruz
Biocentro & Resort Güembé
Nature park with a big aviary, butterfly conservatory, monkey island, monkey enclosure and some other animals. There are also a few swimming pools and a restaurant. It’s a few km out of Santa Cruz, but there is a shuttle bus from Ventura Mall going there every day at 10.00, 11.00, 12.00 and 13.00 (as of April 2018). Single fare Bs. 10. The bus stops at Cuarto Anillo street just in front of the mall. The stop is not signposted, but the bus has some Güembé labels on it. There are also return buses at 14.30 and 16.45. Entrance fee to the park is Bs. 140 which is a bit pricey for the value you get, but having said that the aviary is really nice and the whole area is really well-maintained.
Plaza 24 de Septiembre (Principal Plaza)
The city’s main plaza, where locals and tourists alike gather to hang out and observe each other. There are benches and small tables to play chess at, there are numerous pidgeons to feed, and several cafes and restaurants surrounding it. The city’s main cathedral is here and is quite beautiful. During the day you can pay to enter the cathedral’s small museum and climb to the top of the belltower, where you can get a nice view of the plaza from above.
Yvaga Guazu park
(Out of the city, on the road to La Guardia. Catch a minibus (ask people) with red markings somewhere close to 2nd ring on the street leading to La Guardia. Ask the driver to stop at Yvaga Guazu park.). People say, vegetation in Yvaga Guazu resembles vegetation in big national parks like Madidi, Noel Kempf Mercado, etc. So, if you can’t visit these parks, try to visit Yvaga Guazu. They have guides in Spanish.
Lomas de Arena
(Out of the city. You can get there by minibus 21 (goes each 5 min; ask the driver to stop at Lomas de Arena) and walk (7,5 km). For the right place to catch minibus, ask people at the crossroads on east corner of El Trompillo airport on the 2nd ring.). Quite impressive sand desert. You can walk over sand dunes, watch birds and ants (termites?). There is a marketplace close to the ticket office, you can buy water and food. From the ticket office to the desert is a 7.5 km road (single, you won’t get lost) to the desert, takes 1.5 hr to walk but you can ask for a “mototaxi”. Bs. 10
