Samaipata

A laid-back mountain town on the eastern slopes of the Andes, home to the World Heritage rock carvings of El Fuerte de Samaipata and a gateway to the giant-fern cloud forests of Amboró National Park.

Samaipata is in Bolivia's Santa Cruz Department, about 120 km west of the city of Santa Cruz on the eastern slopes of the Andes. At around 1,650 m, it enjoys a mild climate and is a favourite with backpackers for its relaxed pace. The town itself is small, with cafés, restaurants and tour agencies clustered around its colonial-style plaza, making it an ideal base for day trips. The main sight is the World Heritage–listed El Fuerte de Samaipata, a single huge sandstone rock carved with channels and animal motifs that served as a pre-Inca and Inca ceremonial centre. To the north, Amboró National Park lets you walk with a guide into forests of towering giant tree ferns; to the east are the Las Cuevas waterfalls, the Codo de los Andes ridge and the red-rock Los Volcanes reserve; to the south you can hike to a condor canyon to watch Andean condors and stop at La Pajcha waterfall on the way; and to the southwest, Vallegrande and La Higuera form the historic Che Guevara Trail. The best season is the May–October dry season, with sunny, warm days and cool nights; during the November–March rainy season, mountain roads turn muddy and some routes are suspended. From Santa Cruz, shared taxis or minibuses take about 3 hours. Plan on 3–4 days; both the national park and the condor routes require a guide, which you can book through agencies in town.

Top sights

• El Fuerte de Samaipata – A UNESCO World Heritage Site where an entire sandstone ridge is carved with grooves, niches, and animal motifs. It served as a ritual cente…
• Giant Fern Forest – A cloud forest on the southern edge of Amboró National Park, where clusters of tree ferns several meters tall grow. It is Samaipata's most…
• Las Cuevas Waterfalls – Three-tiered waterfalls and natural swimming pools east of town, linked by forest trails, ideal for a half day of swimming and picnicking.
• Amboró National Park – One of the most biodiverse protected areas in Bolivia, spanning the Andean foothills, cloud forest, and Amazonian lowlands.
• Condor Canyon – A cliff viewpoint south of Samaipata where you can often see dozens of Andean condors circling over the canyon at close range.
• La Pajcha Waterfall – A waterfall about 40 meters high that plunges into a turquoise pool. Visitors can swim beside the small sandy beach, and it's a popular sto…
• Refugio Los Volcanes – A private nature reserve ringed by red sandstone peaks, with an eco-lodge and several forest trails. A great place for birdwatching.
• Codo de los Andes – A ridge trail where the Andes bend from a north-south to an east-west course, with views over the Volcanes Mountains and deep valleys.
• Laguna Volcán – A small crater-like lake ringed by mountains. The lakeside has a golf course and trails, and it makes a relaxing stop on the way to Samaipa…
• Samaipata Plaza – A colonial-style plaza in the center of the small town, lined with white walls, red-tile roofs, cafés, and travel agencies. It's the base f…
• Samaipata Archaeological Museum – A small museum displaying pottery and site models excavated from the Samaipata Fort. Worth a quick visit before or after the fortress.
• Cerro de la Patria Viewpoint – A viewpoint on a small hill west of town, within walking distance. It overlooks Samaipata and the surrounding valleys and is good for watch…
• Vallegrande Che Guevara Sites – The hospital laundry where Che Guevara's body was displayed after his death and the site where his remains were found. It is the core of th…
• La Higuera – A remote mountain village where Che Guevara was executed after his capture. The old schoolhouse, memorial statue, and small museum still st…

Where to eat

• La Cocina – A small spot with a 4.8 rating on TripAdvisor, serving fresh-baked bread burgers, shawarma and fried chickpea balls, gr…
• Tía María – A traditional restaurant in an 1820 colonial house on the main plaza, known for majadito beef and rice, peanut soup and…
• Latina Café – A European restaurant on the edge of the town center with a viewpoint terrace, known for Roquefort steak, pasta and bro…

Itineraries

• Samaipata, Che Route, and Sucre – Head into the mountains from Santa Cruz, see the rock art ruins and cloud forests, and take the old trade route to the…