Santa Cruz de la Sierra Bolivia was founded in 1560. Presently it boasts the second largest population in Bolivia with almost 1,000,000, it is located 50 km east of the Cordillera Oriental foothills.

Its recent growth is due to the connection through roads and highways with other major centers and the completion of the railway line to Brazil in the mid-1950s which opened trade routes to the east. Tropical agriculture (sugar, rice, cotton, and soybean plantations) prospered and the city entered a period of expansion and economic growth that continues to the present day. The city is connected by railways with Brazil and Argentina, and by road with Cochabamba, the Chaco, and Trinidad.

Santa Cruz has an altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level. Santa Cruz has a sunny and semi-tropical weather, with an average temperature of 70F in winter and as high as 90F in summer months. During winter, rainfall occurs in short downpours, but on summer a single deluge can last for days. Santa Cruz also experiences heavy and chilly winds called surazos that blow in from the Argentine pampas.

Tourist attractions:The Piraí Rive are ideal for weekend picnics, Its Municipal Zoo is one of the best zoos in South America, features birds, reptiles, mammals, from the region as well as endangered and exotic species. 
 Plaza 24 de Septiembre is ideal for relaxing and watching sloths hanging in the tall trees. Its cathedral dates back to the early 1600's. The cathedral museum displays religious art work, gold and silver artifact from the Jesuit missions. 
 Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado: Really worth seeing, this spectacular natural park, about 440 Km northeast of Santa Cruz, has an incredible scenery of waterfalls, rivers, rainforests and a wide variety of flora and fauna (alligators, pink dolphins, caimans, river otters, tapirs, spider monkeys, etc.). 

• ARENAL HOTEL                        4             City Center             $58

 
• CAMINO REAL HOTEL            5             Residential Area    $87

 
• CAPARUCH HOTEL                  4             Residential Area    $51

 
• CORTEZ HOTEL                         4            Near Center             $76

 
• LAS AMERICAS                          4            Downtown                 $49

 
• FELIMAR HOTEL                       3             Near Center            $36

 
• SANTA CRUZ GRAN HOTEL  5             Downtown                $91

 
• TAJIBOS HOTEL & SPA         5             Residential              $88

 
• YOTAU SUITES                           5             Residential              $159