Cotoca on Sunday: arepas, sonso and jalea at the plaza

Curichi La Madre is a protected urban wetland on the Piraí with monkeys, turtles and plenty of birds, and it also helps protect the city from flooding. The main entrance is on Avenida Piraí between the Fourth and Fifth Rings. Go early when it is cooler and animals are active, bring water and repellent, and plan a slow…

On the Piraí riverbank, a cluster of thatched cabañas cooks traditional Cruceño food over firewood, which is why the day starts early and some people come for breakfast. Order locro de gallina or majao de pato, served with egg, fried plantain and yuca, and take cuñapé or sonso as snacks. The cabañas are a national…

Barrio Lindo, the big fair held on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, suffered a major fire in early August 2026, and the municipality estimated that about 55 percent of its infrastructure was affected. Trading was suspended on several days, and no reopening date appeared in the coverage we found. Ask your host or…

In April of even-numbered years, a ten-day festival of Renaissance and baroque music fills Santa Cruz churches and the Jesuit mission towns with concerts. The 2026 edition opened in the Capilla Los Huérfanos, closed at the San Roque church and brought groups from about 18 countries. Attendance works on voluntary…

Around 7 and 8 December, pilgrims walk from the city to the Virgen de Cotoca sanctuary, with masses through the night and the main mass on the morning of 8 December. Crowds are huge and roads toward the shrine are closed to traffic, with medical posts along the route, so go on foot with water and comfortable shoes. In…

Two to three hours by road from the city, El Fuerte is a pre-Inca carved sandstone hill that UNESCO listed in 1998, with Inca and Spanish remains on the same site. Shared taxis to Samaipata leave when full, so go early in the morning. Many travelers add a night in the village to visit the nearby Amboró cloud forest…

Manzana 1 is a non-profit art space in the old center that offers free exhibitions, and it celebrated 20 years in September 2025 with three new shows. Go on a Sunday, when a craft fair sets up around the block, then walk over to the cathedral. The gallery runs on donations and a small municipal budget, so check its…

The area around the bus terminal and Calle Mercado feels rough after dark, and Canada's advisory notes violent crimes against foreigners at the Santa Cruz bus terminal. Book your first night ahead, try to arrive in daylight and go straight to your lodging in a ride-hailing car or a radio taxi booked by phone. For a…