The Other Side of Bolivia | Things to do in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

In this episode we’re exploring a different side of Bolivia over in the east of the country, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. We discover some of the best things to do in Santa Cruz Bolivia, plus take a few day trips out into the surrounding region.
We get eaten alive by mosquitos in Santa Cruz Botanical Gardens, eat all the food at Cotoca Sunday market, head out to the surreal sand dunes of Las Lomas de Arena National Park and check out a tiny old Jesuit town called Porongo.
Oh and work our way round as many of the big city bars and pubs as we can.
Watch on to find out why this lesser visited part of Bolivia should be on your South America itinerary.
More details about things to do in Santa Cruz Bolivia over on the blog - bit.ly/2W7zaKw
Recommended Hotels in Santa Cruz Bolivia:
$ Nomad Hostel | bit.ly/2UuRcpF
$$ Cosmopolitano Hotel Boutique | bit.ly/39gV81k
$$$ Los Tajibos | bit.ly/2H0v2Uj
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[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

What did you think of the toilet screen? 🤣

[@LuisRojas-sw6bx]

i was born in santa cruz and moved to amsterdam when i was 5 years old. I go back for holidays every few years to visit family. im 20 now and I have never seen a shower like that, but in Bolivia lmao. im happy other ppl got to see it too. My fav thing about sata cruz is the food, especially the majadito :)

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

We loved the food too! So much delicious stuff in Santa Cruz. Majadito was probably our favourite as well, it’s amazing 😉

[@therevolution91]

What about the 🦟🦟s: Are they only in the parks or are they in the whole city? (the main thing I disliked in Thailand & Laos especially for example)

[@Babegoen2023]

Great experiences

[@guedren]

The next time you come to Santa Cruz, you should visit the Chiquitanía and the Valles Cruceños (the most touristy part for the best photos of the Amazon or the mountains area) Greetings from Santa Cruz! 🇧🇴

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thank you so much for the tips, we’ll definitely check those out when we visit again 😁

[@backinbolivia9588]

I've been looking for places in Santa Cruz area to visit that sees the jungle. We went to San Jose jungle area and found that incredible!

[@lemeowadventures1528]

i don't mean to be mean or make fell bad anyone, but as bolivian that i am i have to clarify thats the cheapest accommodation anyone can get in the biggest and most expensive city of the country and it would be almost downtown, but there is a motels has no single starts that they are cheaper than 20 dollars a night for a couple (or maybe less) so that what you see in the video is what you get, and nobody is criticizing the price, it has nothing bd if you want to stat there, there is accommodation for every one, Bolivia never fell anyone there is price for everyone, just clarifying that there is also hotels 5, 4,3 stars that are obviously much better, we have internacional chain hotels like any country in the world so if you are looking for luxury life there is, so nobody thinks thats all what you can get and that you have to pay super expensive for such accommodation...another useful information in any botanical garden in any tropical country around the globe you have to take mosquitos repellent, hand fan, hats, water, because these ecosystems are rich!!! you will see millions and millions of living creatures and insects in every inch, its not a human made botanical garden, like in european or non tropical countries, many are human made the keep a track of their plants, and they aren't tropical and neither rich ecosystems, so you barely see animals or insects if you see any at all, if it rain in a tropical natural area... tropical areas are normal 90% of the time weet lands, so the water humidity will stay long time thats how this type of ecosystem exists buy heavy rains and keeping the humidity to progress the eggs of this insects and animales like frogs and others... so in latin america botanical gardens or protected areas are NOT HUMAN MADE, are 100% natural places, with their own animals and insects and its NOT that some one enter and cut and tame and arrange and decor these protected areas.... no body touch those areas, THEY ARE NATURAL, i visited many countries in euros in africa in asia, they call botanical garden to a collection of plants and flowers that they collect by themselves around their country and they are trying to so hard to keep them alive and its like visiting my home garden, and not a NATURAL place given by nature, so any park with animales and plants in latin america will be NATURAL be prepared to find insects mosquitos spiders snakes or what ever living creature could exists in that region be sure all of them are there...is their home and we are protecting it for them you can visit because they did a path to walk tough but its all natural and you probably will meet all of these including bites of mosquitos spiders or maybe a snake... most aren't poisonous, next time guys you know... if you are going to any place that has plants or animals be ready, with repellents, hats, fans, water you will enter to the home of those insects and animals

[@samhellion]

hey super commentor, where could/ should i take my wife and kid to live in Bolivia?

[@Rick-tm3vs]

Glad you guys did this video of the city!

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thanks! 😀

[@nahhhh1569]

thanks for visiting! I lived in scz for 15 years and I’m really glad u guys liked it. next time u go, you should go to aguas calientes, la chiquitania and samaipata.

[@nahhhh1569]

and guembe

[@mariateresaaguilarmojica5159]

Thanks for visiting my city, you are welcome in this warm camba nation

[@Datos_23]

Le recomiendo que vayan a las lomas de arena,guembe,la cataratas del jardin y las agua termales mas grande del mundo que estan en agua caliente, tambien estan la muela del diablo en robore que tiene un viston,la cascada del alto espejo,Catarata del jardin,parque noel kempff que tiene la cascada mas ancha de Bolivia. Buen video

[@Mambolne]

Thanks so much for visiting Santa Cruz de la Sierra. There is so much culture there and you definitely didn't shy away from it. Viva Bolivia! You just got a new subscriber!

[@mikegonsalves7151]

Nice video, happy travels being to Santa Cruz many times my wife is from Santa Cruz we live in Canada, Porongo not much to see.

[@rutaverde]

Loved your video, we will link to it, happy travels!

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thank you 😊

[@ivanjimenez1686]

Hello from SCZ - Bolivia

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Hi! 🙌

[@bluesmon1329]

Thank you

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

😊

[@juanmej_]

Wow amazing videos. That's really great you been here! You show some very typical places Lol and

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. We love Santa Cruz! 😀

[@lyndseeharrison3134]

FYI don't touch the shower wall where the faucet for the shower is, it'll zap you. I know from experience!

[@kkaidk5692]

When was this filmed, must be pre pandemic, I just got back from there. It is a beautiful place to visit and live. I have a lot of family there. Thanks for the video.

[@luissuarez8532]

Men im from bolivia, and been many places never seen a bathroom like that lol

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Haha, neither have we! Very unique. It all worked though so no complaints 🤪

[@luissuarez8532]

@@TheWholeWorldorNothing thank you, it was interesting.

[@AutoWorldzz]

Nice and Creative Videos， This is really my favorite channle.:). I really glad to see your post and your world was so brilliant. 🌴🌴🌴 excellent and Much appreciated!!🌴🌴🌴 🌴🌴🌴 🌴🌴🌴 🌴🌴🌴 from: Nogales City Santa Cruz

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thank you 😊

[@hiltonjenndc2823]

The bathroom, hahaha that my friend is being creative to a problem. I (Hilton) am originally from Santa Cruz. We have videos of Guembe and Cotoca. Everyone is invited to check them out. About taxis. You could rent a taxi for the day, I could believe you walked to Las Lomas de Arena, but at the same time, that is another experience. I am glad to find your video. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Yep absolutely, a very creative solution 😀 Glad you enjoyed the vid

[@driojal]

Now you made me crave some Achachairu and Majadito. Nice video my dear Santa Cruz. And you have to stay there for 1 month at least.

[@jontate454]

Been here two days and have seen it all. People here are amazing but for a tourist pretty boring.

[@theubermensche1]

You guys do amazing content! You really deserve a better camera/mic set up :)

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Thank you 😊 We’ll upgrade at some point but everyone’s gotta start somewhere, right!

[@sophiasummer7339]

Is this before the lock down? Seems very crowded

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Yeah this was a while before lockdown 😊

[@antoniomonje8242]

If you want a good hotel you have to pay more, and not complain about the bathroom, next time take more money and get to know my city. how luxurious it is.

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

We never complained about it, we just found it amusing. We’re well aware that you get what you pay for but we’re not bothered about luxury so wouldn’t be interested in exploring that side of things anyway 😅 If you watched the whole vid you’d see we really enjoyed the city though, a shame you seem to be offended by a bit of light hearted banter 🤔

[@cecilia-kc4pv]

The thing is in Turkey there are so many cheap hostels, pansions, teachers houses that are very clean. It doesn't have to be expensive to be clean. I think it's about respecting people and being clean. You are like accusing them of this dirty toilet. Luxury is a different thing it's about sauna, spa, hotel bar, etc. A cheap hotel can be very clean.

[@dwayne8273]

Bloody massive... Haha I love British ppl

[@xquantex]

The video's background music didn"t reflect what I know and feel when you are in Santa Cruz.

[@elgransuizo]

Show the damn city if you are talking about Santa Cruz de la Sierra - not some nature reserves!

[@cartucho8454]

im from santa cruz, living in London now. your accent sound familiar😅

[@TheWholeWorldorNothing]

Haha yep, I (James) am from North London 👍🏾👍🏾

[@cartucho8454]

@Mongoose 1980 my city Santa Cruz ofcourse. london is alright to make money😉

[@jontate454]

I've traveled the world and I'm in Santa Cruz now. I have to say this is the less exciting place I've ever visited. Very boring here noy much to see or do.

[@Pantherboss-ue6ue]

looks like plastic surgery gone wrong

[@therevolution91]

It is illegal to drink in public there?! 🤦‍♂️ 😘 😂