Santa Cruz is the Eastern Andean county of Bolivia in South America. This county is the largest of Bolivia's nine counties, occupying almost half of the country's territory. It borders Paraguay to the south and Brazil to the east. It has three main climates, enjoying mostly tropical weather in parts of the Amazon rain forest to the north, dry desert forest climate to the south and temperate weather at the foothills of the Andes Mountain range to the west.

Yvaga Guazu Ecological Park

Visit the Yvaga Guazu Ecological Park located 15 minutes away from the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the capital of Santa Cruz County. In this park you have the opportunity to be in close contact with exotic plant life, with over 650 native species of plants. There is also a collection of tiny bonsai trees and a good amount of imported plant species, such as the towering palm trees from Cuba. Several resident biologists are available year-round to offer one-hour walking tours of the seven-acre forest.

Yvaga Guazu Ecological Park is also home to several species of animals, including deer, boars and monkeys, and some birds, such as toucans and parrots.

Yvaga Guazu Ecological Park
Km. 12.5 Doble Via a La Guardia
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
+591-3-357-3767
parqueyvagaguazu.org

Guembe Biocenter

Home to the world's largest butterfly sanctuary, the Guembe Biocenter is located 20 minutes away from downtown Santa Cruz de la Sierra. This 46-acre park also has a large collection of exotic orchid varieties and an aviary with bird species that include peacocks, scarlet macaws, toucans and other tropical birds.

There is a resort hotel with bungalows and tent camping facilities to stay and enjoy kayaking in the area's lagoons, swimming in 16 natural mineral water pools and horseback riding or hiking designated hiking trails.

Guembe Biocenter
Kilometer 7, Road to Porongo
Zona Los Batos
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
+591-3-370-0700
biocentroguembe.com

The Che Guevara Trail

Swiss Bolivian Adventures offers guided tours of the Che Guevara trail. This trail follows in the footsteps of revolutionary Che Guevara, taking visitors on the hiking trails his guerrilla fighters took, when they had the intention of making Bolivia the hub for a socialist revolution in Latin America. On this trail you will visit the towns of Samaipata and Vallegrande, where Che Guevara's body was displayed to the public in the town's hospital. Tours also visit the picturesque villages of Pucara and La Higuera, the site of Che's execution.

The two options available for the Che Guevara Trail tours are: a three-day and four-night tour and a six-day and five-night tour. Both include private 4x4 transportation and guide, accommodations, meals and any entrance fees applicable.

Swiss Bolivian Adventures
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz
Handal Center - Planta Baja, Oficina 6
La Paz, Bolivia
+591-2-240-6470
andes-bolivia.ch