Nobody should visit Santa Cruz without taking a couple of days out to stay in the lovely mountain town of Samaipata. The name apparently means 'rest in the mountains', and it's certainly a fitting moniker. In this sleepy little town you'll find an abundance of affordable but very pleasant guesthouses, lots of nice places to eat, picturesque squares, and a whole lot of natural beauty. Close to the town itself are good walking and riding trails, and you can visit the El Fuerte ruins, 9km from the town. Be warned - it gets VERY hot and dry walking up here during the day. Bring plenty of water and keep your head covered. Even the local school children I saw en-route had t-shirts over their heads. I foolishly didn't bring enough water and regretted it when I didn't find a shop for several miles...if that all sounds a bit wearing, either make the trip in the very early morning, when it's cooler, or take a taxi between several of you to save on costs. Those with an interest in 'El Che', or who just have a morbid fascination in general, can also follow a trail that leads to the spot where Che Guevara was captured and killed.
Tags for this Travel Tip:
naturalbeauty
walking
riding
ruins
che
guevara
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