You will be picked up from your hotel and taken in a private vehicle for a full day’s sightseeing tour to Samaipata, located about120 kilometers from Santa Cruz. A private English-speaking guide will accompany you on this tour.
Leave Santa Cruz crossing the sub-tropical plain and the villages of La Guardia, Porongo, Espejillo, El Torno.
Arrive at the village of Samaipata situated at 1920 metres at the foothills of the Andean Range. Samaipata’s main attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the pre-Inca ruins of a ceremonial site, named El Fuerte (meaning ‘The Fortress’) by the Spaniards who first discovered it. Situated on a hill about 10 kilometers from the village, this archaeological site offers a spectacular view of distant mountain ranges. Its predominant feature is the world’s largest carved stone, featuring animals and geometric designs. Walk around and see the 100-metre long stone slab with seats, tables, tanks and carvings of jaguars, shakes and zoomorphic figures. El Fuerte has religious significance and was later used by the Incas to protect the borders of the Sun Empire.
Return to the village after the visit to the archaeological site and stop for lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch visit the Archaeological Museum in Samaipata. The museum has some Tiahuanaco artifacts and some local pottery.
Begin your return journey to Santa Cruz.
At the end of the tour you will be dropped back at your hotel in Santa Cruz.