South AmericaBoliviaSanta Cruz Department
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia · South America
About Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra sits on the route: 25 minutes from Cotoca.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, with about 1.8 million people. The nearest town is Cotoca, about 14 km away.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Spanish: [ˈsanta ˈkɾus ðe la ˈsjera]; lit. 'Holy Cross of the Mountain Range'), commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz department.
Situated on the Pirai River in the eastern Tropical Lowlands of Bolivia, the Santa Cruz de la SierraRead more
Metropolitan Region is the most populous urban agglomeration in Bolivia with an estimated population of 2.4 million in 2020. It is formed out of a conurbation of seven Santa Cruz municipalities: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Guardia, Warnes, Cotoca, El Torno, Porongo, and Montero.
The city was first founded in 1561 by Spanish explorer Ñuflo de Chavez about 200 km (124 mi) east of its current location, and was moved several times until it was finally established on the Pirai River in the late 16th century. For much of its history, Santa Cruz was mostly a small outpost town, and even after Bolivia gained its independence in 1825 there was little attention from the authorities or the population in general to settle the region. It was not until after the middle of the 20th century with profound agrarian and land reforms that the city began to grow at a very fast pace. Due to its low elevation at the foothills of the Andes and being situated in the Amazon basin, the city has a tropical climate unlike the other main metro area of La Paz that is thousands of meters higher in terms of elevation.
Santa Cruz is Bolivia's most populous city, produces nearly 35% of Bolivia's gross domestic product, and receives over 40% of all foreign direct investment in the country. The city is the most important business center in Bolivia and the country's principal destination for national and international migrants.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, about 14 km from Cotoca.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,831,434
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Bolivia
- Region
- Santa Cruz Department
- Timezone
- America/La_Paz
- Coordinates
- -17.7863, -63.1812
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When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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