Samaipata is a small town on the way between Santa Cruz and Sucre, and I consider it a hidden gem. Did I convince you? Great! If not, here are some reasons to visit

Being on the way between Santa Cruz and Sucre, Samaipata is easily reachable by bus from both cities. It is known as a popular resort for the locals (especially those from Santa Cruz), and for some people it is the first stop on their way out of Santa Cruz (just like it was for us). Here are the things that we liked the most and might get you to visit:

The zoological shelter

In the outskirts of the town lies a wild animal shelter, the shelter was opened by a Swiss family 15 years ago to host animals that are saved from black market sales, trafficking, or other misfortunes, and it is operating ever since. The shelter is run by volunteers and you can volunteer for a day if you decide to spare some of your time. In the shelter your will walk around some of the friendliest animals you will ever see. Monkeys, parrots, llamas, a pig, and many more.

The town

The town itself is small with numerous colonial buildings and beautiful narrow streets. There is a market where the local farmers sell their crop, and some pretty amazing places to eat and drink. Our favorite were La Boheme for dinner and an evening drink (craft beer!) and La Cocina for lunch. The people are extremely nice and helpful, whether it's the locals or the fellow tourists that we met, everyone just had a good vibe and tried to help in any way they could.

El Fuerte de Samaipata

Just outside of the town, reachable either by walking or by taxi, lies a fort that is not actually a fort, but a temple. Dating back to the pre-Inca times, and Bolivia's largest one of sites from that era! The entrance to the ruins costs 50 Bolivianos (last time I checked), and you can also hire a guide for an additional payment that will actually explain all the history around the place. The site closes at 4:30pm and they are very punctual about it, come one minute late (like we did) and they will not let you in. Whether you are late like us or not, you should also take your time and enjoy the amazing view from the location, as it looks at the mountains around (and it is windy!)

Balneario Mama Pascuela

Just before El Fuerte (also easily reachable by walking, taxi or a car) there is a natural water spa, which also offers a camping site and even a rental of a cabin. The entrance was around 5 Bolivianos per person, and we spend there a few hours. There are a few natural pools and a few, less natural (the pools, not the water), with the view of the mountains around.

Overall a great experience for us, but be ready, the water is cold!

Final thoughts

We did only a one-day stop in Samaipata, and we managed to discover all of that, and then some. There are also plenty of hikes around the town and plenty more to see that we didn't manage in our short stay. Did you find this helpful? Did we miss anything important? Tell us!