Florida Province: Rock Art, Nature and Festive Traditions

Rock art, archaeological remains, a lagoon landscape and natural diversity give Florida Province a range of different attractions. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth first asking which of these themes you want to shape your stay: the pre-Columbian traces at Fuerte de Samaipata, the festive traditions at Laguna Esmeralda de Quirusillas or the biodiversity of Amboró.

Rock art and an ancient urban layout

Fuerte de Samaipata consists of a hill with numerous rock carvings and an area to the south that formed the administrative and residential district. The hill probably served as the ceremonial centre of the ancient city. The large carved rock is considered a unique testament to pre-Columbian traditions and beliefs. The site therefore offers several points of interest for anyone interested in the religious and social traces of earlier cultures: the carvings and the presumed ceremonial function on the one hand, and the distinct administrative and residential function on the other.

There are also archaeological remains in the municipality of Pampagrande: the ruins of an Inca cemetery and the ruins of Mataral. The Inca cemetery offers its own historical focus; Mataral is another named ruin site. Together with the Fuerte, these places offer different ways to include archaeological sites among your travel interests, without treating them as a single location.

Lagoon, viewpoints and festive traditions

Laguna Esmeralda de Quirusillas, also known as Laguna Quirusillas, has rustic paths and viewpoints. It is an important place for activities and visits during the patron-saint festivals in the surrounding area. Visitors are treated to traditional dances and regional dishes. The natural setting and local festive traditions are two distinct aspects of the visitor experience here: the paths and viewpoints define the place, while the dances and food are associated with the patron-saint festivals. If these festivals are important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates in advance.

Near Samaipata are the Cuevas, two twin waterfalls with clear, warm water. They are described as a natural waterslide. This brings a different natural feature into focus alongside the archaeological sites: water and the distinctive form of the two falls. The Cuevas can therefore be considered a separate point of interest, without equating them with the ruins or the lagoon.

Biodiversity in Amboró

Amboró National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area represent another dimension of natural diversity. A total of 2,659 species of higher plants have been recorded there; Bolivia’s National System of Protected Areas estimates the number at 3,500. In addition, 1,236 animal species have been documented, including the endangered spectacled bear, also known as the Jucumari, and several endemic bird species. These figures convey the scale of the biodiversity described. The spectacled bear and the endemic birds are specific examples within this broad spectrum.

The wider natural region of Santa Cruz

Within the broader travel destination of Santa Cruz, the Valles Cruceños form a distinct regional setting. They cover about 13,000 square kilometres and lie at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 metres. They include the provinces of Florida, Vallegrande and Caballero in the Department of Santa Cruz. The vegetation of the Valles Cruceños ranges from inter-Andean dry forest and Bolivian-Tucuman forest to serrano Chaco, subtropical rainforest and puna vegetation.

The Área Protegida de los Valles Cruceños is reported to have 374 bird species, including the endemic red-fronted macaw and the Andean condor. These regional figures add to the picture of the wider natural region of Santa Cruz; they do not describe individual attractions such as the Fuerte or the lagoon. Thus, two scales sit side by side in these travel plans: specific places with their archaeological and cultural themes, and the diverse landscapes and species of the wider natural region.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation search

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Florida Province, your preferred travel focus can be a useful starting point: rock art and archaeological remains, Laguna Esmeralda and its festive traditions, or the natural diversity of Amboró and the Valles Cruceños. Consider which of these themes matters most to your stay, and use it to guide your search for a suitable place. If you want to include patron-saint festivals in your plans, also take their specific dates into account when choosing your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Ignacio Warnes, Ángel Sandoval, Sara, Chiquitos Province, Guarayos, Germán Busch Province, Ñuflo De Chávez.

Back to the main travel overview: Santa Cruz.