Chochís

The Torre de Chochís, also called the Muela del Diablo, is a monolith of red sandstone standing several hundred metres above the surrounding forest, a remnant of the eroded escarpment that runs through this part of the Chiquitania, and it is visible for a long way across the plain. At its foot stands the Santuario Mariano de la Torre, a sanctuary built in the 1980s largely of local stone and timber with carved reliefs by the Bolivian artist Marcelo Callaú, raised after a landslide destroyed part of the village; it is an unusual piece of architecture to find in such a remote place. Trails climb toward viewpoints on the shoulder of the tower and to waterfalls in the forest nearby. The village is small and sits on the railway line east.

What you actually see

• The red tower - the sandstone monolith rising from the forest.
• The stone sanctuary - the 1980s church with its carved reliefs.
• Forest trails - paths to viewpoints and waterfalls below the tower.
• The railway - the line east toward the Brazilian border.

When to go

April to October for the walks and clearer air; the wet months bring mud and cloud over the tower. Mornings are cooler for climbing and better for light on the red rock.

Honest expectations

The village is very small with almost no facilities. Trails need a local guide and the climb is steep and hot. Access is by the eastern road or the train, both slow. There is no accommodation to speak of; most visitors stay at Roboré or Santiago.

Nearby

Santiago de Chiquitos lies east; San José is west.