Santiago de Chiquitos

Santiago de Chiquitos sits at around nine hundred metres on a sandstone ridge above the eastern plain, which makes it noticeably cooler than the lowlands around and gives it the reputation of a hill station in a very hot region. The mission church on the plaza, founded in the eighteenth century and rebuilt, is simpler than the inscribed six but belongs to the same tradition. What people come for now is the country behind: sandstone escarpments cut by canyons, with viewpoints such as El Mirador and the Arco de Piedra reached on walks of one to four hours, thermal springs at Aguas Calientes nearby, and forest holding a strong bird list. The village is small, quiet and has a handful of guesthouses.

What you actually see

• Escarpment viewpoints - overlooks across the plain from the sandstone rim.
• The stone arch - the natural rock arch reached on a walk from the village.
• The mission church - the eighteenth-century foundation on the plaza.
• Cool ridge air - the altitude relief from the surrounding lowland heat.

When to go

April to October, the dry season, for the walks; the wet months bring mud and cloud. Cold surazo fronts can arrive in winter. Mornings are best for both walking and birds.

Honest expectations

Guides are needed for the longer walks as trails are unmarked. The village is remote, several hours east of Santa Cruz, with limited food and accommodation. There is no ATM. The heat below the ridge is significant even if the village is cooler.

Nearby

Roboré lies south; Chochís is west along the railway.