City, Bolivia
Santa Cruz for solo travelers
Is Santa Cruz good for solo travel?
Bolivia's largest, warmest and most modern city: a lowland business hub with malls, restaurants and good clinics. Hot, spread out and car-based, with few sights, and used mostly as a base for Chiquitania and Amboró.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Limited |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common and sometimes persistent. Use apps at night, avoid isolated streets and be careful with drinks in clubs. |
How to meet people in Santa Cruz
Equipetrol cafés and coworking venues, language exchanges, climbing and running clubs, and hostels used as a base for Amboró and Chiquitania trips.
Good things to do alone
- Visit the Biocentro Güembé butterfly park
- Walk the Plaza 24 de Septiembre area
- Day trip to Amboró National Park
- Taste salteñas and cuñapé at a local bakery
Where to stay in Santa Cruz
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Equipetrol | Upscale: restaurants, bars, coworking and nightlife |
| Casco Viejo (Plaza 24 de Septiembre) | Historic center by day, quieter and rougher at night |
| Las Palmas and Urbari | Safer residential, apartments and malls |
| Zona Norte | Business district, malls, supermarkets |
Solo travel across Bolivia
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| La Paz | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sucre | 4/5 | Limited |
| Copacabana | 4/5 | Limited |
| Rurrenabaque | 4/5 | Limited |
| Uyuni | 3/5 | Limited |
| Santa Cruz | 3/5 | Limited |
| Potosí | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Santa Cruz good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Bolivia's largest, warmest and most modern city: a lowland business hub with malls, restaurants and good clinics.
How do you meet people in Santa Cruz?
Equipetrol cafés and coworking venues, language exchanges, climbing and running clubs, and hostels used as a base for Amboró and Chiquitania trips. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Santa Cruz?
Limited.
Is Santa Cruz safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common and sometimes persistent. Use apps at night, avoid isolated streets and be careful with drinks in clubs.
More about Santa Cruz
Going to Santa Cruz solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Santa Cruz meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.