Santa Cruz walking tour: History through the oldest houses
Walk the hidden corners of Santa Cruz's oldest buildings and learn how the city became Bolivia's economic capital
A walking tour of Santa Cruz's historic center lasting two and a half hours, led by an experienced guide in English or Spanish. You start in the main square and move through the city's oldest houses and key museums (the history museum, Independence Museum, and House of Culture) to understand Santa Cruz from its prehistoric origins through its colonial past and rise as the country's economic center.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Santa Cruz historical sites
- Meet at main square of Santa Cruz
- Visit history museum
- Visit Independence Museum
- Visit House of Culture and art gallery
- Explore oldest art space building
- Visit one of the oldest houses
- See Metropolitan Cathedral
- Visit Melchor Pinto house
- Visit Altillo Beni City Museum
What’s included
- An experienced guide in your choice of English or Spanish.
- entry to the history museum, Independence Museum, House of Culture, and Altillo Beni City Museum.
- access to the oldest houses and the Cathedral.
Times
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 09:00 11:30 14:30
- Thursday 09:00 14:30
- Saturday 14:30
- Sunday 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Paul Vaca Tours
Prices and times updated yesterday
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The experience
The tour begins in the main square and takes you directly into the oldest part of the city. You'll visit the history museum first, then the Independence Museum, a site central to understanding Santa Cruz's civic identity. From there, the House of Culture opens up the city's art and historical galleries. These are not the usual tourist stops. The guide takes you through the hidden places inside the oldest houses themselves, showing you the spaces where important figures of Santa Cruz's history actually lived.
You'll see the art space in the oldest building in the entire city, located at the corner of Independencia and Ayacucho streets less than 100 meters from the Cathedral. The Melchor Pinto House marks a turning point in the city's civic struggles and development. The Altillo Beni City Museum rounds out the walk with the story of Santa Cruz's growth from a remote settlement into the economic heart of Bolivia. The Cathedral itself, with its distinctive wood architecture, anchors the tour's final stop.
The walk covers the city's layers: the original towns that existed before the Spanish founded Santa Cruz, the colonial period, and the political and citizen struggles that shaped the republic. A guide who speaks either English or Spanish leads the whole route, so you're not reading plaques or following a map alone.
Is this one for you?Choose the English-language option if you want the full context of Santa Cruz's history explained as you walk. The Spanish-language tour suits travelers who prefer to follow in Castilian Spanish. Either way, the two-and-a-half-hour pace gives you time to actually step inside the oldest buildings instead of viewing them from the street.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In English, at 08:00, 09:00 and 14:30. In Spanish, at 11:30.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (6 to 13 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What museums do you visit on the Santa Cruz walking tour?
The history museum, Independence Museum, and House of Culture are the main stops. The House of Culture holds both history and art galleries, and the Altillo Beni City Museum covers the city's growth and development.
Where does the Santa Cruz walking tour start?
The tour begins in the main square of Santa Cruz, where you meet your guide before heading into the historic center.
What is the Melchor Pinto House known for?
The Melchor Pinto House is an iconic place for understanding Santa Cruz's civic struggles and the city's development as a political and economic center.
How long does the walking tour of Santa Cruz take?
The tour lasts two and a half hours and covers the historic center on foot, moving between the oldest houses, museums, and landmarks.
Santa Cruz walking tour: History through the oldest houses
2h 30m · EN · ES
from US$ 11.45 per person
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