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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Chochís
Spend a half‑day in Chochís to see the Marian sanctuary and hike Devil’s Thumb; one day is enough.
Chochís is a tiny town in Santa Cruz department, known for its Marian sanctuary at the foot of the Devil’s Thumb and a stop on the Red Oriental railway. All sights are within walking distance, so a single day (or a half‑day if on a longer itinerary) covers the main attractions.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BOB
- Money
- Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bs 150–250 excl. bed · Mid Bs 250–350 excl. bed · High Bs 350–500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | Bs 2–4 |
| Water bottle | Bs 1–2 |
| Bus fare Santa Cruz → Chochís | Bs 15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VVI · Viru Viru International Airport (Santa Cruz)
- ≈ 2 h drive to Chochís
Typical fares
- Red Oriental train Chochís ↔ Santa Cruz
- ≈ Bs 30 each way (check)
- Bus Santa Cruz ↔ Chochís
- ≈ Bs 15–20 each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; footpaths connect the sanctuary, Devil’s Thumb trail and river swimming spot.
See and do
Known for
- Marian sanctuary of the Virgin of Asunta
- Devil’s Thumb granite formation
- Red Oriental train stop
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Roboré | Bus from Chochís main square, about 30 min | ≈ 1 h total |
Sleep
- Local guesthouses (if any)
- Accommodation limited; book in Santa Cruz and travel early
Language
Spanish is the working language, spoken slowly and clearly in the highlands. Aymara dominates around La Paz and the lake, Quechua around Cochabamba, Sucre and Potosí, Guaraní in the Chaco.
- Learn numbers in Spanish; menus and buses rarely use English.
- WhatsApp for everything.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
- Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
- Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
- Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited lodging in Chochís – plan to stay in Santa Cruz or nearby towns
- Train and bus schedules can vary; verify times before travel
- River swimming spot may be inaccessible during high water
Chochís is generally safe; watch for occasional road blockages and keep valuables secure in public areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chochís yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Marian sanctuary of the Virgin of Asunta
- Devil’s Thumb granite formation
- Red Oriental train stop
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chochís, revision 3666279 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3666279
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chochis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.