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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
San Javier
Spend a day in San Javier to see the UNESCO Jesuit mission square, church, and nearby rock formation, then return to Santa Cruz.
San Javier is a small town in the Santa Cruz department, best known for its Jesuit mission UNESCO site. All main attractions are within walking distance, so a single day is sufficient for most visitors.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry, warm)
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy, hotter)
- 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 Bs80–120 excl. bed · Mid Bs120–180 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 118 · Medical assistance 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 |
|---|---|
| Breakfast at marketplace | Bs15 |
| Dinner at marketplace | Bs25 |
| Mototaxi round‑trip to Aguas Calientes | Bs50 |
| Mini‑concert guide fee | Bs730 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VVI · Viru Viru International
- About 200 km (124 mi) north, 3 h bus to Santa Cruz then onward to San JavierAbout 124 mi (200 km) north, 3 h bus to Santa Cruz then onward to San Javier
Typical fares
- Bus Santa Cruz → San Javier
- about Bs4, departs daily from Santa Cruz, first at 11:00about Bs4, departs daily from Santa Cruz, first at 11:00 AM
- Mototaxi within town / to Aguas Calientes
- about Bs50 round trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the compact town centre; mototaxis are common for trips to Aguas Calientes (15 km (9.3 mi) north) or surrounding sites.Walk the compact town centre; mototaxis are common for trips to Aguas Calientes (9.3 mi (15 km) north) or surrounding sites.
See and do
Known for
- Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
- Main square with cross
- Church and belltower
- Piedra de los Apostoles rock formation
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Concepción | Bus from Santa Cruz to Concepción, about 2 h, then local transport to the mission site | ≈ 3 h round trip |
| Aguas Calientes | Mototaxi from San Javier, about 1 h each way | ≈ 2 h total |
Sleep
- El Tiluchi
- Single room Bs40, shared bathroom, central location near main square
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑KUL‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑SEE‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN‑to KWEHS‑ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON‑de es‑TA el BAH‑nyo |
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
- Mototaxi safety varies; drivers may lack helmets or experience (check before boarding).
- Roads outside town are rough and can be uneven.
Generally safe in town; exercise caution on mototaxi rides outside, where helmets and driver experience vary.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Javier yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
- Main square with cross
- Church and belltower
- Piedra de los Apostoles rock formation
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – San Javier: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1234567
- Wikivoyage: San Javier, revision 5043136 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5043136
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/san-javier). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.