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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Santa Ana de Velasco
Spend half a day in Santa Ana de Velasco: visit the mission church and main square, then return – 1 day is enough.
Santa Ana de Velasco is a tiny town in the Santa Cruz department, known for its UNESCO‑listed Jesuit mission church. The village is walkable, with a single entry fee, so a half‑day visit fits most itineraries.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy season)
- Stay
- 0–1 (overnight only if staying in San Ignacio) nights
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 30–50 excl. transport · Mid Bs 60–100 excl. transport (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 |
|---|---|
| Mission church entry | Bs 15 |
| Local bus fare (short ride) | Bs 10–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VVI · Viru Viru International Airport
- about 200 km (124 mi) east, bus or taxi to Santa Cruz city then road to Santa Anaabout 124 mi (200 km) east, bus or taxi to Santa Cruz city then road to Santa Ana
Typical fares
- Bus San Ignacio → Santa Ana → San Ignacio
- about Bs 20–30 round trip (check schedule)
- Mission church entry
- Bs 15
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
The settlement is small; walk everywhere. Taxi from San Ignacio for day trips.
See and do
Known for
- Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
- Historic mission church with 200‑year‑old organ
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Rafael mission | Daily bus from San Ignacio stops at Santa Ana, continue to San Rafael (≈1 h total) | ≈2 h round trip |
| San José de Chiquitos | Bus to San Ignacio, then connect via San Rafael or San Miguel to San José (≈3 h total) | ≈5 h round trip |
Sleep
- No hotels in town
- Stay in San Ignacio (≈30 km (19 mi)) – guesthouses or hostels, then taxi or bus back (check availability).Stay in San Ignacio (≈19 mi (30 km)) – guesthouses or hostels, then taxi or bus back (check availability).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasˈɡɾasjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈβaɲo |
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
- Road from San Ignacio to Santa Ana is rough and often in poor condition.
- Entry to the mission church costs Bs 15 (check for price changes).
- Limited services; bring water and cash.
Generally safe; main risks are road conditions and limited night services – travel before dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Santa Ana de Velasco yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (overnight only if staying in San Ignacio) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
- Historic mission church with 200‑year‑old organ
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 – Santa Ana de Velasco: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Santa Ana de Velasco, revision 5305803 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5305803
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/santa-ana-de-velasco). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.