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The
department of Santa Cruz is situated on the oriental plains to the east of
the Andean mountains; in a region that is known as the Bolivian Orient and
that comprises more than 50% of the Bolivian national territory. Thus, it would be a mistake to consider
Bolivia as a purely Andean country.
Only Santa Cruz is extended over 370000 square kilometres, which is
approximately the size of Germany, and the whole year round it ´s completely
covered by a natural green carpet rich of flora and fauna. In a sense, Santa Cruz offers the visitor a
climate of eternal spring; where summer is quite hot and winter is mild and
short. Therefore, the Chazfest ´s program of activities was
made thinking in all these natural attractions that Santa Cruz has, having in
mind that we have a rushed schedule of only 4 days and that it is not going
to be possible to travel too far away from the city. However, we had planned an optional two
days program for those who do not want to loose the opportunity to visit the
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos: The true
jewel of the Bolivian Orient. |
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The Jesuit Missions are located on the immense
prairie of the Chiquitania and it is surrounded by the rich jungle of the
Amazonas. To travel to this place is
to transport one self through open savannas and areas of jungle to a
missionary world; where towns founded by the Jesuits towards the end of the
17th century are still alive and awake the admiration and interest of
everyone that visits them. Here is the
main and biggest Jesuit ´s settlement of the new world, where Jesuits enacted
one of their main evangelizing epics, leaving for posterity not only
magnificent temples but also a culture that still endures. Impressive temples of baroque style with
colossal columns carved in wood, impressive statues, golden altars, and
splendid murals were built using a combination of work, techniques, and
skills from both the priests and natives.
Nevertheless to have these temples is not the only pride of the
Chiquitania, but also to still maintain alive much of their Jesuitical
heritage: The musical, artisan and dance traditions of that time extend to
today. A world-renowned Renaissance
Baroque music festival is held every year, a music school continues to train
indigenous youth to be accomplished musicians and musical instruments as well
as souvenirs are crafted to perfection.
For all these, the UNESCO declared the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos a
Historic and Cultural Heritage of Humanity Site in 1990. www.chiquitania.org/where_doc.html www.prefecturascz.gov.bo/turismoII/turismo.htm Actually the great Chiquitania comprises a circuit
of 7 towns that still conserve their temples as monumental treasures: San
Javier, San Rafael, San José, Concepción, San Miguel y Santa Ana. But
because of the distances between each other, the adventure planned to
discover this world, is to visit only San Javier and Concepción as follows on
this 2 day program: |
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Chazfest´s Optional Program to Visit The Jesuit
Missions of Chiquitos |
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Activity |
Description |
Photo |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 8:30 – 11:00 Activity: Departure Cost: Included in transportation costs |
Departure from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa de la
Mina. Besides passing by colourful
markets and several towns, the road is unique: open prairies, jungles,
accidented hills and huge rocks blend all together forming a spectrum of
landscapes filled of colour. |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 11:00 – 13:30 Activity: Lunch at
Santa Rosa de la Mina Eco - Resort Cost: 15 $us |
This wonderful eco-resort is near the entrance to the
Chiquitania 189 Km away from Santa Cruz.
Besides nature its main attraction are water activities, such as water
motorcycle, sailing, fishing, etc. It
also offers a swimming pool, sports fields, lodges, and a rustic restaurant. |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 14:00 – 18:00 Activity: Day city
tours in San Javier Cost: 15 $us |
San Javier is the first of the missions. It was
founded 223 Km away from Santa Cruz by the Jesuits in 1691. The church was built between 1749 &
1752 and it has an exclusive interior of radiance, mainly because of its
light colours and the gold used in the altars. Music festivities and a visit to the museum
are going to be held. |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 19:30 – 20:30 Activity: Night city
tours in Concepción Cost: 0 $us |
Concepción is the second mission on the road, but it
is the most visited. It was founded in
1709 by the Jesuits 308 Km away from Santa Cruz. The church was built between
1752 & 1753 and it is considered the arquitectonical jewel of the
region. Its majesty will be able to be
appreciated at night, since a mass is going to take place there. Link(s): |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 21:00 – XX:XX Activity: Lodging at
“Gran Hotel Concepción” Cost: Since 15 $us per person the triple room, 25 $us per
person de double room and 40 $us per person de simple room. |
The Gran Hotel Concepción, is the choice of lodging for those who want to
rest comfortably. It is a colonial
hotel with a missional aspect, tastily decorated with local works of
art. Among its facilities, it offers
rustic galleries with hammocks, a swimming pool and a restaurant that serves
typical food. |
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Day : Mon – 26 / 07 Hour: 21:30 – XX:XX Activity: Lodging al
“Las Piedras Eco Resort” Cost: 10 $us per person in a 7 person log cabin |
Another choice of lodging for those who want the night
to go on, would be the log cabins at
Las Piedras Eco Resort, which are 30 minutes away from Concepción. There is a beautiful landscape to enjoy the
dawn seated on a deck. |
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Day : Tue – 27 / 07 Hour: Activity: Day City Tours
in Concepción Cost: 10 $us |
Visits are going to be scheduled to the Musical file
and Missional Museum, to the artisans’ workshops and to the surroundings of
Concepción- known by its great variety of orchids. Concepción is also characterized
for Its rustic aspect of the earth - floor streets and traditional manor
houses, with adobe walls decorated with missional motifs and shady galleries
with wooden pitchforks. |
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Day : Tue – 27 / 07 Hour: Activity: Lunch at Las
Piedras Eco Resort Cost: 10 $us |
A typical food buffet will be served at Las Piedras
Eco Resort. A beautiful place, where
huge stones and an accidental topography are the main highlight of the
landscape. There is also an immense
lake and large quantities of cattle and buffaloes rising on the sierra
surrounding the lake. |
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Day : Tue – 27 / 07 Hour: 15:30 – 21:30 Activity: Departure to
Santa Cruz and visit to “La Dolorida” Cost: 5 $us |
On the way back, it is planned a short visit to the
private ranch “La Dolorida”; where Hans Ertl, private photographer of Adolf
Hittler, refugeed after finishing
world war II. This is a private
ecological reserve that is admired for its natural richness. |
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Other costs to consider are:
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