Vallegrande, the capital of the province of the same name in the department of Santa Cruz, located 244 km from the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, gained worldwide fame in the 1960s. It was the area of operations and retreat of the notorious guerrilla fighter Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was eventually murdered here. The international echo of the fight and guerrilla campaign led by the revolutionary Che Guevara in 1966/1967, had sparked great interest in the places where the various battles and clashes took place. Starting from Vallegrande, the interested visitor reaches the villages from which Che Guevara led his liberation struggle at the time. The so-called historical route ends in the small village of La Higuera, where he was eventually killed. In La Higuera you can still visit the school where Ernesto Che Guevara was executed. For the local population, “El Che” is one of their most important heroes. His remains were transferred to a mausoleum which is also open to visitors. Artifacts of the guerrilla fighters around Ernesto "Che" Guevara are exhibited in the Museum of Vallegrande.

Itinerary:

First day: Journey to Samaipata

Pick up at the hotel in Santa Cruz and drive towards Samaipata through tropical forest to the left and right of the road, orchards and small settlements. The road winds through a narrow valley and steadily gains altitude. In "Cuevas" you can marvel at a number of beautiful waterfalls, and in the early afternoon you have the opportunity to visit the pre-Inca fortress "El Fuerte". A religious and administrative center of Pre-Columbian cultures, later expanded by the Incas, El Fuerte is the easternmost Expansion of the Inca Empire. A walk leads through the complex with good views over the largest sculpted sandstone rock in South America (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Not far from the site, idyllically nested between green rolling hills, the small colonial town of Samaipata has attracted many foreign dropouts over the years, who find their new home here. In the afternoon, your admission ticket from El Fuerte enables you to visit the small archeological museum in Samaipata, where you will learn from about other mysteries surrounding the pre-Columbian ruins. Overnight in Samaipata. (-/-/-)

Second day: Samaipata – Vallegrande – La Higuera

Today you focus on the legendary Ché Guevara. In Vallegrande, visit the Ché Guevara Museum, which is full of historical documents, and the hospital. Here you see the lavatory where Ché Guevara's body was presented to the world press and his last letter to his children is painted on a wall. You can also visit the mausoleum where Ché has been buried for over 30 years, as well as the grave of Tania Bunke, the only female guerrilla fighter killed in battle. In the afternoon you drive via the picturesque village of Pucará to the hamlet of La Higuera. This is a beautiful part of the day where condors can also be seen regularly. In Pucará you can stop to stroll through the small streets and you may also want to chat with the friendly residents. If your time allows, you can take a scenic route with a view of the Río Grande via Abra de Batán to La Higuera. You spend the night in La Higuera, in the quiet and romantic hotel, which was the telegraphist's house in the Ché era. Overnight in La Higuera (B/-/-)

Third day: Excursion around La Higuera

Today you visit the school where Ché was shot in 1967. The school building has been converted into a small museum, and there are three statues in honor of Ché on the square in front of it. After visiting the museum and the statues, you can go to the Río Grande. While driving from La Higuera down to the Río Grande you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery where parrots, vultures, condors and other birds can often be seen. A stop at the impressive bridge that crosses the river is highly recommended. La Higuera lies at an altitude of approx. 2040m, from where you can descend to approx.1,000m in 1.5 hours. You can relax or swim in the river on the Río Grande. Overnight in La Higuera (B/BL/-)

Fourth day: Return to Santa Cruz

Today is dedicated to the return trip to Santa Cruz (approx. 300 km, approx. 7 hours pure travel time). In the afternoon, arrival in Santa Cruz (B/-/-) - END OF OUR SERVICES

Included in the package:

- English-speaking guide to/from Santa Cruz
- Private transport
- 3x overnight stay in DBL room
- Meals according to program (B= breakfast; L= lunch; D= Dinner)
- All entrance fees

Reservation:

Please do not hesitate to contact us for price requests, reservation, general question, and individual tour inquiries, at: contact(at)landmarktravelbolivia.com

LINK:

https://www.landmarktravelbolivia.com/ruta-del-che