Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South Central Bolivia & the Chaco
Highlights
Sample the world's highest-grown wines in El Valle de la Concepción (
Click
here
)
Stroll around the colonial streets of tranquil Tarija (
Click here
)
Get revolutionary on the Che Trail (
Click here
)
in Camiri
Hike the fascinating Inca Trail (
Click here
) in the Reserva Biológica Cor-
dillera de Sama
Discover spectacular Chaco wildlife in the region's many parks and reserves
Get down and party Tarija-style at the Fiesta de San Roque (
Click here
)
Snack on some fresh fish in scorching Villamontes (
Click here
)
History
Prior to the 1932-35 Chaco War, Bolivia had long claimed rights to the Chaco, an inhos-
pitable region beneath which rich oil fields were mooted to lie. The disputed area of about
240,680 sq km stretched northeast of the Paraguay and Pilcomayo Rivers in Paraguay, and
included the 168,765 sq km chunk of Argentina north of the Río Bermejo. With political
turmoil in Paraguay causing a distraction and economic hardship in Bolivia providing a
stimulus, the Bolivians saw their opportunity and began to slowly advance into Paraguay-
an territory.
After losing the War of the Pacific in 1884, Bolivia was desperate to have the Chaco as
an outlet to the Atlantic via the Río Paraguay. Hoping that physical possession would be
interpreted as official sovereignty, the Bolivian army set up a fort at Piquirenda on the Río
Pilcomayo and then refused to relinquish rights to Fuerte Vanguardia, its only port on the
Paraguay river (and not in Bolivian territory). In 1928 Paraguay responded by sending its
army to seize the fort. Although things got heated, both sides maintained a conciliatory at-
titude, hoping that a peaceful solution might be possible.
Things, however, didn't go as planned. During settlement talks in Washington and un-
der orders from Bolivian President Daniel Salamanca, the Bolivian army tried to seize
land without authorization, triggering full-scale warfare. Bolivia was widely seen as the
aggressor in diplomatic circles and its case generated little support.
