Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SOUTH CENTRAL BOLIVIA
Tarija
4 / POP 153,500 / ELEV 1905M
Tarija's biggest drawcard is the vineyards on its doorstep, and the city makes a great base
for visiting the surrounding wineries in El Valle de la Concepción (
Click here
)
, home to
the world´s highest wines and the throat-tingling
singani
(distilled grape spirit).
There's not much else to do in Tarija, but it has some interesting colonial architecture
and grows on those who stay a while to enjoy the pleasantly mild climate and take in the
chilled atmosphere; the little city is as laid-back as they get, with palm-lined squares, sizz-
ling Argentine barbecues, sprawling bar and cafe terraces, and tight streets with narrow
pavements.
Despite the fact that many Bolivians from bigger cities regard South Central Bolivia as a
half-civilized backwater and that '
chapaco
' is the butt of tasteless jokes told in La Paz,
Tarija is a worthy stop off on your way to Argentina or Paraguay.
