Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Tarija
Therearesomeworthwhileexcursionsinthewarmandfertile
Tarija valley
,whichisnotable
for its sleepy villages, easy pace of life and beautiful countryside. Just outside Tarija itself are
rich
fossil deposits
that attract palaeontologists from all over the world, while further afield
you can visit the bodegas and
vineyards
of the world's highest wine-producing region; the
spring(Jan-April) isagreat time tovisit the latter,asthis iswhenthe vineyards come tofruit.
Above the Tarija valley to the west, the
Reserva Biológica Cordillera del Sama
has striking
high Andean scenery and an Inca trail that makes an excellent hike.
Tarija valley fossils
Free • VTB Tours Bs175
About 5km northeast of Tarija, the eroded gulches and badlands around the airport and the
gas pipeline on the other side of the main road are a treasure-trove for
fossil
hunters. The sed-
imentary layers of volcanic ash, clay and sand here are full of well-preserved fossilized bones
and teeth from Pleistocene megafauna like the mastodon (Andean elephant) and megatheri-
um (giant sloth), as well as distant ancestors of llamas, horses and other contemporary mam-
mals. You can take a micro or taxi out here, but if you have a particular interest in fossils it's
worth hiring a knowledgeable
guide
;
VTB Tours
run special trips in which you're allowed to
excavate major fossils under supervision before handing them over to the museum.
Tarija valley vineyards
The
Tarija valley
and surrounding area is Bolivia's prime
wine-producing region
. At up to
2000m above sea level, these are the highest vineyards in the world; they are at their greenest
and most beautiful during the February to March grape harvest. A visit to one or more of the
bodegas
(wineries) makes an excellent half-day excursion. You can see all the stages of the
production process, as well as sample a few glasses at source. The closest bodega to Tarija is
Aranjuez
, on the southern outskirts of the city, while
Kohlberg
and
Casa Real
are in Santa
Ana, a small village about 15km further southeast.
