Southern Bolivia
High-altitude wine and singani, waterfalls, towns with history and the Fiesta Grande, recognised by UNESCO. A region to explore slowly, with El Cadillar as your base.
Why visit Tarija
Tarija sits at around 1,850 metres in southern Bolivia, with a mild climate and an average temperature of 18 °C. This is the land of Bolivian wine and of the chapacos, with a cuisine of its own and festivals that fill the streets.
From El Cadillar, the rivers and waterfalls of Tomatitas and Coimata are minutes away; the town of San Lorenzo is 11 km away, and the wineries of Valle de la Concepción, 33 km.
What to do
Places worth discovering, with the approximate driving distance from El Cadillar.
Nature minutes away
A river, natural pools and waterfalls a short drive from your cabin. Tomatitas has river beaches, a suspension bridge and a small wood; Coimata is known for its waterfalls and clear pools.
Wine and singani
Tarija accounts for around 80% of Bolivia’s wine industry, with vineyards between 1,600 and 2,200 metres. The route takes in wineries such as Campos de Solana and Casa Real, in the Santa Ana valley, and Aranjuez, in the city, out to Valle de la Concepción. Several offer guided visits.
History
This is where the house of independence hero Eustaquio “Moto” Méndez stands, now a museum and National Historic Monument, facing the village square.
Living culture
The feast of San Roque, with its chunchos in colourful costumes, fills the city between August and September. In 2021 UNESCO inscribed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The city
Plaza Luis de Fuentes, the Casa Dorada, the cathedral, the National Palaeontological and Archaeological Museum and the Loma de San Juan viewpoint.
Flavours
Saice, the signature dish of Tarija, and ranga lead a cuisine that also offers chancho a la cruz, rosquetes and empanadas blanqueadas.
Outdoor sport
A 9-hole course with a clubhouse, open since 2004, in the La Victoria area: it is the golf course of Tarija, a few minutes from El Cadillar.
Afternoon outing
The San Jacinto dam forms a lake ringed by hills, a good place to watch the afternoon fade.
Excursion
Waterfalls of up to 40 metres with natural pools, surrounded by hills.
Adventure
On the border between Tarija and Chuquisaca, it is considered one of the deepest canyons in the world. You reach it through the community of Yumasa, with a final stretch of dirt road, and then walk up to the viewpoint, where condors can be seen. It is best to go with a local guide.
Full-day trip
The Tajzara lagoons, a wetland of international importance (a Ramsar site), lie inside the Cordillera de Sama Biological Reserve: high-altitude scenery for a full day.
Getting there
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) flies to Tarija from La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza airport is about 10 km from El Cadillar.
There are buses from the main cities in Bolivia: about 8 hours from Potosí, 11 from Sucre, 12 from Santa Cruz and 16 from La Paz. The Tarija terminal is 14 km away.
By road, the border crossings most used to reach Tarija are La Quiaca–Villazón and Aguas Blancas–Bermejo, some 190–210 km from the city.
It is 7 km from the centre of Tarija: head towards Tomatitas and continue on the road to La Victoria and Coimata. The "Get directions" button opens the route in Google Maps.
El Cadillar works with a taxi line that gives guests a preferential rate. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will pass on the contact.
Your base in Tarija
After a day of wineries, waterfalls and villages, come back to your cabin, the pool and the quiet of the countryside.
Bookings
Check availability on WhatsApp: choose your cabin and dates, and we will answer in the same chat.
The photos of Tarija come from Wikimedia Commons:
Sources on Tarija: Wikipedia, UNESCO, the Government of Tarija, press and Tarija tourism sites, consulted in September 2026.
