Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country Situated on the river Piray in Eastern Bolivia, the city of Santa Cruz and its metropolitan area are home to over 70% of the population of the department[4] and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
The city was first founded in 1561 by Spanish explorer Ñuflo de Chavez about 200 km east of its current location, and was moved several times until it was finally established on the Piray River in the late 16th century. For much of its history, Santa Cruz was mostly a small outpost town, and even after Bolivia gained its independence in 1825, there was little attention from the authorities or the population in general to settle the region. It was not until after World War II and profound agrarian and land reforms that the city began to grow at a very fast pace.
Nowadays, the city is the most populated, and the Department of Santa Cruz, rank second in total population, produce nearly thirty five percent of Bolivia's gross domestic product, and receive over forty percent of all the foreign direct investment in the country. This has helped make Santa Cruz the most important business center in Bolivia and the preferred destination of migrants from all over the country.


Economy


The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra has utility infrastructure, roads and highways, and a lively shopping and business. The main sectors that drive the economy are the oil, forestry companies, agribusiness, and construction. Santa Cruz to more than 80% of national agricultural production, and also contributes to GDP over 35% according to recent years. It also has the country's largest airport, making it an ideal city for trade shows, international events and investments.
It is noteworthy that in Santa Cruz there is considerable investment in the construction sector (office buildings and houses), business (large supermarket chains and mass consumption centers), the health sector (high-tech private clinics ), the fashion industry, national and international shows, agribusiness, hospitality and cuisine (highly developed), not to mention many private universities. The airline AeroSur has its headquarters in Santa Cruz.


Hotels
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has one of the best infrastructures of hotels in the country.
Five Star Hotels *****
Senses Hotel Boutique, La Pascana Center
Buganvillas Hotel Suites & Spa
Camino Real Hotel
Los Tajibos Hotel & Convention Center
Yotaú All Suites Hotel
Toborochi Suites Apart Hotel
Gran Hotel Santa Cruz
Paulistania Casablanca Apart Hotel
House Inn Hotel


Geography


The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is located in the eastern part of Bolivia (17°45', South, 63°14', West) at 416 m above sea level. It is part of the province of Andrés Ibáñez and the capital of the department of Santa Cruz.


Climate


The city has a tropical savanna climate, with an average annual temperature around 23 °C (or 73.4 °F). Although the weather is generally warm all year round, cold wind patterns, called "surazos", can blow in occasionally (especially in the winter) from the Argentine pampas making the temperature drop considerably. The months of greatest rainfall are January and February.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Climate chart (explanation)


Demographics


The first settlers of Santa Cruz were mainly Spaniards that accompanied Ñuflo de Chávez, as well as Guarani natives from Paraguay, and some Flemings, Portuguese, Germans and Italians working for the Spanish crown.Among the first settlers there were also Sephardic Jews recently converted to Christianity who were persecuted in by the inquisition in Spain. Santa Cruz has a multicultural population: 50% of the population is White of European descent, 40% is mestizo with both Native and European ascendants and 10% Natives.