Discovering paradise: Santiago de Chiquitos, Roboré

“The paradise is here” is the slogan of a place called Roboré, and words cannot describe it better: constant warm weather, astonishing nature, no stress, tasty food, and friendly people.

Roboré is a subdivision of the Bolivian Chiquitania, one of the last and best-preserved tropical dry forests of the world. This area comprises several small towns, such as Roboré – the capital - Chochis, Aguas Calientes, and Santiago de Chiquitos: each one is a gate to particular natural wonders. This time, let us discover Santiago de Chiquitos and its surroundings!

Santiago de Chiquitos is a tiny town that does not have a big market, a bank, or even a fuel station, only the real bare necessities. That way, we can pay full attention to the beautiful colors of its exotic bird species, its majestic waterfalls, rock formations, and all other gifts of nature.

Do not be surprised if a toucan tweet wakes you up in the morning from outside your window, announcing a day in full contact with nature. You will have lots of options for routes to discover the surroundings. Together, let us take a look at what you can find!

The first place I will present is called “The Antechamber of Heaven”: Getting there you will understand why!

You will reach The Antechamber of Heaven after nearly one hour of trekking. Once you arrive, your eyes will get dazzled with the magnificent landscape showing Tucavaca Valley surrounded by the Mountain Range of Santiago.

Up there, huge stone monoliths stand still, as if they were petrified giants eternally witnessing the impressive view: a green sea that seems to have no limits.

Other routes to follow from Santiago de Chiquitos will lead us to find footprints of our prehistory. Some ancient paths of the area, for example, are part of Peabirú: a man-built corridor that crosses the continent, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, since prehistoric times. Peabirú (which means "back and forth path" in tupí language) served as a connection for tribes and civilizations from the high and low lands, traversing territories that nowadays belong to Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Perú.

Additionally, this area saves 45 cave painting sites, from different periods, and four of them are accessible to visitors.

After enjoying the heights and discovering a prehistoric legacy, with the constant warm weather, you might feel like taking a dip. If that is the case, fortunately, your wish will be easily fulfilled, because this paradise has lots of creeks, waterfalls and natural pools.

Choices will be endless, from waterfalls surrounded by green nature to golden pools: some natural pools, in special periods of the year, have stones that acquire golden-shade colors. At the same time, they are illuminated by the midday sun rays passing through the water.

How can a paradise be called so without the beauty of art? While the streets of Santiago de Chiquitos are decorated with wood carvings and colorful wall paintings, it is also home to the Chiquitana Baroque Music School. It is certainly stunning to discover the enormous musical talent of the young students of this school, in a town with only around 2000 inhabitants, far away from any big city.

Further than that, once per year, the ConservArte Festival takes place in Santiago de Chiquitos, gathering painters, actors, musicians, plastic artists, dancers, photographers, and more. In fact, all arts are welcome!

Besides sharing art, the festival aims to raise awareness for environmental conservation because, even if it is hard to believe, a heavenly place like this is also in danger nowadays.

The concerts under the stars are among the most expected events of the ConservArte Festival: they offer magical moments where only a theatre is an endless space surrounding us. In addition to the performances of different arts, several workshops for all ages allow the attendants to have active participation by learning different types of art and even developing their own creations.

Surrounded by the purest nature, painted by the colors of exotic birds and wetted by crystal clear waters,  Santiago de Chiquitos is a place worth visiting.  Enjoy an endless summer, with people who love art and spread hospitality: you can certainly feel that "the paradise is here" and you are more than welcome to enjoy it!