Santa Cruz
This attractive large city (pop. 1,100,000) is relatively wealthy - you'll see an abundance of expensive cars and luxury merchandise for sale (and plenty of affordable arts and crafts as well). The people of Santa Cruz, known as Cambas, are very proud of their success. By any measure, the Santa Cruz region is the country's wealthiest, and the city is considered the country's most progressive. There are many Mennonites in the area who have been credited with teaching the local farmers more productive techniques.
This rich agricultural area has also benefited those engaged in illegal activities: Santa Cruz was the banking center for the Colombian-Bolivian cocaine trade in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the region still produces tons of cocaine. Hotels in Santa Cruz |