Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja, Historical national park in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia.
Parque Nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja is a protected area in Santa Cruz Department that combines natural forest and grassland with archaeological remains scattered throughout. The landscape features preserved walls built from stone during colonial times and transitions between different ecosystems.
Spanish colonizers established the first settlement of Santa Cruz here in 1561, though the settlement later moved to a different location. The area was designated as a national park in 1989 to protect both the natural environment and archaeological remains.
The site reveals layers of different cultures that lived here, visible through objects and remains you can observe while exploring the park. Pottery and tools scattered throughout tell stories of the people who inhabited and worked this land.
The park sits a short distance from San José de Chiquitos, making it relatively easy to reach from that town. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water when exploring the terrain, as the area offers open space with varying topography.
Capuchin monkeys roam the forest here, and flowering yellow tajibo trees add splashes of color to the landscape during their blooming season. This living environment surrounding the archaeological remains creates an unexpected interaction between wildlife and historical traces.
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