Things to Do in Tarija

By Karen Hartburn

If you tire of wandering around Tarija’s tree-lined streets soaking up the tranquil atmosphere, then there are plenty of things for you to do and see that will keep you occupied for a few days.

There are a number of churches in and around the city centre, the iglesias of San Roque and San Francisco being the most interesting. There’s also the 17th Century cathedral in the city centre and the Capilla de San Juan de la Loma, where the surrender treaty was signed by the Spanish after the Battle of Tablada.

If history is your thing, you can visit the battle ground of ‘La Tablada’ known locally as the Mirador ‘de Moto Mendez’, in Barrio Senac. The archaeology museum gives a good insight into the numerous fossils that have been found in Tarija’s valleys, and might even inspire you go and find your own fossils – head out of town towards the airport and look for the sand structures. There are also a couple of historical buildings you can visit, including the Casa de Cultura and the Castillo de Moisés Navajas.

Just outside the city you can find Bolivia’s only astronomical observatory, 15 kilometers south-east of the city on the way to Santa Ana. There are also a number of look out points where you can get good views over Tarija. And let’s not forget Tarija’s biggest draw, the vineyards of the Valle de la Concepción. The Inca Trail and rock paintings of the Cordillera de Sama Biological Reserve are also right on Tarija’s doorstep.

For evening entertainment, there’s a cinema on Calle Virginio Lema, corner Calle Daniel Campos and a number of karaoke bars dotted around town.