Tarija, Bolivia

San Jacinto Lake in Tarija, Bolivia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lago_San_Jacinto_-_Tarija,_Bolivia.jpg
Author: Suomi 1973


Tarija is a city in the southern part of Bolivia. Located at an elevation of 1,854 m (6,083 ft), it has a population of 171,000 (2011 estimate).

Tarija experiences a pleasant Mediterranean climate. The city was founded in 1574. In the early years of its founding, the city was claimed by Argentina. The claim was only dropped in 1899, in exchange for Puna de Atacama. However the exchange was contested by Chile as unlawful, as in fact Bolivia was giving to Argentina and Chile overlapping areas. The issue was eventually decided upon between the Chilean delegate Enrique McIver, Argentine delegate José Evaristo and American representative William Buchanan in Buenos Aires, defining the border of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

The city of Tarija is located in an area which was originally inhabited by a number of indigenous tribes, among them the Churumatas and the Tomatas. When the Incas expanded their empire into the area, they ousted the Churumatas and other ethnic groups that got in their way. When the Spanish arrived in the area, they saw that the Incas had built a number of stone roads. The presence of pre-Incaic ruins was also noted.

Today Tarija is receiving a steady stream of tourists drawn to experience its prehispanic cultures. The city is also used as a springboard to visiting nearby destinations.

Tarija, Bolivia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plaza_de_Armas_Luis_de_Fuentes_y_Vargas_%28Plaza_Principal%29_-_Tarija_-_Bolivia.jpg
Author: Sean Mulry

Visiting Tarija

You can fly to Tarija from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. If you are coming from Argentina, you can also take a bus or shared taxi (called colectivo) from Bermejo, the Bolivian border town across from Argentina. There are no immigration officer stationed at the border itself. You need to go to the immigration office near the bridge to get your passport stamped.

San Lorenzo Parish in Tarija
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parroquia_San_Lorenzo_-_Valle_de_la_Concepci%C3%B3n,_Tarija_.jpg
Author: Suomi 1973

Places of Interest from Tarija

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