Ins and outs
Getting there
Santa Cruz has excellent domestic and international transport links. The international airport at Viru-Viru (13 km from the city) is the busiest and most modern in Bolivia. El Trompillo is the regional airport, located right in town. The teeming but well- organized Terminal Bimodal serves as both a bus terminal and train station. Rail lines run east to the Brazilian border at Quijarro and south (with poorer service) to the Argentine border at Yacuiba. Santa Cruz also has direct bus service to all major cities of Bolivia, as well as international bus routes to Asunción (Paraguay) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Santa Cruz
Air
Viru-Viru International Airport (information T181, or T03-383 5000 ext 272) is 13 km from the centre, taxi US$7, minibus from Ex- Terminal (Línea 135) or El Trompillo Regional Airport, US$0.70, 45 mins. Departure tax: US$24 international, US$2 domestic. The airport is open 24 hrs; it has a tourist information desk at international arrivals 0700-2000; a casa de cambio changing cash US$ and euros at poor rates, 0630-2100; ATMs; luggage lockers 0600-2200, US$5.50 for 24hrs; ENTEL for phones and expensive internet; plus the usual fast food eateries. Viru-Viru was being renovated and expanded in 2008.
Domestic flights with AeroSur and TAM (Militar), to La Paz (3-4 direct a day, US$120), Cochabamba, Sucre, Tarija and Puerto Suárez. International flights to Asunción, Buenos Aires, Salta, Tucumán, Lima, Madrid, Miami, Santiago and São Paulo; not all daily.
El Trompillo (information T03-352 6600) is the regional airport, open daily 0500-1900. It is located south of the centre on the Segundo Anillo, taxi US$1.10, many minibuses pass nearby. It has a phone office and kiosk selling drinks, but no other services. AeroSur operates 1 daily flight from El Trompillo to Cochabamba, continuing to either La Paz, Sucre or Tarija, and avoiding the ride out to Viru-Viru. TAM (Militar) has flights throughout the country, different destinations on different days. Aerocon flies to Trinidad and other towns in the northern jungle. Also several air-taxi services, eg Aerofox, T03-353 2138, aerofox@hotmail.com, US$200-250 per hr.
Airline offices
Aerocon, El Trompillo Airport, T03-352 1200.
Aerolíneas Argentinas, Edificio Banco de la Nación Argentina, Junín y Libertad on main plaza, T03-333 9776.
AeroSur, head office at Irala 616 y Valle Grande, T03-336 7400; also on the main Plaza 24 de Septiembre No 46, T03-335 8413.
American Airlines, Beni 167 y Arenales, T03-334 1314.
GOL, Viru-Viru Airport, T03-385 2200.
TAM (Mercosur), Independencia y La Riva, T03-337 1999.
TAM (Militar), El Trompillo Airport, T03-352 9669.
Bus
Local
Minibuses charge US$0.20, within the Primer Anillo, slightly more as you go further out from the centre.
Regional
Buses, minibuses and shared taxis for regional destinations leave from either the area around the Ex-Terminal or behind the tracks at the Terminal Bimodal . Some destinations are served from both of the above. The Ex-Terminal itself, Av Irala y Av Cañoto on the Primer Anillo, is no longer in use and looked ready for demolition in 2008, but transport leaves from surrounding streets. For details see Transport under the respective destinations.
Long distance
All long-distance buses and trains leave from the Terminal Bimodal on the Tercer Anillo. City bus 12 runs to/from the centre, but it is safer to take a taxi (US$1.50). The Terminal is large and busy but reasonably well organized and patrolled. It has ATMs, casas de cambio, luggage store (0600-2130, US$0.50 per bag), places to eat, phone offices, internet and an information desk (0600-2200, T03-348 8482).
Most buses depart in the evening and travel overnight. Various companies serve destinations throughout Bolivia, bus-cama is available to most. La Paz US$15-18, 16 hrs; Cochabamba US$7, 10 hrs; Sucre US$7-11, 14 hrs; Trinidad US$4-7, 10 hrs; Tarija US$9.50, 16 hrs; San Ignacio US$8, 10 hrs; Yacuiba US$8, 8 hrs; Quijarro US$11, 19 hrs or much more on a notoriously poor road.
International
The international section is on the far left as you enter the terminal. Various companies, most with daily service to: Asunción (Paraguay) US$45-50, 18-24 hrs, with Yacyretá T03-362 5557, and Stel Turismo T03-349 7762; Buenos Aires (Argentina) US$80-90, 36 hrs, with Potosí Bus T03-364 5869, and several other lines.
Car hire
Aby’s, Anillo 3 y Pasaje Muralto 1038 (opposite the zoo), T03-3451560.
Avis, Careterra al Norte Km 3½, T03-343 3939.
Across, Anillo 4 y radial 27 (400 m from Av Banzer Oeste), T03-344 1717, http://www.acrossrentacar.com.
Barron’s, Av Alemania 50 esq Tajibos, by the 2nd Anillo, T03-342 0160, http://www.rentacarbolivia.com. Best in town, honest and reasonable rates, English spoken.
Taxis
About US$1 inside the Primer Anillo, more at night and as you go further from the centre. Agree on the fare before getting in.
Train
The train station is part of the Terminal Bimodal . Ferroviaria Oriental ticket office T03-338 7300, Mon-Fri 0700-1800, Sat 0730-1230, Sun 1530-1730 (only for the Ferrobus), http://www.ferroviariaoriental.com.
There is service east to Quijarro on the Brazilian border, and south to Yacuiba on the Argentine border. The former is a busy important route with frequent and reasonably good trains; the Ferrobus is fastest and most comfortable, Expreso Oriental is intermediate, Regional is slowest. Since the paving of the road to Yacuiba, however, train service there has been neglected and buses are faster and more comfortable. Trains to/from Quijarro may be heavily booked. All tickets can be bought up to a week in advance, passport required, avoid touts and re-sellers.
