An aerial view of Santa Cruz, Bolivia's largest city

Photo: Wikipedia

To experience the other side of Bolivia, it’s essential to head east into the sweltering jungle.

In one day you can go from wearing a down jacket on the Altiplano to shorts and a T-shirt in the sticky jungle.

The region of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is an outpost of agriculture, mostly rice, sugar and soy, and also the gateway to Brazil and Argentina by train.

Its capital is Santa Cruz - the largest city in the country - and a wealthy (by Bolivia standards), Westernized and multicultural metropolis that is home to 1.5 million people.

Here, schoolgirls in thigh-revealing skirts and sparkly high-heels strut through the tropical main plaza; wealthy bankers shop for the latest electronic goods; Japanese immigrants down sushi at salubrious Japanese restaurants and Mennonites sweat away in the heat in their long overalls and white stockings.

If you've just arrived in Santa Cruz from Bolivia's Altiplano or Amazon, you'll find it hard to believe you're in the same country. Aside from a couple of museums, botanical gardens and a zoo, there's not an awful lot to do here except eat your way through the range of international restaurants, lick exceptional ice-cream or blow your entire South American travel budget in the North American-style boutiques.    

For travellers, the city of Santa Cruz is also the starting point of jungle expeditions into nearby Carrasco National Park known for its spectacular mountains, waterfalls and cloud forests, or remote Noel Kempff Mercando National Park known for its virgin rainforest, rushing rivers and abundant wildlife including pink dolphins, giant river otters and jaguars. 

For Christian culture vultures or anyone with the time and inclination to explore Bolivia's most atmospheric circuit, Santa Cruz is also a good jumping off point for the seven remote Jesuit Mission towns of San Ramón, San Javier, Concepción, San Igancio de Velasco, San Miguel de Velasco, San Rafael de Velasco, San José de Chiquitos and Santa Ana de Velasco.