El Che La Higuera Vallegrande
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El Che La Higuera
Vallegrande
Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foster revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by the Bolivian army and a few hours later was executed.
Today, Che Guevara in Bolivia remains both a revered and vilified historical figure.
Che Guevara in Bolivia represents the end of an armed struggle that marked the end of a man who held onto his ideals for better or for worse, but he held onto them until his death.
The route of Che in Bolivia is extensive and long, but almost all trips or tours head towards the towns of La Higuera and Vallegrande. La Higuera is a peaceful place with very few inhabitants, although during Che’s time, these towns were more populated.
On this tour, you visit the place where Che was taken prisoner, the place where he was executed, and subsequently where he was displayed to journalists, and finally where his remains were unearthed a few years ago.
El Che La Higuera Vallegrande Tours
Although the tour we offer to the Che Guevara route focuses on Vallegrande and La Higuera, the theme of Che Guevara in Bolivia goes hand in hand with the theme of Che Guevara’s mission in this country and how it unfolds from his arrival in the city of La Paz, his subsequent journey through the region of Santa Cruz, his training camp in Villamontes, his journey to reach the La Higuera area, and the subsequent events that led to the failure of Che Guevara’s mission in Bolivia.
Standard tours typically last for 2 days and 1 night to visit Vallegrande and La Higuera. The overnight stay is usually in Vallegrande, although it could also be in La Higuera, which is nestled amidst green mountains with a temperate climate and breathtaking panoramic views, making nature an added bonus for this tour of the Che Guevara route in Bolivia.
Itineraries
El Che La Higuera Vallegrande
From the city of Santa Cruz
1st Day
At 7:30 we meet at your place, and then go to Samaipata on a paved road, a trip of approximately 3 hours. There are 75 miles or 120 km from Santa Cruz which is approximately at 1,200 feet or 370 meters above sea level. Samaipata is approximately at 1600 meter above sea level.
Please may sure you take with your original passport or your country´s I.D. if your country is a member of the MERCOSUR agreement.
Please take with you the small sheet of paper that the control people give you when you enter Bolivia
Once in the outskirts of Santa Cruz the contour of the highway to Samaipata begins to change from urban plains to a narrower highway that starts its way up bordering mountains on one side and the Pirai River on the other side, and the landscape changes to sandy rock and green mountains.
If we have nice weather and time we may stop at “Cuevas” in this place after a short walk of about 15 minutes we will encounter some waterfalls.
You may have 20 minutes if you want to jump into the water
The entire highway until the town of Samaipata is paved except for some parts where the pavement has disappeared due to landslides or because many parts are under maintenance. We will stop in any places where the visitor wishes to take some photographs.
Samaipata has tempered climate during the day and it is a little cold during the night.
Once in Samaipata we will visit first El Fuerte or the the museum.
In the museum we will be able to appreciate different objects and ceramics that remain as a testimony of the different cultures that settled in the surroundings or from others sites of Bolivia.
The museum also has different pictures that explain the pass of the different cultures that left their signs on the famous carved rock known as “El Fuerte” (The Fortress) which is said to be the largest carved rock of the planet Earth. The museum has a small model of this rock.
We have lunch in Samaipata.
In the afternoon, we go to El Fuerte, the entrance to the secondary road that leads to fort is located 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers away from the town of Samaipata by the paved road to Santa Cruz. From this point we go up on a secondary road in the vehicle to the top of the mountain where El Fuerte is located and from where the footpath begins.
Once we are there, a specialized guide will accompany us during the long walk around the big carved rock, providing us with the explanations of the possible reasons for the carving made there, the strategic location that this place had in those days and the clash of different cultures that happened in this location for this reason. (Take a sweater)
During the hike it is fascinating to wonder about the experiences lived by the different cultures that passed through this magnificent place.
When the tour of El Fuerte is over, we return on the same highway to the city of Santa Cruz.
Once in the city we will leave you in your place.
End of our services. Thank you.
Please Read The Terms and Conditions of our Services
Amboró Tours is the only original source of this Itinerary
Amboró Tours also offers shorter or longer tours to this destination.
Adverse climatologic conditions or social unrest can change the original itinerary.
Be prepared to protect yourself against cold (sweater) the sun (sun lotion, sunglasses, hat or cap, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and others) and rain (impermeable clothes)
“Take only photographs and leave only footprints”
Vallegrande La Higuera / Samaipata
From the City of Santa Cruz
1st Day
El Che La Higuera Vallegrande tour starts at 07:30 am or 08:00 we pick you up from your hotel or home to go to the town of Vallegrande, located at 6,660 feet (2030 meters) above sea-level, a population of approximately 8,000 inhabitants in the urban zone and approximately 27,000 if we include the bordering communities. Vallegrande is located about 300 km away from the city of Santa Cruz, and the trip to this population lasts approximately 6 hours. Including the time need to have lunch
Lunch in Samaipta or somewhere else down the road.
After Samaipta we still need about 1 1/2 hours to reach Vallegrande In Vallegrande , we will meet our local guide. He will take us to visit places relevant to Ernesto Che Guevara. Like the old laundry where his body was exposed to the press in the year 1967 after having killed and brought in a helicopter from La Higuera Village
In Vallegrande we will also visit the place where “ El Che” was buried next to some of his companions in battle. And also the place where some others comarades like were buried
In Vallegrande accommodation and dinner
(Some times it is convenience to go and stay overnight in La Higuera village)
2nd Day
After breakfast. The group starts the trip to La Higuera.
From Vallegrande to La Higuera village there are 60 kms and driving it takes about 2 or 3 hours.
The road from Vallegrand to La Higuera is a narrow and uphill on the skirts of the mountains
The peak altitude that we arrive is 3200 meters above sea level. The vehicle can stop whenever the visitor wishes to take some photos or to appreciate to the Andean Condor flying over the area. Please ask the driver to stop in a safe place.
Before arriving to La Higuera we will visit The Churo Creek, where “El Che” fought his last battle in total disadvantage, malnourished, without adequate clothing or boots (he made his own boots with some leather in disuse) and with his rifle was not working well. To get to this place some trekking down a hill for about 1 1/2 hours.
In this place the guide who accompanies us will tell us in details how this uneven battle took place and how “Che” was captured by the military and taken to the small village´s school of La Higuera, which at the time had more inhabitants than it does at the present time. Later the group continues to La Higuera
In La Higuera Village a walk around the plaza, where we will be able to appreciate the paintings on the house walls and monuments raised in honor of “Che”. We can ask the guide how many times a small monument was raised in middle of the town square and how many times the military came to destroy it.
We will visit the “El Che” museum, which is the place where El Che was killed. The guide will provide further explanation about the photos and objects in exhibition. Later, if time allows to, we will visit other places in the surroundings of where “El Che” was present.
After about 1 hour in La Higuera the group returns to Vallegrande using the same road. our guide stays in Vallegrande and the vehicle continues to Samaipata which is about 1 1/2 hours down the road to Santa Cruz
Dinner en Overnight in Samaipata.
3rd Day – El Che La Higuera Vallegrande
After breakfast, we will visit the museum, where we will be able to appreciate different objects and ceramics that remain as a testimony of the different cultures that settled in the surroundings or from sites of Bolivia.
The museum also has different pictures that explain the pass of the different cultures that left their signs on the famous carved rock known as “El Fuerte” (The Fortress) which is said to be the largest carved rock of the planet Earth. The museum has a small model of this rock.
After the museum, we go to El Fuerte, the entrance to the secondary road that leads to the fort is located 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers away from the town of Samaipata by the paved road to Santa Cruz. From this point we go up on a secondary road in the vehicle to the top of the mountain where El Fuerte is located and from where the footpath begins.
l Che La Higuera Vallegrande / Samaipata
Once we are there, a specialized guide will accompany us during the long walk (about 2 hours of slow walking) around the big carved rock,
providing us with the explanations of the possible reasons for the carving made there, the strategic location that this place had in those days and the clash of different cultures that happened in this location for this reason.
During the hike it is fascinating to wonder about the experiences lived by the different cultures that passed through this magnificent place. (Take a sweater with you)
When the tour of El Fuerte is over, we return in the same vehicle to the highway that leads to Samaipata.
Lunch in Samaipata, and after a short rest we start our return to Santa Cruz.
On the way back, if still time is available it is possible to visit one more place called “Cuevas” Where after a a walk of about 15 minutes we encounter some nice waterfalls
We will arrive at the city in the afternoon hours or at evening and leave you in your hotel or address.
End of El Che La Higuera Vallegrande tour.
Please Read The Terms and Conditions of our Services
Amboró Tours is the only original source of this Itinerary
Amboró Tours also offers longer tours to this destination.
Adverse climatological conditions or social unrest can change the original itinerary.
“Take only photographs and leave only footprints
What to Bring ?
El Che La Higuera Vallegrande
(DO NOT BRINGS THINGS YOU MAY DO NOT NEED)
- Sunscreen
- A Cap or a Hat ( No to be used under the trees or branches)
- Sun Glasses
- A Warm Sweater
- Raincoat
- Swimsuit ( You may not have time to use it in one day tours)
- Insect Repellents
- Long-sleeved shirt- Pants
- Passport (Original) Or identifications documents valid in Bolivia
- Plastic bags to protect whatever you do not want to get wet
- Trekking Shoes or others proper Shoes.
- Bring your own medication for your personal needs
- Personal items you may need
- Extra food, cookies or sweets of your choice
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