Chochis, a charming town surrounded by pure nature

If you are a nature lover, visiting a town in the middle of nature would be for sure a dream coming true! So, let me introduce you to Chochis, a tiny town in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia, with less than 1000 inhabitants, where all you can find around is an abundant green nature.

Chochis town

Colorful houses decorate this little town, where the winter never arrives. And, most importantly, the warmness of its weather is always accompanied by the warmness of its people.

The most representative icon of Chochis is the enormous natural rock tower, called Torre de David (David’s Tower), which majestically stands right next to the town. A 2 km way up path takes you to the feet of this enormous rock tower, which has an 800-meter perimeter. The view from there is already stunning, but you can go even higher if you wish to.

Torre de David

VX63+QM Chochís, Bolivia

Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary

At the base of the rock tower is Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary, a religious construction, perfectly integrated with nature, with a big open-air area that faces Chochis and its surroundings from above.

Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary

VX74+CH Chochís, Bolivia

Beautiful wood carvings garnish the sanctuary. Local natives learned that art from the Jesuits who came to the area – centuries ago – to bring evangelization, through the Jesuit Missions. Nowadays, the wood carvings have influences of both the natives and Jesuits.  Local native characters seem to be sometimes starring in representations of religious passages. This is the case of “The Sin of Adam and Eve,” carved in the wooden door of the sanctuary, that weighs one ton.

Serranía de Chochis

A few kilometers away from the town is Serranía de Chochis (Mountain Range of Chochis). Doing a hike in this area, you will find crystal clear lagoons, caves, and archeological remains. The wildlife of the area has a great diversity of birds, reptiles, and mammals.  This area is also called Valle de Piedra (Stone Valley) or Bosque de Piedra (Stone Wood) because of the unusual rock formations in it. The hiking in Serranía de Chochis is demanding but worth trying, and, of course, the higher you reach, the better your view of the surroundings!

Serranía de Chochis

WWPW+PX Porton, Bolivia

Velo de la Novia

A natural pool fed by a waterfall, called Velo de la Novia (Veil of the Bride), is located just 2 kilometers away from the main square of Chochis. You must access the waterfall walking; nevertheless, the path will rather seem short, especially while enjoying the exuberant nature, filled with local plants and animals.

Velo de la Novia

VX6F+J8 Chochís, Bolivia

Chochis is a perfect town to remain in contact with nature. And if you feel like exploring even more, less than one hour away by car, you might find Santiago de Chiquitos and Aguas Calientes, with more gifts of nature, that will make you fall in love with this beautiful region.