Discover Cercado: Valleys, Highlands and Culture

Cercado offers varied landscapes and cultural experiences, from the valleys in the northwest of the province to highlands, artisanal singani and local festivals. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering whether you would prefer to explore the landscape or focus on cultural and culinary experiences.

Between Valleys and Highlands

In the northwest of the province lie the valleys of Selle and Yesera, with gently rolling plains at elevations between 1,900 and 3,000 metres. The mountain zone of Cercado offers a striking contrast: its landscape is shaped by steep terrain, rock outcrops, sloping ground and grassland. These differences give you two distinct perspectives on the province—gently rolling valleys and more rugged highlands.

Cercado also has a stake in the landscapes of the Reserva Biológica de la Cordillera de Sama. The reserve features steep slopes, plateaus and high-Andean lagoons. It broadens the view beyond the valleys and grassland to include a mountain landscape defined by ridges and lagoons.

Culture, Singani and Regional Cuisine

The Ruta del Singani Artesanal y los Molinos de Piedra is a cultural, gastronomic and heritage-focused tourism experience. It is located in the Sub Central de Yesera in the Municipio de Tarija. Its name refers to singani and stone mills; the route brings these themes together with culture, gastronomy and regional heritage. Activities may vary by season.

In Yesera, visitors can learn about the production of artisanal singani at Bodega Artesanal El Galeán and take part in a guided tasting. This offers a hands-on look at how it is made and complements Yesera’s cultural appeal with a culinary experience.

Another cultural trail runs through the territory of the Comunidad de Calderillas: the Camino del Inca. Calderillas is part of Tarija’s cultural heritage. The trail and the community add another cultural dimension to trip planning, alongside the landscapes and culinary experiences around Yesera.

In San Andrés, the Feria de la Papa focuses on potatoes and potato products, vegetables, and local dishes. Products are also traded and exchanged. The January date depends on the organising committee’s plans, so check the dates for the relevant year before your trip.

Another Look at the Tarija Destination

The wider Tarija destination offers additional, distinct excursion and culinary experiences. At the Laguna Pujzara Tajzara in the Reserva Biológica de la Cordillera de Sama, visitors can observe birds and walk along the lagoon shore. These activities complement the landscapes and cultural experiences described for Cercado with nature watching and waterside walks in the broader regional context.

The Valle de la Concepción is also part of the wider Tarija destination. It lies 25 kilometres from the city of Tarija and is one of the department’s major tourist attractions. The valley is an important wine-growing region, with the largest area under vines in the department and some of Bolivia’s most important wineries. La Casa Vieja in the Valle de la Concepción offers wine tastings in an artisanal winery; check the current visitor arrangements before you go.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Cercado, the experiences that interest you most can be a good starting point: the valleys of Selle and Yesera, the highlands, cultural and singani experiences in Yesera, or the fair in San Andrés. Landscapes can be planned for differently from seasonal activities: offerings along the route may change with the season, and the January date of the fair is set by the organising committee. If a particular experience is essential to your trip, take these timing considerations into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Tarija, Aniceto Arce, Jose Maria Aviles, Gran Chaco.

Return to the main travel overview: Tarija.