Tarija wine valleys, Bolivia — the world's highest commercial vineyards

— Department · Wine · Singani · Tucumano Forest · Chapaco culture

Department of Tarija

Bolivia's most Mediterranean department. Wine and singani from the world's highest vineyards (1,800–2,800m). Blue Morpho butterflies in Tariquía. Condors in Sama. Distinctive chapaco identity.

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Capital

City of Tarija

Area

37,623 km²

Population

~565,000

Capital alt.

1,866m above sea level

Alt. range

300 – 4,600m

Languages

Spanish · Guaraní

— The Department

What is Tarija?

1,866m

Altitude of Tarija — Bolivia's mildest capital climate

World's highest

Vineyards at 1,800–2,800m — wine + singani

Blue Morpho

Tariquía — Bolivia's largest morpho colony

3–5M years

Megatherium and toxodon in Pliocene soils

The Department of Tarija is Bolivia's smallest (37,623 km²) and most distinctive in character. Located in the far south, bordering Argentina, it has the country's most pleasant climate: 22°C mean annual temperature, without the extreme altitude of the altiplano or the tropical heat of the lowlands.

Tarija is Bolivia's wine and singani capital. Its inter-Andean valleys — Concepción, Padcaya, El Portillo, the Central Valley — hold vineyards at 1,800–2,800 metres above sea level, making Tarija home to the world's highest commercial vineyards. Singani (white grape brandy with its own denomination of origin, distilled above 1,600m) is Bolivia's national spirit.

The department also has remarkable biodiversity: the Tariquía Reserve (246,870 ha of tucumano cloud forest) harbours one of South America's largest Blue Morpho butterfly colonies and 400+ bird species. The Sama Cordillera, 15km from Tarija, has the highest concentration of condors in the department.

The south of the department enters the Gran Chaco, with the fishing town of Villamontes (International Dorado Fishing Festival, August) and the active Guaraní people — the last indigenous nation to resist Spanish conquest in Bolivia.

— Ecosystems

Tarija's ecosystems

Cloud forest · 1,000–3,000m

Tucumano Forest

Tariquía · Blue Morpho · 400+ endemic birds

Wine · Singani · 1,500–3,000m

Wine valleys

Central Valley · Concepción · Padcaya · Cintis

Mountain Chaco · 300–1,000m

Gran Chaco

Villamontes · Yacuiba · Guaraní territory

— Destinations

What to see in Tarija

1.866m

City of Tarija

Chapaco capital · Colonial architecture · Wine

246.870 ha

Tariquía Reserve

Blue Morpho butterfly · 400+ birds · Cloud forest

Cóndores

Sama Cordillera Reserve

Condors · Tajzara Lake · 15km from Tarija

Singani · Vinos

Valle de los Cintis

Canyon vineyards · Artisan singani · 3h from Tarija

Chaco · 450m

Villamontes

Fishing capital · Dorado Festival · Guaraní culture

1.800–2.800m

Central Valley Vineyards

Kohlberg · Casa Real · Aranjuez · Winery visits

3–5 M años

Tarija Palaeontology

Megatherium · Toxodon · Mastodon · Palaeontology Museum

— Love Bolivia Routes

Routes through Tarija

La Mariposa MorfoTucumano Forest

Tarija · Tariquía · Blue morpho butterflies · 7–10 days

7–10 days · from $1,540

El Tatú CarretaGran Chaco

Chaco · Kaa-Iya · Villamontes · 8–11 days

8–11 days · from $1,750

See all 19 Bolivia routes →

— Getting there

How to reach Tarija

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By air

Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport (TJA): direct flights from La Paz (1h, BoA/Amaszonas), Santa Cruz (1h) and Cochabamba (1h). Frequent daily flights. Airport is 4km from Tarija city centre.

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By bus

Bus from Potosí: 6–7h. Bus from Sucre: 6–7h. Bus from Santa Cruz: 12–14h overnight. From Argentina (Yacuiba border): frequent bus connections.

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By road

Tarija–Villamontes: 175km, 3h (paved road). Tarija–Valle de los Cintis: 110km, 2h. Tarija–Padcaya (vineyards): 45km, 45min. Good road south to Argentina border.

— When to visit

Best time for Tarija

Tarija has Bolivia's most pleasant climate year-round. The harvest (Feb–Mar) is the most special time. The dry season (May–Oct) is best for nature.

Feb – MarHarvest — not to miss

The grape harvest in Tarija's valleys. Vineyards in Concepción and Padcaya open their doors for grape-treading, tastings and the Vendimia Festival. Fresh mosto (incompletely fermented wine) at the bodegas. The department's most unique experience.

May – OctDry season — nature

Best for Tariquía (Blue Morpho butterflies Aug–Sep), Sama Cordillera condors and valley trekking. Perfect climate of 20–25°C.

AugVirgen de Guadalupe + Fishing

Tarija's most important festival (patron: Virgen de Guadalupe). International Dorado Fishing Festival in Villamontes (August). The most intense atmosphere of the year.

Nov – JanPre-harvest

The vines are loaded with grapes. Vineyards at their most visually spectacular. Hotter (24–30°C) but low humidity. Good time to visit bodegas before harvest.

— People & culture

Identity & traditions

Regional identity

Chapaco culture

The chapaco identity — Tarija's own character — is one of the most distinct in Bolivia: a different Spanish accent, chapaco music (chacarera, coplas, cuecas), the Virgen de Guadalupe as patron, wine pride and a self-referential sense of humour. Tarija's Chapaco Carnival is colourful, intimate and very different from Oruro or Santa Cruz.

Indigenous people

Guaraní of the Tarija Chaco

The Guaraní people live in the southern Tarija Chaco (Yacuiba, Villamontes, Caraparí). They were the last indigenous nation to resist Spanish conquest in Bolivia — the Battle of Kuruyuki (1892) was the country's last major indigenous resistance.

Geological heritage

Tarija palaeontology

Tarija's Pliocene soils (3–5 million years old) contain one of South America's most important collections of extinct megafauna: megatherium (6-tonne giant sloth), toxodon, Bolivian mastodon and macrauchenia. The Tarija Palaeontological Museum is Bolivia's best in this field.

— Gastronomy

What to eat in Tarija

Tarija's food is Bolivia's most Mediterranean: wine, valley fruits, fresh cheese and dishes with Andean and colonial roots. Lighter than altiplano cooking.

Ranga ranga

Tripe stew with white hominy corn, potato and Andean peppers. Tarija's most representative festive dish — at every Virgen de Guadalupe and Carnival celebration.

Chanfaina

Sautéed lamb or beef lungs with onion, garlic and spices. A substantial colonial-era dish sold in every Tarija market from 7am.

Tarijeño wine

Tarija's wines are Bolivia's most acclaimed: Kohlberg, Casa Real, Aranjuez, Rujero. High-altitude varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Muscat of Alexandria.

Singani

Muscat of Alexandria grape brandy, distilled above 1,600m. Bolivia's own protected denomination. The national spirit. Brands: San Pedro de Moscatel, Rujero, Casa Real Singani.

Tarijeño empanadas

Fried crispy pastries stuffed with ground meat, potato, olives and egg. Juicier and more flavourful than La Paz or Santa Cruz empanadas.

Valley fruits

Tarija valleys produce peaches, plums, apples, pears, grapes, figs and quince (Dec–Mar). Best fruit selection in Bolivia.

— Gallery