South to Tarija

To the south of Potosí are several parallel mountain ranges running north-south. Between them run deep river valleys and the roads connecting with the south of the country. A paved road runs south of Potosí.

Camargo

The tranquil and friendly colonial town of Camargo, surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards, is 186 km south of Potosí. Straddling the Río Chico and flanked by crumbling red sandstone cliffs on one side and rolling hills on the other, the town has a very pretty setting.

This is where Singani was first produced in Bolivia using wood-fired stills, and the vineyards around Camargo continue to produce excellent singani, cognac and dessert wines. Some of the better known Singani brands are Camargo, Chuquisaca 51,Cruz Huasaand Cepa de Oro. Vineyard tours can be organised.

The countryside around Camargo is beautiful. The Cañón Colorado del Cinti (the cliffs by town) extends 15 km north and 35 km to the south. The contrast of the eroded red cliffs and the green vineyards in the river valley is quite striking.

South of Camargo

The main road runs south from Camargo, between the Río Chico and towering red cliffs, 42 km to Villa Abecia, a lovely small town surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards on the shores of the Río Grande. In the area are many cave paintings and petroglyphs, as well as river-bathing beaches. 

Iscayachi is at the western edge of the Reserva Biológica Cordillera de Sama. The road to Villazón, as well as the road to Tarija go through this lovely park. From Iscayachi, the road to Tarija crosses the reserve as it climbs to a pass before a vertiginous 1900-m descent to the flat valley north of Tarija, the region's capital .