Tupiza

Sights

Most of Tupiza's sights are actually outside the town. The simple Museo Municipal has photographs, mining equipment and military artefacts. There is a view of town from Cerro Corazón de Jesús, the hill behind the plaza with the statue of Christ. For a more spectacular view, climb to the cross at Cerro de la Cruz, on the opposite side of the river. In the hills behind the cross is Cerro Elefante, with a remarkable likeness to an elephant. The climb makes pleasant half day trip with great views.

Chajra Huasi, the palazzo-style home of the fantastically wealthy Aramayo mining family, lies just out of town across the Río Tupiza. It was from here that the payroll set out that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid eventually robbed. The home, now in disrepair, belongs to a descendant of the Aramayos who is seldom in Tupiza. 

Around Tupiza

The canyons, eroded hills and green valleys around Tupiza are the real draw of the town. In the dry winter season (April to October) the vegetation, with the exception of the churquitree and other thorny shrubs, is dry and the hills turn all shades of pastel colours. The warmer rainy summer season (November to March) is also a very beautiful time. The area comes to life, there are waterfalls and pools in the canyons, rainbows in the sky, the vegetation turns green, beautiful flowers decorate the cacti and attract hummingbirds, ground creepers and bushes fill with tiny flowers. The area offers endless hiking possibilities. Use good footwear for the rocky paths and spiny vegetation, long trousers, and make sure to take enough water at all times, as the streams, if running, have a high mineral content and their water may not be suitable for drinking even when treated. The rainy season requires special precautions since dry riverbeds fill very quickly after rain. Warningnever enter a canyon if it looks like it might rain, there is a high risk of flash flooding. For the same reason, if camping, look for high ground and keep away from dry river beds. You can walk to many places on your own or take a tour with a local agency, by jeep, horse or bicycle.

To the north of town is Quebrada Palala, a tributary of the Río Tupiza (when running), a good place to admire the local vegetation, particularly four species of the giant Trichocereus cacti and spectacular red stone formations.

Tupiza is a good base from which to explore Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid country to the north . Local operators offer tours to see where they spent the night in Salobefore they robbed the payroll just beyond Huaca Huañuscaor 'Dead Cow Hill', erosion may explain why no-one now can see the resemblance, and beyond to San Vicente, 118 km from Tupiza, where they were killed .