It's the last Bolivian town before the Argentine border. Tupiza nestles in the heart of a narrow valley enclosed within the mountains of the Chichas Cordillera. A Wild West landscape of scarlet canyons, cacti and multicolored rock formations… This is where the Kid and Butch Cassidy pulled off their ultimate heist before meeting their end in an ambush.

The region brims with geological curiosities you can discover on foot, by bicycle, horseback or jeep. Tupiza is also the gateway to South Lipez.

The History of Tupiza

Tupiza stands on the lands of the Chichas. The town is said to have been founded in 1536 as a supply base for Diego de Almagro's expedition along the route to Chile. Other documents credit its founding to Luis Fuentes y Vargas in June 1574, when he ventured into the valley to establish the city of Tarija. The Battle of Suipacha took place some twenty kilometers south of Tupiza on November 7, 1810, where royal forces were defeated by the armies of the First Buenos Aires Junta. On November 25, 1895, President Mariano Baptista granted Tupiza city status by decree and made it the capital of the South Chichas region.

Tupiza became the final hideout of the famous American outlaws Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy in 1908. The outlaws' story would end in the nearby mining town of San Vicente, where a Bolivian army unit pursued them. Gravely wounded by gunfire along with his companion, Butch Cassidy shot the Kid before taking his own life.

Discovering Tupiza

Tupiza lies between Potosi and Tarija in a region dotted with eroded mountains and dramatic canyons in southern Bolivia. The landscape is straight out of American western films. Like Potosi, the town thrived on mining during the nineteenth century. Its location in a well-sheltered valley at 2,950 meters elevation gives it a temperate climate, ideal for hiking, horseback excursions or jeep adventures.

In Tupiza's streets, the atmosphere is peaceful. Take your time to learn more about local life and traditions as you wander. In the downtown area, you'll find well-preserved examples of colonial and republican architecture. On the Plaza de la Independencia stands the statue of Don Avelino Aramayo, a renowned Bolivian businessman who controlled the mines in the 1820s. Across from it, the Tupiza Cathedral showcases colonial style. The town offers charming hotels and restaurants, banking institutions, and travel agencies to help you plan your stay.

Around Tupiza

Breathtaking destinations await you around the town of Tupiza, starting with the El Sillar site with its eroded boulders. About twenty minutes from downtown, discover the natural bathing spot of Toroyoj, fed by the San Juan del Oro river. Nearby, striking rock formations emerge: Poronga shaped like a phallus and La Torre resembling a chess piece. Continue your adventure in the Valley of the Machos where rocks appear as animals… Forty minutes from Tupiza, the small village of San Vicente is where Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy met their end.

When to Visit Tupiza?

Tupiza enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate of Csb type according to the Köppen-Geiger classification. The town experiences dry summers, an average annual temperature of 11.3°C and average annual precipitation of 448.9 mm. The best time to visit Tupiza spans October and November.

You can reach Tupiza by bus from La Paz, Potosi and Cochabamba. Depending on your departure city, the journey takes between 4 and 10 hours. From Oruro, it's possible to reach the town by train—the last still operating in Bolivia. The line makes a stop at Salar de Uyuni before arriving in Tupiza. The terminal is located in the small village of Villazon, situated on the border between Argentina and Bolivia. The nearest airport to Tupiza is Tarija. After landing, you can take a bus or taxi for the remainder of the trip.

To fully immerse yourself in Tupiza's western atmosphere, explore the town on foot. Then, during excursions to the surrounding areas, rent a horse. If horseback riding isn't your preference, bicycle and jeep tours are available.

What to Do in Tupiza?

• Snap a photo with the statue of Don Avelino Aramayo
• Visit Tupiza Cathedral
• Explore the El Sillar site
• Relax in the natural pools of Toroyoj
• Visit the village of San Vicente, and more