SAMAIPATA

A population located 120 kilometers on the old highway to Cochabamba. It's characteristic for its cool climate and the natural suggestive surrounding. Ten kilometers to the north of Samaipata, El Fuerte is the most important archeological site of the Bolivian orient, declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by Unesco in 1998. The naming El Fuerte comes from the colonial days, when besides being looted and destructed in the search of treasures, the spot rendered as a control site on the route between the oriental plains and the Andean zone, constantly menaced by the Chiriguanos raids.

According to investigations, it can be said that Samaipata is becoming outlined not only as the place of the encounter of cultures coming from the three macro - regions (Andes, Amazon and Chaco), but as a possible cultural developing center. Based on the remains found, one can assume that the high hill had at least two settlings: that of Am azonic Mojocoyan culture (first millennium after Christ) and that of the Incas.

The archeological site is found on the summit of the hill articulated by two parts: the higher is the Out looker and the other is the sculptured high hill in an elongated shape with an east - west orientation and with a carved surface of almost of one hectare extension. On its summit are the most representative carved items of the Incan culture, as well as the walks, niches, stairs and engravings.