Description of the attraction
The archaeological site of El Fuerte de Samaipata, or El Fuerte for short, is a world famous landmark located in the department of Santa Cruz. Samaipata occupies part of the eastern foothills of the Bolivian Andes, and tourists love to visit this interesting place. El Fuerte complex consists of 2 parts. The first is a hill on which the Indians carved numerous carvings. It is believed that this hill was the ritual center of the ancient city in the XIV-XVI centuries. The second part is a vast area south of the hill, where in the old days there was a residential area, an administrative and political center. Researchers have come to the conclusion that this place was revered by the ancient Indians of the Chane tribe. The sacred hill was the soul and shelter for the tribes of the Arawak pre-Inca culture, and then for the Incas themselves. They were constantly attacked by the Guarani tribe, and, in the end, the raiders managed to capture the territory of the Santa Cruz Valley and destroy Samaipata. A huge, majestic hill now dominates the ruins of the city, and is a unique witness to the beliefs and traditions that were practiced long before the arrival of the Spanish in the region. It is believed that there are no more analogues to El Fuerte in South America. In 1998, UNESCO inscribed the Archaeological Site of El Fuerte de Samaipata as a World Heritage of Humanity.
