The Cinti Valley is one of the most important regions for wine and Singani production in Bolivia. The potential to be found here for profitable fruit growing and agriculture is based on the prevailing favorable climate in the valley and the fertile soils. Wine and Singanis have been made from grapes in the Cinti Valley for more than four and a half centuries, thanks to the introduction of viticulture to the region in the early colonial days. This ancient tradition of making wines and Singanis was mainly determined by the demand from the city of Potosí during the colonial period, which was due to the growth and wealth in this city due to the abundant silver deposits and its mining. It was only after independence from colonial power and at the time of the republic with the increasing development and improvement of transport routes and means of transport that the quality of the wines and Singanis from the Cinti Valley became known throughout the country.

In the Cinti Valley you can visit vineyards today, some of which are still cultivated using colonial methods, but some have also been modernized and combined with the innovative systems of today and modern technology. The wines and singanis grown here offer intense aromas, flavors and colors due to the height and characteristics of the soil on which they grow.

The old vineyards of San Roque in the Cinti Valley are home to the oldest grapevines in South America! Here you can find the traditional local cultivation method of "Mollar" cultivation, an ecological process in which the vine is "woven" into the Molle tree, and which was proposed by international critics for the title of "Museum for Wine Landscape" by the Unesco. This cultivation method is only found in the Cinti Valley. The molle is a native tree that protects the vine against hail, sun, wind and pests, and contributes to the special properties of the aroma and taste of the grapes. The wines made in the Cinti Valley at approx. 2400 meters a.s.l. are the highest wines in the world!

Camargo is the capital of the North Cinti province in the Chuquisaca department. The picturesque city with a pleasant climate is also called the wine capital of Bolivia. Camargo is located at an altitude of 2,406 meters above sea level and is connected to the cities of Potosí and Tarija by trunk roads (197km from Potosí, and 187km from the city of Tarija).

In the past, the cultivation of fruits and vegetables (different types of grapes, peaches, apples, figs, plums, quinces, pears, apricots, strawberries and the entire range of vegetables) was the most important activity, as was the production of wines and singanis. For several years now, attempts have been made to diversify the economic focus of the region, and also to focus on complementary activities such as tourism, as the region is also rich in evidence from the colonial era, as well as from the time of the republic, as well as attractions from pre-Columbian times to prehistoric times with abundant fossil remains, dinosaur tracks and rock paintings.

Places to stay

- Hotel Parador Viña de Pereira, Villa Abecia
- Hosteria El Gilgal, Camargo

Tours

For information about tours to the Salar de Uyuni and the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa, please visit our tours section.

Sights

Nearby attractions include:

- The Dolmens: An area characterized by reddish earth, that has huge rocks in unusual positions, marine fossils, tunnels, small caves and some petroglyphs

- Pilaya Canyon: The 6th deepest canyon on earth, with 3030 meters of depth.

- Petroglyph Valley: This is the area where ethnic groups and ancient civilizations settled, leaving behind petroglyphs and cave paintings, as well as other archaeological remains such as hunting and cooking utensils. Currently, the Valley of the Petroglyphs is the most important known petroglyph site in Bolivia.

- Las Pozas de Villa Abecia: About 2 kilometers from Villa Abecia, small waterfalls feed natural pools called Las Pozas de Villa Abecia.

- Las Pozas de Villa Abecia: About 2 kilometers from Villa Abecia, small waterfalls feed natural pools called Las Pozas de Villa Abecia.

Furthermore, excursions are offered to the haciendas (country estates) of the region, from colonial times and from times of the republic, such as El Patronato and San Pedro, as well as visits to various wineries and vineyards with wine and Singanis tastings (such as Santa Lucia, Tierra Colorada, San Pedro, San Remo, La Casona de Molina and others). Other activities include mountain biking, tubing along one of the local rivers, and visits to waterfalls, some of which also offer rappelling.