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Viru Viru International Airport
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Viru Viru International Airport
Bolivia's busiest international gateway in the tropical lowlands.
- ›Viru Viru is the busiest airport in Bolivia by international passenger traffic.
- ›It is situated at an elevation of approximately 373 meters (1,224 feet) above sea level, far lower than La Paz's El Alto Airport.
- ›The airport serves as the primary hub for Bolivia's state airline, Boliviana de Aviación (BoA).
- ›IATA code VVI is derived from the airport's full name Viru Viru International.
- ›Its low elevation makes it less affected by high-altitude operational challenges compared to other Bolivian airports.
Viru Viru International Airport, located approximately 15 kilometres north of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, is Bolivia's busiest and largest airport by passenger traffic. Opened in 1983, it serves as the primary hub for Boliviana de Aviación and handles the majority of Bolivia's international connections. The airport plays a critical commercial role linking Bolivia's most economically dynamic city to destinations across South America, North America, and Europe.
- Main Terminal — A single integrated terminal handling all domestic and international departures and arrivals, with check-in, customs, and retail facilities under one roof.
- Taxi services available at official stands outside the arrivals hall
- Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and InDriver operate in Santa Cruz and serve the airport
- Private shuttle transfers bookable through hotels and tour operators
- Car rental desks from international brands located within the terminal
- Micro-bus and trufi shared services running toward central Santa Cruz
- Los Tajibos Hotel & Convention Center
- Hotel Marriott Santa Cruz
- NH Santa Cruz Monasterio
- Camino Real Aeropuerto
- Hotel Cortez
Inside the terminal, passengers will find a limited selection of cafes, fast-food outlets, and snack bars serving Bolivian staples and international options near the departure gates. Outside the airport, the road toward Santa Cruz offers a range of local restaurants serving regional dishes such as majadito and locro. For a broader dining experience, the Equipetrol and Las Palmas neighbourhoods in the city centre are highly recommended.
- Arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures, as security queues can be slow during peak hours.
- Official yellow airport taxis are safer and more reliable than informal touts; agree on the fare before departure or insist on a meter.
- Santa Cruz sits at a much lower altitude than La Paz, so altitude sickness is generally not a concern upon arrival here.
- Currency exchange counters inside the terminal offer reasonable rates, but ATMs in the city centre typically provide better options.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Viru Viru International Airport is an international airport serving Santa Cruz de la Sierra, located 17 km (11 mi) north of the city. It is Bolivia's primary air terminal, handling much of the international traffic into the country. In 2023, the airport handled 4.12 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Bolivia. It serves as a major focus city for Boliviana de Aviación and offers routes to destinations across South America, North America, and Europe.
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