Santa Cruz · Bolivia
Playa Turquesa

Playa Turquesa is a gated, master-planned community. The name comes from its central artificial lagoon with turquoise-toned water, which serves as the social and visual anchor of the development. Around it you will find:
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A clubhouse and social event area available to residents
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Swimming pools and sun deck areas
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Landscaped walking paths and green corridors
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Sports courts (football, basketball, volleyball)
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Children's play zones
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24-hour security with controlled access at the main gate
Lot sizes typically range from 300 to 600 square meters, though some corner and premium lots near the lagoon run larger. The community has an active residents' association that maintains common areas and enforces building guidelines, so you will not end up next to a half-finished construction project indefinitely.
The appeal is space, quiet, and a genuine sense of community. Weekends revolve around the lagoon, the pools, and kids running between houses. Neighbors tend to be young families and professionals who work in Santa Cruz but want weekends that feel like a small town. The trade-offs are real. You are dependent on a car for groceries, schools, and healthcare. The nearest well-stocked supermarket is back toward the Doble Vía. Internet has improved (Tigo and Entel both have coverage, and fiber is reaching more phases), but it is not yet as reliable as central Santa Cruz. Power outages during storms happen a couple of times a year.On the positive side, the air quality is noticeably better than the city, evenings are cooler, and property values in this corridor have appreciated roughly 8 to 12 percent annually over the past five years.
Playa Turquesa is not for someone who wants to walk to a café or needs a 10-minute commute. It is for people who want a secure, green, family-oriented place to build a life a short drive from Bolivia's most dynamic city. If that sounds like you, come walk the lagoon at sunset. That is usually when people make up their minds.
Available properties (1)
Expat presence
medium
Living in Bolivia
Currency
Boliviano (BOB). Officially pegged near 6.96/USD but parallel rate diverges significantly. Dollar scarcity is real.
Ownership
Foreigners buy property outside border zones (50 km from borders). Santa Cruz is fine. Title through Derechos Reales.
Residency
Specific visa (residencia específica) via employment, investment, or family. Slower and more bureaucratic than neighbors.
Tax
Flat 13% on domestic income (IUE). Property transfer tax 3%. Foreign income treatment unclear in practice.
Cost of living
$700–$1,500/mo for a single person. The cheapest along with Paraguay.
Internet
Fiber available in Santa Cruz urban core. Urubó coverage improving. Speeds 30–100 Mbps typical.
Healthcare
Private clinics in Santa Cruz (Clínica Foianini, Hospital Universitario). Adequate for routine care.
Climate
Tropical lowlands. Hot and humid, 25–35°C year-round. Surazos (cold southern winds) June–August.
Nearest hub
Viru Viru International (VVI). Direct flights to Miami, Madrid, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima.
Language
Spanish. English very rare.