Bienvenidos a La Paz y Santa Cruz, Bolivia!
Welcome to La Paz and Santa Cruz, Bolivia!

Mongo's
Calle Hermanos Manchego #2444, Sopocachi
Telephone: 2440714
Open from Monday through Sunday.

This is a pub/restaurant, typically frequented by tourists. On Tuesdays only there is a live troup that plays Cuban style salsa. Don't expect to hear much salsa after the band is through, however, as this place is known for playing electronic music, pop and R & B.
The group usually starts playing around 10:00 or 10:30 and they do three sets, playing four or five songs each set. Afterwards the evening is pretty much over with and they don't play any more salsa. This is usually around 1 a.m.
Since this is a pub/restaurant, there isn't any specific space dedicated for the dance floor. Dancers tend to use the space in front of the bar, which is only an area of about 3 meters by 4 meters square. The venue is very popular so often this small space gets taken over by people who don't dance, they just stand there talking (because there isn't any other free space to do so).
One of the best reasons for going here is because of the groups of young ladies who you often can find here, although you would have to have a lot of luck to find one of them who dances salsa and who does it well.
There is no cover charge for this place, the dance floor is wooden and they have white lighting. When the place is full, you can definitely notice the lack of air circulating.

A lo Cubano
Av. Arce, casi frente al Hotel Raddison
Telephone: 2444584
Open Tuesday through Saturday
This is a Cuban restaurant where you can go to hear lots of Salsa, Son, Boleros and other Cuban rhythms.

Thursdays are dance nights. There is a live group that begins playing at 22:00 or 22:30 and they play 3 or 4 sets of 4 to 5 songs each. The place is not that big but there is space for about 15 couples on the dance floor without getting in each other's way.

The floor isn't great for those ladies with high heels as there are cracks in the floor.

There is no cover charge and the drink speciality of the house is a Mojito. You can also check out the delicious food they offer. The best part is that they are not expensive in comparison to other places.

This place is well attended by the local salseros and sometimes you can even catch them dancing a Rueda!

Pa' goza
Av. 6 de Agosto esquina Calle Rosendo Gutiérrez
Thursday, Friday and Saturday

A few years ago this place was known as the "Loro en su Salsa". It was a very well attended place at the end of the 90's, a time when romantic salsa was the rage.

The architectural structure of the place is the same as back when it was the Loro. They do have new furniture and decorations which, honestly, don't seem very salsa-like.

The music also seems to have stood still in time. It was here I again heard and danced to songs by Luis Enrique, Los Titanes, el Grupo Niche, and Eddy Santiago. For an old salsero, it is nice to wax nostalgic, but it would be nice if they would update their musical repetoire.

Fridays and Saturdays there is a live group that generally plays salsa. Other nights they alternate between salsa and other Latin rhythms. Thursdays and Fridays is when there is more salsa to dance to. Saturdays the music is more varied and you can even hear electronic music and of course, the frequently heard reggaetón which is in vogue.

There is a cover charge, and the amount varies depending on the group playing but is usually between 10 and 20 Bs. (US$1.25 and $2.50). The place doesn't have much ventilation and the lighting isn't great. The dance floor is big enough for around 150 people and quite a few salseros frequent this place. Drink prices are similar to other places, but to give you an idea, a beer runs about 15 Bs. (US$1.80)

La Bodeguita Cubana
Avenida Federico Suazo, Esq. Reyes Ortíz

El Manizero es el lugar más salsero de la ciudad de Santa Cruz, bastante frecuentado por gente de Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela
y también Perú. El dueño es un cubano, así que se escucha bastante salsa cubana y uno puede encontrarse con varias personas que bailan salsa, estilo rueda de casino. Sin duda en este hay mucha diversión y se siente el ambiente salsero que reina en el ambiente.

El lugar es bastante modesto, con mesas y sillas plásticas, el piso es de cemento y no se paga para el ingreso, únicamente el consumo.

Manizero
Av. Monseñor Rivero No. 260 Behind Mr. Café
Phone: -
Days they play Salsa: Wednesday through Saturday

El Manizero is the best salsa place in the city of Santa Cruz. Lots of Colombian, Cuban, Venezuelan and Peruvians come here to dance. The owner is Cuban, so you can hear lots of Cuban salsa as well as being able to find a few people who dance Cuban style salsa and Rueda de Casino. Without a doubt you can have a great time here and really feel the salsa atmosphere.

The place is not pretensious, with plastic tables and chairs, a cement floor and no cover charge. Pay only for what you consume.

Elegua
Av. 24 de Septiembre casi esquina Rafael Peña

Es otro de los lugares para bailar salsa. El dueño es un cubano, de nombre René, de muy honda que siempre está atendiendo en la barra y entrada la noche también sale a bailar un rato.

El lugar es muy bonito, tiene una especie de patio con bastante espacio y adentro el lugar es como para unas 150 personas, aunque en la pista no entran tantas. La gente que va al lugar tiene estilo y los días viernes y sábados es tan concurrido que casi no queda espacio para moverse ni bailar. Para ingresar se paga 10 Bs. (US$1.25) y el precio de los tragos es como en otros lugares, para tener una idea un chop mediano de cerveza cuesta 10 Bs. (US$1.25 ).

También en este lugar, René da clases de salsa, así que le sugiero preguntar por los horarios directamente a él.

Elegua
Av. 24 de Septiembre casi esquina Rafael Peña

This is another place to go dance salsa. The owner is Cuban, and his name is René. You can find him attending the bar, and later on in the evening he will even come out and take a spin around the dance floor.

The place is really beautiful with a large, spacious patio. Inside the capacity is for around 150 people although the dance floor is smaller. People who go here are in vogue and on Fridays and Saturdays it is so crowded that you can barely find enough space to move, let alone dance. The cover charge is 10 Bs. (US$1.25) and the price of the drinks is similar to other places. To give you an idea, a medium draft beer costs 10 Bs. (US$1.25).

Also here, René gives salsa classes, so I would suggst that you ask about class schedules directly with him.