In the north of Bolivia, 150 km from the city of Santa Cruz is the Amboro National Park, founded in 1984. The territory of the park covers an area of 440,000 hectares. The elevation difference here is from 300 to 3200 m, so the park has several climatic and ecological zones typical for the jungles of South America:
1. Mountain zone of humid subtropics.
2. Subandi moist forests.
3. Sub-humid Bolivian forest.
4. Dry forests of the valleys.
That is, the foothills of the Andes, the Amazon basin and the lowland selva are represented here.
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| Amboro National Park |
How to get there
All trips to Amboro National Parkstart in Santa Cruz. Here travel agencies offer two to three day tours to Amboro. Their price ranges from 500 to 1000 dollars. From Santa Cruz, tourists are taken by bus to one of the modest hotels or campsites located around the perimeter of the park. In dry weather, the road takes several hours, and during heavy rains it can stretch for a whole day. A three-day tour usually includes:
1. Two nights in a guest house.
2. One night in a tent in the jungle.
3. Two-day hiking through the selva.
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| Amboro National Park |
Treasures of the National Park
Modest service more than pays off with the luxury of communication with the pristine nature of Latin America. The central, mountainous part of the Amboro National Park is practically uninhabited and difficult to access for tourists. However, its southern and northern parts, where hiking trails pass, are in themselves able to give a visual representation of the richness of the flora and fauna of the jungle.
The park has up to 130 mammal species, 105 snake and lizard species, 70 amphibian species, and over 800 bird species. Here you can see a jaguar, an ocelot, a puma, a giant anteater and a spectacled Andean bear, which is found almost nowhere else. In addition, tapirs, capybaras - water pigs and several species of monkeys are found in the park. The bat population is represented by 43 species.
The flora of the Amboro National Park is even more diverse. It is believed that up to three thousand species of plants live here. But their exact number is still unknown. Among them are several dozen species of wild orchids, American mahogany, numerous types of palms, Bolivian walnut, mountain pines, giant highland ferns and many others.
Those tourists who still dare to climb higher into the mountains will be rewarded with stunning landscapes created by a combination of virgin forests, volcanoes, mountain streams, gorges and waterfalls. In addition, on one of the mountains are the grandiose ruins of an ancient Indian city. This place is called Samaipata Fort. On some rocks you can see frescoes preserved from pre-Columbian times.
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| Amboro National Park |
Security Measures
It must be remembered that the Amboro National Park, with its gigantic territory, is a real jungle, with all the dangers inherent in them. Therefore, an unprepared person should not refuse the services of an experienced guide. Just like you should not neglect his advice.
Another no less interesting reserve is located in the south of Bolivia in the Amazon jungle. This is Noel Camp Mercado National Park. You can enter the park from the north and south sides. And in any case, you can visit several natural areas and admire the beauty of untouched nature.