Amboro National Park (North side)
Amboro National Park (North side)
Amboro National Park is an ecological masterpiece of almost half a million hectares, located approximately 150 km north west of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Park Amboro lies in a unique geographical position at the confluence of 3 distinct ecosystems: the Amazon basin, the northern Chaco and the Andes (nowhere else in the world do three such vast environments converge). Amboro National Park contains over 800 bird species, more than the USA and Canada together!
In the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s, the region of what today is called National Park Amboro, was not a protected area yet. There were many big industrial companies working in the forest, doing lodging and mining activities. In 1973, the park was initially established as a natural reserve called the Reserva de Vida Silvestre German Bush. In 1984 the area officially became a national park, protecting 180.000 HA. This was extended to 637.600 HA in 1991.
Because of its unique geographical location Amboró National Park hosts an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Both highland and lowland animal and plant species can be found in the park. The park also hosts many trees valued for their fine wood such as Mara and various species of palm trees. A huge variety of bromeliads, orchids and forests of giant ferns makes this park very special. Amboró Park is also the home of the jaguar, the rare spectacled bear and other mammal species native to the Amazon.
Perhaps most impressive is the huge number of birds that inhabit the area, one of the the greatest concentrations of bird species per km 2 in the world.
The conservation of Amboró National Park is of scientific interest and vital to humanity, considering that it is one of the richest and most diverse regions in the world with unique flora and fauna. The North side of the park is the most humid area and can be described as tropical rain forest or jungle. In this part, beautiful waterfalls and natural swimming holes with crystalline water can be found.
Amboro national park: more than 2.659 registered plant species, 127 mammals, 105 reptiles, 73 amphibians and 842 species of birds.
The tour starts in Santa Cruz at 6.00 am in the morning, when a vehicle will bring you to Buena Vista town. In Buena Vista our guide will be waiting for you in the Centre of Interpretation of the Amboro National Park. In this Centre our guide will tell you some interesting facts about the park and show you the trail you are about to walk.
After this visit, a vehicle will take you in about 1.5 hours near the entrance of the Park, at this point your hike through this tropical paradise will begin. During this initial walk -while crossing various rivers and streams- you can already see monkeys, toucans, squirrels and other wildlife.
During the hike through the park, the guide will explain to you all about the footprints and the surrounding flora and fauna. You will see beautiful waterfalls and pristine natural swimming pools, plants & trees and animals. As the park lies on the edge of the Andes, the Chaco and the Amazon, you will find species of these three ecosystems in the park.
The longer you stay in the park, the further you will enter increasing your chances of meeting more Amazonian wildlife. You will also visit more waterfalls and head to a lookout point with a fantastic view of the park.
- Experienced local guide.
- Transport hotel – Amboro Park – hotel.
- All camping gear.
- Meals with bottled water.
Optional at extra costs: Porter who assists the guide and helps carry all the camping gear.
What we recommend you to take with you:
- Water sandals (or shoes that can get wet and dirty)
- Insect repellent
- Sun block
- Hat against the sun
- Trousers and shirt with long sleeves
- Warm sweater
- Bathing clothes
- Your passport and visa
´The tour that we went on was wonderful. My sister and I were on a very tight time schedule and arrived in Santa Cruz with NO idea who to go on a tour with. But needing to organize one for the next day. We met the owners of Ruta Verde and were sold! It was so simple to organize; everything was just so easy and uncomplicated. I was originally worried that the trekking would be difficult and that ... well basically I wouldn't make it! But I loved the peaceful walking mixed with the interesting notes on the flora and fauna that we could see. Our guide was so gorgeous; he was honest, genuine and knew everything that we could ever hope to know - the medicinal properties of the plants as well as the behavior of the animals that we could see. The waterfalls were amazing and the views stunning. The spider monkeys and the (ok I'm forgetting the name now.... ManoMono? I know that's wrong, but there was a brown monkey that we chased along a path and watched while he swung throu gh the trees and I can't remember which species he was...If you can figure out who I mean, please fill in the blanks!!!) were brilliant. I was so excited to see the animals in their natural habitat. The spider monkeys were shaking branches in the trees; our guide explained that it was to prove who was stronger to the other males in another tree. At night we sat quietly and waited until the nocturnal animals appeared. Our guide also explained the origins of the park and the inhabitants who live on the outskirts. The food was great. The insight into life in the jungle was simply amazing and a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone.´
´I've done a Bolivia trip (with my lonely planet) for two months. I've been, in 2 months, with A LOT of different tour agencies. Ruta Verde Tour Agency was definitely my favorite. Everything was perfectly organized (which is not that common in Bolivia !) and very sympatic. I took the Amboro park tour for couple of days and I can assure you that it was the best days of my travel. One of the things that I did like the most with this agency is that they hire local guides for most of their trips (which helps a lot of people). So, from my personal experience, you should expect an well organized tour agency with the best prices and enjoy a wonderful trip in the Amboro park with a local guide, from who you will learn unforgettable things...The agency also speak Spanish, English and Dutch. I'm not working for anyone, I'm just leaving this comment because I think that this agency should be known by every traveler in Bolivia. Have a nice trip!´
´What to say about Amboro National Park, the words amazing, beautiful, spectacular, awesome all to come to mind but these superlatives aren't enough, you need to touch it, feel it, hear it, taste it to get the true Amboró experience with Ruta Verde and after you do you never forget it, its fantastic!!! Thanks a million for the experience.´
'I spent 4 days in Amboro in April with Ruta Verde's excellent, knowledgeable local guide. The trip was well organised and the lowland rainforest considerably different from the cloud forest seen in the higher areas of the park. A four day trip allowed me to explore some of the more remote areas off the beaten track that would be virtually impossible to find without a guide.
'Buenos Dias Gijs; The Amboro trek definitely met my expectations. It was incredible, in large part due to the epertise of the guide. He really is a great guide. I don't know from first-hand experience, but I strongly suspect that he is one of the best guides in the business. He is very patient, calm and observant. I'm a fair bird-watcher, etc. but I don't think I once spotted a bird or monkey before the guide did! --- and his sure-footed waltz up the stream boulders is a joy to watch. We stayed four nights at the Rio Macuñucu cave and did day-hikes. We saw green-cheeked parakeets (like my Tikka!), lots of Mitred parakeets (red head) and we often saw the Military Macaws who nest in the cliffs. We saw two types of monkey, lots of other kinds of birds, lots of trees and vines; went swimming, great hiking, and the food was great. Overall, I loved the trip and would (might?) do it again.
'My wife Uschi Janssen and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Parque Amboro (2-4 September 2010). Our guide Julian was most helpful and really made an effort to show us the diversity of wildlife. We were lucky to see small monkeys and a lot of different birds including all kinds of parrots and tukans. Do?a Roci prepared nice meals at the caba?a which, while very basic, is a pleasant place to be. Wild pigs crossed our path and we saw traces of the panther. We will not forget the quietness at night and the sounds of numerous birds. Many thanks and best wishes. Jan Tuit´
'Hallo Gijs, even een mailtje om te laten weten dat we erg genoten hebben van de Refugio Los Volcanes. Alles was echt super goed geregeld. Van het vervoer van en naar de Refugio, de wandelingen met de nodige uitleg over de omgeving en ook het eten was heerlijk! We hebben nog een kleine week in Samaipata doorgebracht waar we hebben gerelaxed bij Marga en Pieter op hun kleine landgoedje La Víspera. Nu weer terug in Sucre, waar het wel net zo warm, maar zeker de helft minder groen is. Groeten van, Alex en Ariana´
'Buenos días, Domingo regresamos de este maravilloso viaje por tierras bolivianas. Todo estuvo organizado a la perfección y los guías eran muy profesionales y conocían el lugar a la perfección. Le agradezco su colaboración y recomendaré Ruta Verde a todos mis amigos que deseen viajar a Bolivia. Atentamente, Juan Manuel Ribas'