Fern forest
Cloud forest.
Karenrek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Karenrek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ángel M. Felicísimo — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Karenrek — CC BY-SA 4.0
A vast national park west of Santa Cruz where the Andes meet the Amazon plains and the dry Chaco forests, making it one of Bolivia's richest areas for wildlife, with hundreds of bird species, monkeys, spectacled bears, rarely seen jaguars and thousands of plant species. On the Samaipata side, trails climb into cloud forest to the Giant Fern Forest, ancient tree ferns over ten metres tall in the mist, as if from the age of dinosaurs. Other sides offer deep green valleys, red rock cliffs, forest pools and waterfalls, including Laguna Volcán among the mountains. Most of the park is entered with a local guide, hired in Samaipata or in Buena Vista on the northern side. Trails are muddy and steep at times. Bring walking boots and a rain jacket. The lowlands are hot, humid and full of mosquitoes, so bring repellent and light long clothes, and ask your doctor about yellow fever vaccination. Bolivia is under a state of emergency with protests and road blockades, so check road conditions and your government's travel advice before the trip.
Cloud forest.
Red cliffs.
Hundreds of species.
West of Santa Cruz, entrances from Samaipata and Buena Vista
From Samaipata for the giant fern forest, or from Buena Vista in the north for lowland forest, with a local guide either way.