Andes, Chaco and the Amazon rainforest form a fantastic biodiversity in the Amboro National Park, which can be discovered in eco-villages and canoes on hiking trails and nature trails.
The Amboro National Park, designated in 1984, lies in the heart of the country and is one of the absolute top sights of Bolivia among nature lovers. Far from cities, the lush green forests are dotted with small eco-villages that let you forget everyday life in the middle of the untouched jungle or at the foot of spectacular mountains.
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Incredible biodiversity
The species richness in the Amboro National Park is more immense than any other region in the world. Its almost 4,500 square kilometres provide a protected habitat for around 3,700 plant species, 130 different mammals and over 100 reptile species. The Amboro National Park is the absolute leader in bird diversity. With over 800 species, the park has more bird species than all national parks in the USA and Canada combined.
This is made possible by the scenic diversity of the national park, which stretches from the eastern foothills of the Andes over the idyllic river valleys of the Chaco to the rainforests in the Amazon basin - a unique combination worldwide. The altitude varies between 300 and 3,500 metres above sea level.
Best time to visit Amboro National Park
The best time to visit Amboro National Park is the dry season from May to September. During this time it rains the least (the least rainfall is in July), the temperatures are pleasantly cool and the number of mosquitoes is limited. Due to the drier weather, all roads should also be passable.
Tours in Amboro National Park
The Amboro National Park can be entered via two entrances, Samaipata in the south and Buena Vista in the north, but hiking on your own is not allowed. Access to the national park is no problem, but four-wheel drive vehicles are required within its boundaries. Especially during the rainy season (November to March), some roads may be difficult or impossible to pass.
The recreational possibilities in Amboro National Park are almost as diverse as its flora and fauna. Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, canoeing, rafting, climbing and horse riding are among the most popular activities - all set against the magnificent backdrop of untouched nature.
Excursions into the tropical rainforests are offered, for example, from the scenically very attractive Mataracú or La Chonta. The latter is a community project with the best tourist services, from local guides, food and accommodation to horseback riding and climbing tours.
Sights in Amboro National Park
The main attraction of Amboro National Park is its scenic beauty and enormous biodiversity. The various trees, shrubs, flowers and bushes are swarmed by colourful butterflies and other tropical insects, while monkeys and birds screech in the treetops.
With a bit of luck, you might spot an anteater, tapir or sloth in the thicket, or even more rarely a puma, spectacled bear or ocelot.
The entire national park is divided by the "red line" into the rain and river-rich jungle in the north and the less dense vegetation in the south.
Sights in the south of Amboro National Park
The region around La Yunga is home to the mystical cloud forests, with their very own vegetation, including the impressive tree ferns. Absolute tranquillity reigns at the small eco-hostel Volcanes, which can only be reached on foot via a 7km walk. The tours from Volcanes lead deep into the jungle and take hikers far away from any civilisation.
In the Jardin de las Delicias, the "Garden of Delicacies", a well-marked hiking trail leads to three magnificent waterfalls that are between 80 and 100 metres high. In the nearby village of El Torno, huts and tents are available for overnight stays.
Sights in the north of Amboro National Park
Numerous caimans live at the two 50m-high waterfalls and the crystal-clear pools of the Laguna Verde, and the nature trail "Las Palmeras" near La Chonta introduces the tree giants and medicinal plants of the jungle.
By canoe or kayak you can visit the spectacular "Cajones del Ichilo", towering cliffs on the banks of the river Ichilo. Not far away, the Cavernas de los Guácharos are also worth seeing. These caves are inhabited by a large number of fat hawks (Guácharos), which fly out in flocks in the evening in search of food.
The jungle around the eco-village of Villa Amboró also holds some unforgettable sights with natural swimming pools, a 50m waterfall, the majestic peak of Cerro Amboró and the Mirador del Amboró with spectacular views over the river valley of the Rio Surutú.
