Amboro Tours

Samaipata

Museum - the Fortress - Giant ferns

• Itinerary of 2 Days 1 Night
  

From the city of Santa Cruz

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2 Days 1 Night

1st Day
At 7:30 we m eet at your place, and then go to Samaipata on a paved road, a trip of approximately 3 hours. There are 75 miles or 120 km from Santa Cruz which is approximately at 1,200 feet or 370 meters above sea level. Samaipata is approximately at 5,900 feet or 1800 meter above sea level.

In the outskirts of Santa Cruz the contour of the highway to Samaipata begins to change from urban plains to a narrower highway that starts its way up bordering mountains on one side and the Pirai River on the other side, and the landscape changes to sandy rock and green mountains.

The entire highway until the town of Samaipa ta is paved except for some parts where the pavement has disappeared due to landslides or because many parts are under maintenance. We will stop in any places where the visitor wishes to take some photographs.

Samaipata has tempered climate during the day and it is a little cold during the night.

On the way two Samaipata we planned do two short visits to Laguna Volcan and Cuevas

The first on is Laguna Volcan. This Eco-Resort ***** is located  at 81 km away from the city of Santa Cruz on the Integrated Manegement Area (ANMI) of Amboro National park Sourh side. Here we will have the time for a cup of coffee and for some photographs.

After visiting Laguna Volcan we get back  on the the main highway to drive one more hour to reach " Cuevas "

The entrance to this place is  on the highway. Here we will have a short walk of about 20 mininutes and the chance to have a swing in the natural pool of this place.

Once in Samaipata we will visit the museum, where we will be able to appreciate different objects and ceramics that remain as a testimony of the different cultures that settled in the surroundings or from sites of Bolivia. The museum also has different pictures that explain the pass of the different cultures that left their signs on the famous carved rock known as “El Fuerte” (The Fortress) which is said to be the largest carved rock of the planet Earth. The museum has a small model of this rock.

We have lunch and rest a little in one of the restaurants of Samaipata.

In the afternoon, we go to El Fuerte; the entrance to the secondary road that leads to fort is located 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers away from the town of Samaipata by the paved road to Santa Cruz. From this point we go up on a secondary unpaved road in the vehicle to the top of the mountain where El Fuerte is located and from where the footpath begins.

Once we are there, a specialized guide will accompany us during the long walk around the big carved rock, providing us with the explanations of the possible reasons for the carving made there, the strategic location that this place had in those days and the clash of different cultures that happened in this location for this reason.

During the hike it is fascinating to wonder about the experiences lived by the different cultures that passed through this magnificent place. (Take a sweater with you)

When the tour of El Fuerte is over, we return in the same vehicle to the highway that leads to Samaipata.

Supper and spend the night in Samaipata.

2nd Day
After breakfast we will go to the village of Las Yungas about 1 ½ hours away from Samaipata.

The highway that leads to La Yunga passes by the town of Mairana, where we leave the paved road and go up a dirt road until the village La Yunga

Once we have arrived to the footpath of Los Helechos (the Ferns) we will soon be able to appreciate after a short walk the first giant ferns that predominate in the place, called Helecho Macetero and Helecho Espinudo (thorn Fern), which get to measure up to 33 feet (10 meters) tall.

Since this is an excellent ecological niche for some mammals such as the jucumari (the only South American bear), the jaguar, and the puma to mention a few, we may have the opportunity to observe some evidence of their presence.

The route by the footpath is of approximately 2 hours. We will cross the humid forest of ferns with an expert local guide who will explain to us the antiquity of the ferns, and also will explain to us about the flora and fauna of the zone until we arrive at the viewpoint, from where we will be able to have an excellent view of the Amboro park, which is crossing the San Rafael river.

We finish the route, we will return to the town of Samaipata, and then proceed to the city of Santa Cruz. Once in the city we will leave in your place.

End of our services. Thank you.

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Amboró Tours is the only original source of this Itinerary

Amboró Tours also offers shorter or longer tours to this destination.

Adverse climatologic conditions or social unrest can change the original itinerary.

Remember that this itinerary can vary or not be fulfilled in its totality by climate factors or the conditions of the roads and of the rivers or water streams.

Be prepared to protect yourself against cold (sweater) the sun (sun lotion, sunglasses, hat or cap, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and others) and rain (impermeable clothes)

“Take only photographs and leave only footprints”