Kaa Iya National Park

Jaguar Tours

Itinerary Description - Synthesized

From the City of Santa Cruz

Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

2 Days, 1 Night

3 Days, 2 Nights

More Days and Nights

Day 1

07:00 - Pickup at your hotel in Santa Cruz.

Departure towards Kaa Iya National Park on a paved road with some sections under repair, accompanied by a guide and driver. Around 13:00, arrival in the town of San José de Chiquitos. Do not forget your original valid identification documents in Bolivia.

Lunch in San José, followed by a change to a 4WD vehicle. The luggage is transferred to the new vehicle to continue the journey on a dirt road to Kaa Iya National Park, estimated to take approximately 3 hours. During this trip, there are also chances of spotting some wildlife.

Depending on the arrival time at the camp, the next safari is scheduled, which will be the first one entirely within the park. This could be a trekking activity to get some physical exercise after the long journey. A night outing is also planned, which could be in a vehicle or another walk with flashlights and spotlights.

When the tour lasts 2 days or more, the overnight stay in Kaa Iya National Park is in camping or beds, depending on prior arrangements.

Overnight in camping or beds in the park.

Day 2

The first safari of this day can start at 03:00 or 05:00 in the early morning and may last until 10:00 or later.

Breakfasts, lunches, or dinners can be at the camp near the ranger's house or at some point during the safari, as communicated by the guide and/or decided in consultation with the visitors.

For tours of 2 days and 1 night or more, returning to Santa Cruz begins around 10:00 on the last day, to arrive in San José de Chiquitos around 13:00. There are also chances of spotting wildlife on the return journey, although animal sightings are never guaranteed during the tour.

After lunch in San José de Chiquitos, the return trip to Santa Cruz takes approximately 5 hours.

For tours of 3 days and 2 nights or more, the overnight stay is again in Kaa Iya National Park in camping or beds.

Day 3

For tours of 3 days and 2 nights or more, there will be time to cover longer distances in the vehicle, reaching other ranger camps or a GTB (Gas Transredes Bolivia) camp. GTB personnel help control traffic on the dirt road (DDV) within the park. These control posts are also near the entrances of Kaa Iya National Park.

Park routes depend on factors such as road conditions and specific authorizations obtained for each group of visitors.

For all safaris, the guide coordinates with visitors, considering current conditions like possible fire alerts or rain affecting road conditions, and of course, the group's preferences.

Do not forget the details of the items recommended to bring for these safaris/tours.

If your tour starts and ends in Santa Cruz, on the last day in the park, you must return from Tucavaca (Kaa Iya NP) to San José de Chiquitos after breakfast, as the journey back to the city is quite long and lunch in San José de Chiquitos is necessary.

Estimated return to Santa Cruz around 20:30.

You will be dropped off at your hotel.

End of the tour to Kaa Iya National Park.

Itinerary Description - Synthesized

Overnight in San José de Chiquitos

Kaa Iya National Park

(Most recommended)

2.5 Days, 2 Night

3.5 Days, 3 Nights

More Days and Nights

Tours From Santa Cruz City

Half Day

12:00 - Pickup at your hotel in Santa Cruz. Please note that you will need to have lunch on your own before starting the tour. Do not forget your original valid identification documents in Bolivia.

Departure towards Kaa Iya National Park on a paved road with some sections under repair, accompanied by a guide and driver. Around 17:00, arrival in the town of San José de Chiquitos.

Accommodation in a hostel in double occupancy. Room with private bathroom and air conditioning.

Dinner and overnight in San José de Chiquitos.

Day 1

Early morning departure at 05:30. Breakfast will be after a couple of hours or upon arrival at the first control gate of Kaa Iya National Park. Estimated arrival at the camp is approximately 3 hours later; during this trip, there are also chances of spotting some wildlife, hence the early departure to maximize available time.

Depending on the arrival time at the camp, the next safari is scheduled, which will be the first one entirely within the park. This could be a trekking activity to get some physical exercise after the long journey. A night outing is also planned, which could be in a vehicle or another walk with flashlights and spotlights.

For tours of 2 days or more, the overnight stay in Kaa Iya National Park is in camping or beds, depending on prior arrangements.

Overnight in camping or beds in the park.

Day 2

The first safari of this day can start at 03:00 or 05:00 in the early morning and may last until 10:00 or later.

Breakfasts, lunches, or dinners can be at the camp near the ranger's house or at some point during the safari, as communicated by the guide and/or decided in consultation with the visitors.

For tours of 2.5 days and 1 night or more, starting and ending in Santa Cruz, returning begins around 10:00 on the last day, to arrive in San José de Chiquitos around 13:00. There are also chances of spotting wildlife on the return journey, although animal sightings are never guaranteed during the tour.

After lunch in San José de Chiquitos, the return trip to Santa Cruz takes approximately 5 hours.

For tours of 3 days and 2 nights or more, the overnight stay is again in Kaa Iya National Park in camping or beds, depending on prior arrangements.

Day 3

For tours of 3.5 days and 2 nights or more, there will be time to cover longer distances in the vehicle, reaching other ranger camps or a GTB (Gas Transredes Bolivia) camp. GTB personnel help control traffic on the dirt road (DDV) within the park. These control posts are also near the entrances of Kaa Iya National Park.

Park routes depend on factors such as road conditions and specific authorizations obtained for each group of visitors.

For all safaris, the guide coordinates with visitors, considering current conditions like possible fire alerts or rain affecting road conditions, and of course, the group's preferences.

Do not forget the details of the items recommended to bring for these safaris/tours.

If your tour starts and ends in Santa Cruz, on the last day in the park, you must return from Tucavaca (Kaa Iya NP) to San José de Chiquitos after breakfast, as the journey back to the city is quite long and lunch in San José de Chiquitos is necessary.

Estimated return to Santa Cruz around 20:30.

You will be dropped off at your hotel.

End of the tour to Kaa Iya National Park.

Tours from San José de Chiquitos

Itinerary Description - Synthesized

Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

1 Day, 0 Nights

2 Days, 1 Night

More Days and Nights

Day 1

05:30 - (Could also be a bit later) Departure from your hotel in San José de Chiquitos with a guide and driver in a 4WD vehicle on a dirt road to Kaa Iya National Park, estimated arrival in approximately 3 hours. During this trip, there are also chances of spotting wildlife. The early start maximizes available time during the tour and increases the chances of seeing wildlife.

Depending on the arrival time at the camp, the next safari is scheduled, which will be the first one entirely within the park. This could be a trekking activity to get some physical exercise after the long journey. A night outing is also planned, which could be in a vehicle or another walk with flashlights and spotlights.

For tours of 2 days or more, the overnight stay in Kaa Iya National Park is in camping or beds, depending on prior arrangements.

Day 2

The first safari of this day can start at 3:00 or 5:00 in the early morning and may last until 10:00 or later.

Breakfasts, lunches, or dinners can be at the camp near the ranger's house or at some point during the safari, as communicated by the guide and/or decided in consultation with the visitors.

For tours of 2 days and 1 night or more, ending in the town of San José de Chiquitos, the return begins around 17:00 on the last day, arriving in San José de Chiquitos at approximately 20:00 or 21:00. There are also chances of spotting wildlife on the return journey, although animal sightings are never guaranteed during the tour. Dinner on the last day is not included.

If your tour is for 3 days and 2 nights or more, the overnight stay will be in Kaa Iya National Park in camping or beds.

Day 3

For tours of 3 days and 2 nights or more, there will be time to cover longer distances in the vehicle, reaching other ranger camps or another GTB (Gas Transredes Bolivia) camp. GTB personnel help control traffic on the dirt road (DDV) within the park. These control posts are also near the entrances of Kaa Iya National Park.

Park routes depend on factors such as road conditions and specific authorizations obtained for each group of visitors.

For all safaris, the guide coordinates with visitors, considering current conditions such as possible fire alerts or rain affecting road conditions, and of course, the group's preferences.

Do not forget the details of the items recommended to bring for these safaris/tours.

If your tour starts and ends in the town of San José, on the last day in the park, you must return from Tucavaca (Kaa Iya NP) to San José de Chiquitos after lunch or at 17:00 to arrive in San José at approximately 20:00.

You will be dropped off at your hotel.

End of the tour to Kaa Iya National Park.

Two Days One Night Itinerary - Kaa Iya Tours

From the City of Santa Cruz 

2 Days 1 Night

1st Day -  

The Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours starts at 08:00 we start the trip towards Tucavaca in Kaa Iya national park. The Tucavaca camp in Kaa Iya park is located approximately at 362 kms from the city of Santa Cruz.

Please may sure you take with your original passport or your country´s I.D.  if your country is a member of the MERCOSUR agreement. 

Please take with you the small sheet  of paper that the control people give you when you enter Bolivia

The road to Tucavaca is asphalted until the population of San Jose de Chiquitos, which is about 265 km from Santa Cruz and the rest of the 362 kms is on a off road.

After leaving the city of Santa Cruz by car you can see large areas of crops mostly soybean and sunflower.

This area is known as the Eastern Lowlands of Santa Cruz. The ground in this area is suitable for agriculture.

After about 2 hours driving you can appreciate from the highway, during a good part of this first journey, the Mennonite colonies exist in large numbers on both sides of the road.

The Mennonites are an ethnic group that is dedicated to to agriculture and they came and still are coming to Santa Cruz from different countries such as Canada, Mexico and Paraguay.

Among these groups of people there are colonies of Mennonites with the most stringent internal rules. They do not allow their members to use electricity. Either they are not allow to use tractors with pneumatic. So they have to be replaced the pneumatic by iron rims adapted by themselves.

There are also Mennonites colonies with internal rules much more flexible but they all live in exclusive communities for Mennonites

During this journey, you can see on the road a variety of wild mammals lifeless beaten by cars. The type of animal more frequently seen dead on the highway are foxes, ant eaters, (Tamandua tetadractyla) armadillos, monkeys and even some times a tigrillo (Leopardus wiedii). Besides domestic ones

It is estimated to arrive at the first part of the journey which is San Jose de Chiquitos at approximately 11:00 hours.

San Jose de Chiquitos´ church has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos.

The Jesuits arrived in the area of "Chiquitania" (a term imposed by the Jesuits) on December 31, 1691.

San Jose de Chiquitos was founded in 1696. In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled and taken prisoner by soldiers under the command of the Spanish crown.

After San Jose de Chiquitos we still have to drive to Tucavaca. Three hours or 97 kilometers more down on off road. Almost all this road appears to be stable throughout the year, although in some parts the land is prone to erosion and other parts may become muddy with rain

During the first 15 minutes this road goes by the city´s park “Santa Cruz La Vieja”. And then it is uphill for a while.

In some high points of the road you can see the green of the forest environment and the “Chiquitano” forest with a panoramic view of the town of San Jose de Chiquitos.

After 3 hours of driving on up down hills and some flat parts all surrounded  by a green low forest typical of this part of Santa Cruz.

During this drive we have some chances of watching some wildlife.

As we approached Kaa Iya park and we start to cross the protection gates, and it is when the possibilities for wildlife viewing are greater.

From the first locked gate to Tucabaca Park Rangers site is about 20 minutes going in a low pace. On this road also there are possibilities to watch some mammals

From the first locked gate to Tucabaca Park Rangers site is about 20 minutes going in a low pace. On this road also there are possibilities to watch some mammals

We estimate to reach, the Camp of Tucavaca in Kaa Iya park, at about 16:00 hours

Once in the camp of the park ranger´s we have to give them the entry permission that we brought from Santa Cruz.

After arrival we are accommodated in shelters built  by the community with the support from an NGO. Or we can set up  the tents some where near the park rangers base.

Later we  start walking or we go by car to the road that runs parallel to the pipeline. 

This is some places where you have more opportunities to see the jaguar and others big mammals especially during the warm days, since they like  places where the wind flows more easily and cools the hot atmosphere of this part of the Chaco forest.

Some mammals like to lick the mud  where the water from a rain gather in some places on the road parallel to the pipeline

During the walk or drive it may get dark so it  is necessary to take a good flashlight and insect protection.

Although we recommend you to try to use more clothes protections rather than odour repellents.

Dinner and overnight would be close to the park ranger´s place. Or somewhere in the forest of the park

2nd Day - Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

Very early in the morning we bound for the city of Santa Cruz.

Breakfast would be before or after starting the trip

Getting out of the park boundaries  we still have big chances of watching a  Jaguar, Tapires or deers.

 It Is estimated to be back in the city of Santa Cruz at 18:00 hours.

Once we return to the city to leave it in your hotel         

End of your tour to Kaa Iya National Park

Three Days  Two Nights -

Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

From the City of Santa Cruz - 

3 Days 2 Nights - 

1st Day  - 

Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours starts at 08:00 we start the trip towards Tucavaca in Kaa Iya national park. The Tucavaca camp in Kaa Iya park is located approximately at 362 kms from the city of Santa Cruz.

The road to Tucavaca is asphalted until the population of San Jose de Chiquitos, which is about 265 km from Santa Cruz and the rest of the 362 kms is on a off road.

After leaving the city of Santa Cruz by car you can see large areas of crops mostly soybean and sunflower.

This area is known as the Eastern Lowlands of Santa Cruz. The ground in this area is suitable for agriculture.

After about 2 hours driving you can appreciate from the highway, during a good part of this first journey, the Mennonite colonies exist in large numbers on both sides of the road.

The Mennonites are an ethnic group that is dedicated to to agriculture and they came and still are coming to Santa Cruz from different countries such as Canada, Mexico and Paraguay. Among these groups of people there are colonies of Mennonites with the most stringent internal rules. They do not allow their members to use electricity. Either they are not allow to use tractors with pneumatic. So they have to be replaced the pneumatic by iron rims adapted by themselves.

There are also Mennonites colonies with internal rules much more flexible but they all live in exclusive communities for Mennonites

During this journey, you can see on the road a variety of wild mammals lifeless beaten by cars. The type of animal more frequently seen dead on the highway are foxes, ant eaters, (Tamandua tetadractyla) armadillos, monkeys and even some times a tigrillo (Leopardus wiedii). Besides domestic ones

It is estimated to arrive at the first part of the journey which is San Jose de Chiquitos at approximately 11:00 hours.

San Jose de Chiquitos´ church has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos.

The Jesuits arrived in the area of "Chiquitania" (a term imposed by the Jesuits) on December 31, 1691.

San Jose de Chiquitos was founded in 1696. In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled and taken prisoner by soldiers under the command of the Spanish crown

After 3 hours of driving on up down hills and some flat parts all surrounded  by a green low forest typical of this part of Santa Cruz.

During this drive we have some chances of watching some wildlife

As we approached Kaa Iya park and we start to cross the protection gates, and it is when the possibilities for wildlife viewing are greater.

From the first locked gate to Tucabaca Park Rangers site is about 30 minutes going in a low pace. On this road also there are possibilities to watch some wild mammals

We estimate to reach the Camp of Tucavaca in Kaa Iya park at about 16:00 hours.

Once in the camp of the park ranger´s we have to give them the entry permission that we brought from the city of Santa Cruz

After arrival we set up the tents or we get into in a shelter.  Depending on the availability or on the arrangements made before. Usually we stay overnight  near the park rangers base.

Later this afternoon we  start a 2 / 3 hours trekking or we go by car to the road that runs parallel to the pipeline. 

This first day we will try find traces of a jaguar, that way we should know better where to look for it the next days.  In some places we have more opportunities to see jaguars and others big mammals, especially during the warm days, since they like  places where the wind flows more easily and cools the hot atmosphere of this part of the Chaco forest.

At night we also should go out riding the vehicle o walking  to look  for wildlife big cats, tapirs or any other mammals

You should always keep with you enough water, a torch, a hat  and insect protection.

Although we recommend you to try to use more clothes protections rather than odour repellents.

Dinner and overnight would be close to the park ranger´s place. Or somewhere in the forest of the park

2nd Day - KKaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

We  start at 5H or 4H in the morning riding in the vehicle or trekking, this will depend on the activities we had the night before. We start the day  before sunrise, this in order to have a better chances of observing mammals

The area chosen to go today will depend on the results of the day before. In this part of Kaa Iya National park there are  o only two existing roads. One which runs parallels to the gas pipeline and the other that is the one we used to get in the park

On the way we will have great opportunities to see some wildlife, but never guarantee the observation of any animal.

Also is possible go have a short trekking  through the virgin forest to one of the many small   "Lagunas" This walk may takes about 20 minutes one way. These little reserve of water are in dry season a excellent place to find wildlife.

At night we  have another excursion in the park to have more chances of finding wildlife.

Dinner and overnight in Tucavaca

3rd Day - Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

Very early in the morning we  have to go on the vehicle / trekking for about 3 hours following the traces of the jaguar

Breakfast should be somewhere down the road

Once we get back to the camping site we get the things ready to  bound for the city of Santa Cruz.

On our way out of Kaa Iya National park we also still keep yourself alert because there good chances for encountering  some more wildlife

It Is estimated to be back in the city of Santa Cruz at 17:00 hours.

Once we return to the city to leave it in your hotel                                      

End of our Kaa Iya National Park Jaguar Tours

services. Thanks

Maps

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