VISITING SAMAIPATA BOLIVIA
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| Elbow of the Andes Trek |
Located just 120
kilometres or a scenic 3 hour drive from Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the
delightful bohemian town of Samaipata. Situated between the Andes Mountains and
forests of Amboro National Park, this town has become the perfect escape for
locals Santa Cruz and tourists who come to relax and enjoy its many
attractions.
Samaipata has a
little something for everyone, if you like relaxing there are beautiful
waterfalls, if you like adventure then trekking into the Amboro National Park
or Elbow of the Andes is must and if you are a cultural lover then look no
further than the world heritage listed Pre Incan Ruins of El Fuerte.
There are many local and international
restaurants, hotels ranging from backpacker to boutique like El Pueblito Hotel
as well as a lively nightlight scene, La Boeme Bar is perfectly location in the
main plaza and offers locals and travellers alike the chance to meet and party
the night way.
THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF SAMAIPATA AND SURROUNDINGS INCLUDE
Situated just 7 km
from the town of Samaipata, the Pre Incan Fort of El Fuerte is a must visit
destination, so impressive in fact that it’s been declared world heritage
listed. El Fuerte Ruins have incredible history and only a small portion of the
area has been excavated. These ruins are also a hotspot for seeing the Andean
Condor, if you are lucky some can pass in very close proximity.
ELBOW OF THE ANDES TREK
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| One of the best trekking areas in Bolivia |
One of the best kept
secrets in Samaipata, the Elbow of the Andes trek is a must for any keen hiker.
Situated between the Amazon and the Chaco forests this trek passes beautiful
waterfalls, valleys, canyons with the opportunity of seeing some of the areas
unique wildlife and stunning landscapes.
The views on some of
these treks are world class, here one can do day tours up to 3 day treks to
visit the regions many incredible attractions.
LAS CUEVAS WATERFALLS
Located 20 km outside
of Samaipata is the charming series of waterfalls called Las Cuevas. Here there
are 3 beautiful waterfalls where you can spend the day swimming and also hiking
around the area.
AMBORO NATIONAL PARK ( GIANT FERN TREK)
An absolute must when visiting Samaipata, this spectacular part of
Amboro National Park is a forest area which is only found in very few parts of
the world, the scenery is akin to being in the movie Avatar which Giant Ferns
and forested valleys being the highlights. Keep an eye out for Armadillos, Toucans
or even the odd Puma or Spectacled Bear which reside in this amazing National
Park. Deeper treks into the park for multiple days can also be arranged.
THE CONDOR TREK
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| The Condor trek of Samaipata remains one of the worlds best Condor viewing destinations. |
Bird lovers and hikers rejoice, this remote valley is perhaps the
world’s best location for seeing these majestic South American icons soaring in
the thermals of the Andes Mountains. The scenery is spectacular and while the
hike is not easy, the rewards of seeing these 3 metre Condors soaring
peacefully in the sky is something extremely special. The record for the number
of Andean Condors in one day is 107 different Birds.
LA PAJCHA WATERFALLS
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bolivia, La Pajcha waterfalls
are set 2 hours away from Samaipata, they make the perfect day tour or overnight
camping destination. These waterfalls are located close to the Condor Trek so
it’s a good idea to combine them both.
1750 WINE VINEYARD
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| Wine tasting the new 1750 Wine from Samaipata |
REFUGIO LOS VOLCANES LODGE ( AMBORO NATIONAL PARK )
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| Aireal view of Refugio Los Volcanes - which is situated on the border of Amboro National Park. |
Perhaps one of the world’s most beautifully locations. Refugio Los
Volcanes is situated an hour’s drive from Samaipata and is a basic yet
comfortable colonial style lodge which is surrounded by giant sandstone cliffs,
waterfalls and pristine forests of Amboro National Park.
This location is a private property which merges with Amboro National
Park, there are hiking trails suiting people of all ages to a wide variety of
attractions. Refugio Los Volcanes is famous for bird watching and remains one
of the best places in Bolivia to observe a wide huge variety including Andean
Condors and Military Macaws. Refugio Los
Volcanes Lodge is also home to Jaguars, Monkeys, Pumas and much more.
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| Puma recorded with NICKS ADVENTURES BOLIVIA camera trap survey of Amboro National Park |
For more information about visiting Samaipata and its incredible
attractions
Nick, it was exciting to read some of your recent blogs and the great recommendations that you receive from people who have enjoyed seeing some of Bolivia with you and Caroline! We lived in Santa Cruz for 6 months back in 2000 and if possible we want to go back for a visit in November to see some of the friends we made at that time. Hopefully we can touch base with you and enjoy some of Bolivia with you two.
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