Exploring Bolivia: The Ultimate Destination for Witnessing Jaguars and Pumas in the Wild

When it comes to experiencing the thrill of encountering majestic big cats like Jaguars and Pumas in their natural habitat, Bolivia stands out as an excellent alternative. While other renowned spots like Brazil's Pantanal attract hordes of tourists, Bolivia offers a less touristy and more authentic wildlife experience. Here's why Bolivia should be your top choice for witnessing these elusive creatures in the wild.

1. Authentic Encounters Away from the Crowds:

Unlike popular tourist destinations, Bolivia provides opportunities for intimate wildlife encounters away from the crowds. Here, sightings often occur on foot, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the wilderness without the distraction of noisy boats or other travelers.

2. Affordability:

Compared to Brazil's Pantanal, Bolivia offers a more budget-friendly option for wildlife enthusiasts. Travelers can enjoy incredible wildlife experiences without breaking the bank, making it an attractive choice for those seeking adventure on a budget.

3. Truly Wild Animals.

In Bolivia, you'll encounter truly wild, non-habituated jaguars and pumas, offering a more authentic and exhilarating experience. Unlike in some other areas where animals may become accustomed to human presence, Bolivia's wildlife remains undisturbed and untamed, providing a rare glimpse into their natural behavior. There is something uniquely special about looking at a truly wild , non habituated Jaguar in the eye, its a very different experience !

4. Supporting Multiple Ecosystems:

By choosing Bolivia as your wildlife destination, you're not only treating yourself to unforgettable experiences but also supporting tourism in multiple ecosystems. Your money contributes to the preservation of diverse habitats and helps sustain local communities dependent on eco-tourism.

5. Unique Photo and Footage Opportunities:

Bolivia offers a unique opportunity to capture photographs and footage of jaguars and pumas in a truly wild setting. With less tourist traffic, you'll have the chance to document these magnificent creatures from different angles and environments, providing a refreshing departure from the repetitive imagery often associated with more popular destinations. Unlike the North Pantanal where 99 percent of sightings are from the constraints of a boat, we often can follow big cats on foot which is a unrivalled experience.

SEE HERE OUR INCREDIBLE JAGUAR VIDEOS BELOW

BOLIVIA JAGUAR WATCHING FOOTAGE

6. Conservation Efforts for the Species in Bolivia

Our Bolivian Jaguar tours supports Jaguar conservation through various initiatives in the Kaa iya del Gran Chaco which is one the most biodiverse yet ignored Protected areas on the planet. We also partner with multiple indigenous communities, Cattle Ranches and Private property's to reduce conflicts and promote sustainable Ecotourism.

7 - Multiple species of Wildlife in addition to Big Cats.

Another reason why Bolivia is the best alternative for big cat viewing of Jaguars is that we also frequently observe smaller felines such as Ocelots and Jaguarundi. Other species we have a high likelihood of observing include Tayra, Tapir, Armadillos, Sloths, Capybara , Marsh Deer and even Pink Dolphins.

In conclusion, Bolivia offers an unparalleled experience for wildlife enthusiasts seeking authentic encounters with jaguars and pumas in their natural habitat. From its affordability to its commitment to preserving diverse ecosystems, Bolivia stands as a beacon for sustainable and immersive wildlife tourism. So, if you're ready for an adventure off the beaten path and the chance to witness these majestic big cats in their untamed glory, Bolivia awaits your exploration.

EXPLORING NOEL KEMPFFF MERCADO NATIONAL PARK

Exploring Noel Kempff Mercado National Park 

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a spectacular National Park situated on the border of Bolivia and Brazil. So remote this park recieves now less than 50 travellers per year. Trips to Noel Kempff National Park offer adventure and wildlife watchers an unrivalled paradise.

We have been lucky enough to visit this National Park on many occasions and plan more expeditions and tours to Noel Kempff Mercado in the near future. 

SEE SOME OF THE IMAGES FROM SOME OF OUR TRIPS TO NOEL KEMPFF MERCADO NATIONAL PARK

These are just a few of the incredible attractions of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. Contact us about arranging an expedition to Noel Kempff Mercado National Park today. 

The best Jungle experience in Bolivia

KAA IYA NATIONAL PARK AND BOLIVIAN PANTANAL TOUR DECEMBER 2018

On December 17th 2018 we embarked on our expedition to visit two of the least visted National Parks in Bolivia which are called Kaa Iya National Park and Otuquis National Park in the Bolivian Pantanal.

The mission was to observe the iconic mammals and reptiles of these incredible regions which include the Jaguar,Tapir and Anaconda.

During the first part of the trip we explored Kaa Iya National Park, sadly as it was the wet season , we had no luck with the Jaguar however we saw a record 10 Tapirs which is an incredible amount. To put this in perspective , i recently spent 16 days in the most part of Madidi National Park and didnt see a single Tapir. We also saw Geoffreys Cat, 9 Banded Armadillo ,Brocket deer, Macaws, Toucans and more.

After weather affected our Kaa iya section we departed to the Bolivian Pantanal and almost instantly we had success with the amazing sighting of a large Yellow Anaconda. 

We explored the rest of the day and had excellent sightings of Capybara, Caimans and best of all an amazing Armadillo as we were leaving the park. 

Overall another fantastic Kaa iya and Pantanal Tour completed and very happy quests. For more information about our wildlife watching tours to Kaa Iya and the Pantanal contact us today 

BEST NON TOURISTIC DESTINATIONS  IN BOLIVIA

Exploring Lomas de Arena Protected Area in Santa Cruz

Sadly the majority of tourists who visit Bolivia just see the same old route, Sucre, Potosi , Uyuni and La Paz before departing though Lake Titicaca. What if we told you about a whole new variety of exciting tourist destinations which most people have never heard of, well here are a few of our favourites.

JARDIN LAS DELICAS WATERFALLS, ( SANTA CRUZ BOLIVIA )

Just 3 hours from Santa Cruz, these waterfalls are a MUST VISIT when travelling through Bolivia. These impressive watefalls are situationed on the border of Amboro National Park.  

TRINIDAD BOLIVIA

The capital of Beni Bolivia, this is the base for a huge variety of adventures, including Pink Dolphin watching, fishing, bird watching and visiting the incredible San Carlos Wildlife Reserve where if lucky can see Jaguars and giant Black Caimans etc.Other attractions include visiting the Gran Mojas Protected Area which is home the endemic and critically endangered Blue throated Macaw or also Chuchini Reserve which is a privately owned reserve with excellent bird and wildlife watching.

SAN MIGUELITO JAGUAR RESERVE 

An incredible reserve teeming with wildlife just 3 hours drive from Santa Cruz Bolivia.This is an eco tourism project where Nicks Adventures Bolivia has helped develop a tour which compensates Ranchers for cattle losses and in turn no Jaguars or hunting is allowed on the property. Activities here include 4WD trips, night safaris, setting up and checking camera traps, light to intense trekking , boat trips along secluded rivers, horse riding, community visits, wildife watching , fishing and much more.

SANTIAGO DE CHIQUITOS 

One of our favourite places in all of Bolivia, locals are catching on and are now visiting on long weekends, as yet international tourists are unware of this paraside. A good tip is to stay at the comfortable Hostel Churpa where the lovely owners will make your stay unforgettable.

LOMAS DE ARENA PROTECTED AREA 

Have you ever seen Jungle meet a desert ? Here is your chance. Just 14km from the city of Santa Cruz lies this paradise. Sandboarding, hiking, and Sloth watching are just some of the areas fun activities. 

 

 These are just a few of our favourite non touristic attractions of Bolivia, for more information about travelling in Bolivia CONTACT US TODAY

DIFFERENT JAGUARS OF SAN MIGUELITO JAGUAR RESERVE 

Amazing sighting of a Jaguar sleeping during an afternoon boat safari at the incredible San Miguelito Jaguar Reserve

San Miguelito Jaguar Reserve is a private property locted just 3.5 hours from the City of Santa Cruz. This reserve was studied in conjunction with Kaa Iya National Park and the results were incredible, this reserve has 11 Jaguars per 100km making it some of the highest densities of Jaguars found anywhere in the world.

In addition to Jaguars this reserve also is home to thriving populations of Puma, Tapirs, Ocelots, Giant Anteaters, Capybara and a huge assortment of birds , amphibians and reptiles of which include the impressive Green Anaconda.

This Reserve is now part of the RUTA DE JAGUAR, and is a conservation project which has been started between the properties owner and local tour operator Nicks Adventures Bolivia with the aim of compensating Ranchers for Cattle Losses caused by Pumas and Jaguars

. In the past many Jaguars were killed here, however since the project has started there have been no Jaguars or Pumas killed on this property.

To monitor the wildlife here, camera traps have been set up around the property and here are some of the best images which have been recorded.

 

As part of the tour, tourists get to check and help set up camera traps on the property

 

A large male Jagaur seen during a canoe trip with tourists

These are just some of many different Jagaurs which have been recorded at the incredible San Miguelito Jagaur Reserve. If you are interested in helping to support this amazing Eco Tourism destination then CONTACT US TODAY 

Money raised from these wildlife watching tours goes directly towards helping to preserve the flora and fauna of this region and also teaches locals that wildife is worth more alive than dead.

NEW WILDIFE WATCHING EXPEDITION IN THE HEART OF BENI BOLIVIA

Spectacular scenery and amazing encounter with a Jaguar , Pink Dolphins and a monster Black Caiman.

On the 17th of Feb, we departed to explore a new area for potential tourism , this project aims to follow in the footsteps of our successful pilot Jaguar conservation project San Miguelito Jaguar Reserve where through tourism we aim to compensate Ranchers who encourage tourism and in turn stops the killing of Jaguars and other wildlife on the properties. With the help and support of the director of Conservation Loros Bolivia( Jose Antiono Diaz )and the friendly and very professional property owner Fenelon we departed Trinidad on this conservation based adventure.

Amazing Queen Victoria WaterLillys along the drive to the Ranch

To reach the Ranch is an adventure in itself, it involves a 5 hour drive with stunning scenery, along the way we observed many Macaws, Capybara and even a dead Anaconda, the owner told us once he had seen a 5 metre Anaconda on the road as well as several Pumas.

Sad remains of a Green Anaconda, killed by a Car on the dirt road towards the Ranch.

After a few hours we finally entered the town of San Ramon, here we crossed a plontoon as there are no bridges to cross the river as yet, we had lunch in the towns Plaza before setting the boat up for the 4 hour long river trip ahead.

To reach the ranch , we nagivated through many different rivers, sadly the first part of the trip was soured by the sight of 4 recently killed endangered Black Caiman which were just shot and left floating in the river. We pushed deeper into the Jungle and the large rivers made way for smaller pristine waterways, here Pink Dolphins, Macaws, Hoatzins and Capybara were frequent and the best sighting we had was of a giant 4 metre plus Black Caiman which was seen close to the Ranch itself. The owner was also suprised at the size of this ancient beast and said later that it was one of the biggest he had ever seen.

By evening we arrived to the Ranch, had a delicious freshly cooked meal and partook in an evening night spotlighting boat trip, here we saw a Cooks Tree Boa, many Spectacled and Black Caiman and some small marsupials. We tried calling for the Jaguar, however they remained elusive.

Horse riding through the pristine Beni Savannahs in search of Maned Wolves and Giant Anteaters.

Day two involved a very early start, here we took horses though the savannahs and we kept an eye out for the resident Giant Anteater or Maned Wolves, sadly they remained elusive. Our mission was to explore a forested island which the owner and rancheros said was teeming with wildlife. They were correct and almost immedietly we saw huge groups of curious squirrel and Capichun Monkeys and literally the whole forest was alive. 

In addition to the Monkeys, the forest was alive with bird life with macaws, trogons, Sun bitterns , Hoatizns and more being seen. Other animals we saw included a Tayra hunting monkeys, Coatis, tracks of Tapirs and huge troops of white lipped Peccaries which are the main food item of the Jaguar.

A family of Capybara basking in the sun,

 The evening boat trip provided the most action , we departed towards a different river, one where the Rancheros had seen a Jaguar just a few days before.

Not the Jaguar we saw, but was of similar size, sadly all of our group was too slow to take any footage of the Jaguar, something we will have to change for our next trip.

As we navigated deeper down the seculded river i noticed in the distance something swimming across the river, however all of us incuding the owner assumed it was a Capybara, as we inched closer we saw that the animal swimming was indeed the very animal we were looking for , the magnificent Jaguar. All of us were memorised at the sight of this giant feline bounding out of the water literally metres from the boat and it was something i know i will never personally forget!

With the mission completed we returned to the Ranch to enjoy what was an amazing day in the Beni Jungle.

The last day we visited another savannah and forested island, hoping for a sighting of the Pampas Deer or Giant Anteater, however as there had been heavy rain the night before and the weather had turned bad the animals were playing hide and seek. 

Jaguar recorded on our camera trap in the San Carlos Ranch

We said good bye to the local workers and made the long way back to Trinidad with everlasting 

memories and the seed for a new and exciting Jaguar conservation based tourist destination in the heart of the second biggest Wetland in the world.
 The aim is to showcase to the world the incredible Department of Beni and work with Cattle Ranchers to develop sustainable tourism and help preserve the incredible biodiversity this largely unknow region has. If we prove that tourism can compensate Ranchers from Jaguar predation then we hope that this will convince many other ranchers to put down their guns, stop killing big cats and be supportive to Eco Tourism in Bolivia.

If you are interested in learning more about this Jaguar/Wildife Conservation Project in the heart of the Beni Wetlands then CONTACT US TODAY for more information.

WHY YOU MUST VISIT SAJAMA NATIONAL PARK IN BOLIVIA

SAJAMA NATIONAL PARK  BOLIVIA

 The oldest and perhaps most scenic National Park in Bolivia

Sajama National Park, located close to the Border of Bolivia and Chile remains one of the most spectacular yet unknow tourist attractions in Bolivia. Its stunning Andean Scenery, Wildlife and lack of tourism provides nature lovers the perfect nature trip in South America.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY WE RECOMMEND A TRIP TO SAJAMA NATIONAL PARK

Andean Wildlife, this is the perfect place to observe Vicunas, a strange animal which was once nearly hunted to extinction, it now thrives thanks to increased protection and is just 1 of many different Andean Wildlife species which thrives here.

Star gazing, Sajama National Park is far away from the pollution of the developed world, leaving Photographers and star gazers incredible views.

Geysers and Thermal springs are everywhere, and where else in the world can you sit in thermal waters with views like this !! 

Some of the most beautiful sunsets found anywhere on the Planet, and is just another reason to visit Sajama National Park.

Culture, explore the villages of Sajama National Park and get to know the locals and their customs and traditions.

Birdwatching in Sajama is amazing, here you can observe Flamingoes and many other Andean Species which usually congregate around the lakes in Sajama.

* All photos are property of Nicks Adventures Bolivia, Photographer Ivan Gutierrez 

These are just some of many reasons to visit this incredible National Park , If you are after more information about our spectacular Sajama National Park Tours then dont hesitate to CONTACT US TODAY