Bolivia - National Parks

When travelling around South America, the "main hubs" for airline movement include Bogota, Sao Paulo, Lima, and Santa Cruz in Bolivia.  Accordingly, visitors often will find great deals if routing via Santa Cruz, ​a perfect jumping-off spot to view the many delights in Bolivia before going on to other destinations.

When it comes to National Parks in Bolivia, few other countries offer the variety and number of pristine locations as can be found here, ranging from Amazon rainforest, to high-Andes and Chaco eco-systems, to fresh-water wetlands and high-Andes salt flats!  Continue below to see our top recommendations.
Amazonia
Without a doubt, Madidi NP located in the Amazon zone NW of La Paz offers one of the greatest quantity and variety of flora and fauna in the world!  This includes some 1000 bird species and large populations of iconic mammals such as jaguar, maned wolf, spectacled bear, giant otter, and the recently discovered titi monkey.   It is best reached in a short flight from La Paz, landing at Rurrenabaque.   Whilst cheaper tour operators can be found, the best charge more and take guests deep into the jungle where big animals are least disturbed.  A minimum of 3 nights is recommended; 4 nights/5 days is optimal, ideally between May to September.  We urge clients to book into the several eco-lodges that work closely with the local communities.   A 5- day tour with stay in rustic cabins starts at US$ 1,250/person ​(2022 season).
(NB. Visitors to any Amazon destination will need Yellow Fever shots)
​Amboro National Park
​Amboro NP is another of our favourites, offering easy access normally by road from Santa Cruz.   It abuts the Carrasco NP and is unique as 3 eco-systems meet here, namely the Amazon, Andes and Chaco eco-environments.  This creates great diversity, especially in plants, birds and butterfly/moth species.  It is believed to be the only location worldwide where the rare Horned Curassow can be found.  Larger mammals such as jaguar and ocelots, tapirs and giant anteaters, and great gangs of monkeys are also present, but more elusive!  As at Madidi, the more costly tour services tend to deliver the best results!  A minimum stay of 3 nights is suggested, ideally in the drier season between May to September.  A registered tour guide MUST be hired to visit this park.  Rates, 4 days/3 nights typically from US$ 700/person​ (2022 season).
Kaa Iya National Park
Part of the larger Gran Chaco NP in the SE of Bolivia, Kaa Iya NP has increasingly featured as THE location in the world to spot jaguar!  Also tapirs, puma, giant armadillos, monkeys and many species of birds.  But it is remote, very hot, and difficult to access, with only a limited number of licensed tour operators/guides permitted to take guests into the park.  The daily routine includes very early starts, long periods in vehicles/hides waiting for animals to pass, and late night searchlight "hunts".  But the success rate is high!  The average cost of a 3 day/2 night tour is anywhere between US$300 – 950/person ​(2022 season), depending on the quality of guide.  Rates typically include transfer from Santa Cruz; guiding in the Park; 4x4 transport; all meals and accommodation in "basic" lodging or tents.  Visiting can be conducted all year.
The Pantanal
The Pantanal is the world's largest freshwater wetland eco-system, sitting on the eastern border of Bolivia with SW Brazil.  Access can be via Bolivia's Puerto Suarez (rail or air) or by air into Cuiaba or Campo Grande from the Brazilian side.   Put simply, unlike in the Amazon, animals cannot hide here, so the Pantanal is just filled with wildlife!   This includes jaguar, giant otters, anacondas, caiman, marsh deer, tapirs, and a vast variety of birds.  Rainy season is December to March, when the roads are flooded, but great horseback excursions and boat tours can be experienced then.  Mammals gather on the fewer dry spots.  In the dry season, June to November, the floodwaters reduce to smaller pools/lagoons, making vehicle access easier and increasing chances to view animals at the fewer watering holes.  A 4 day/5 night tour is recommended, typically costing from US$ 850/person ​(2022 season).
Salar de Uyuni
​Last, but definitely not least, is Bolivia's AWESOME Salar de Uyuni located in the southwest of Bolivia, near the border with Chile.  The world's largest salt flat, holding some 70% of the planet's lithium reserves and other precious salts such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, it is home to three types of flamingos and other rare examples of Andean flora and fauna.   Delighting photographers when it becomes a virtual mirror as rains arrive in March/April during the "Altiplano winter", it can be visited all year round. The "circuit" is usually combined with a visit to the Salar itself, the Tree of Stone, the Red Lagoon (Laguna Colorada), the Green Lagoon (Laguna Verde) and the Train Cemetery by Uyuni.  Ideally, visitors should also try to visit the beautiful Eduardo Avaroa NP located in the extreme SW corner of Bolivia, which features snow-capped volcanoes and more Andean wildlife.   A minimum stay at Uyuni would require 3 days/2 nights, costing from US$ 955/person (2022 season) with an upmarket tour operator, staying in one of several 3* "hotels of salt", a truly unique experience​!
Working with Nature
For younger visitors on perhaps a "gap year", or older travellers with more time who want to get really close to nature, several of the National Parks in South America encourage "interns" to work with them for a few months as volunteers.  One such great project in Bolivia is Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY).   This non-governmental organization is dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and rehabilitating sick, mistreated or abandoned wildlife.  CIWY also teaches Bolivians about the importance of leaving wildlife in its natural habitat and the negative effects of the animal trade. The organization is run by excellent and highly committed permanent staff and supported by the generosity and hard work of international volunteers that stay for a minimum of two weeks.  Our son stayed with CIWY for several months, so had the honour of caring for a young puma, Leoncio!  Many of the wildlife photos shown here are his! 
​For MORE on Inti Wara Yassi click HERE!