25°C
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
few clouds
Humidity 80%
  • Low Temp. 25.4°C
  • High Temp. 25.4°C

Santa Cruz

When you think about Bolivia, Santa Cruz is probably not first on your list which is why you will want to to keep reading.

Ideal for acclimation purposes and to see a different side of Bolivia, Santa Cruz sits at a mere 416 meters above sea level and is home to some of the country’s most amazing national parks.

The spectacular biodiversity and ecological positioning of Bolivia is best found in the Santa Cruz department and, from the city, you can reach three national parks which would probably make most countries “must visit” lists.

Amboro is a dream for birdwatch enthusiasts with nearly 1,000 species residing there, whilst also offering monkey-spotting opportunities (it's also home to some wild bears). The giant Noel Kempff Mercado park, which covers over 1.5 million hectares, is a marvel in that it covers five distinct habitats, from the savannah to the Amazon, and is inhabited by over 4,000 species. The park is also a Unesco World Heritage site.

If you thought Noel Kempff sounded big, then you may be surprised to hear it isn't even the biggest national park in Bolivia! Kaa-Iya National Park (meaning mountain owners in Guarani) is a mammoth 3.4 million hectares and is the best place to try and observe jaguars and pumas in the wild.

Another attraction situated just 25 km from the City of Santa Cruz is the beautiful yet rarely visited protected area Lomas de Arena Regional Park. The main attractions are the never ending Sand Dunes (which cover over 3000 hectares) which present adventurous travellers Bolivia’s best Sand boarding opportunities, as well as first class Sand boarding Lomas de Arena offers nature lovers great opportunities for wildlife and bird watching. The forests that surround the desert are home to Sloths, Caimans, Capybara’s and many species of Monkeys, Pumas or Mountain Lions have also occasionally been recorded in this reserve as well. Birding is excellent and over 286 different species have been recorded, iconic species such as the Red Legged Sierma, Touca Toucan and Pink Flamingo have been registered.