Amboró National Park

Amboró is a protected area in Santa Cruz Department that spreads across forested slopes and river valleys between the Amazon basin and the Andes mountains. The landscape shifts from humid rainforest in lower elevations to cloud forest higher up, cut through by clear streams and waterfalls.

The area received its first protection status in 1973 as a wildlife reserve before becoming a national park in 1984. Its boundaries were adjusted several times later to reduce pressure from settlement and agriculture in the buffer zones.

Three distinct communities inhabit the park boundaries: highland settlers in the north, valley peasants in the south, and Guarayas communities in the eastern section.

Several trails lead through different parts of the park, with shorter routes taking about an hour and longer hikes requiring half a day. Sturdy footwear and rain protection are advisable since paths can be muddy and sudden showers are common.

The park sits at the crossroads of three major ecosystems, where species from the Amazon, the Andes and the dry Chaco meet. This geographic position makes it a hotspot for biological diversity with unusual combinations of wildlife and plants.