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Plants and Habitats in the Elbow of the Andes
By Oikobit
Free cancellation available
per adult
Features
- Free cancellation available
- 11d
- Mobile voucher
- Instant confirmation
- Selective hotel pickup
- Multiple languages
Overview
Bolivia's “Elbow of the Andes” is an area of great biological significance, a hotspot with high levels of diversity and endemism. We are the only operator offering comprehensive visits to this remote and unexplored area. Our guides, local naturalists, will help you understand both nature and culture.
We will use paved and unpaved roads through stunning scenery, doing short walks to creeks, ravines, and rock outcrops. We will explore the wet Bolivian-Tucuman forest, Chaco-Serrano dry forests, and the unique inter-Andean valleys, each one drier than the previous one. We will visit the only known wild populations of the endemic palm Parajubaea, the rare Cardenasiodendron endemic tree, and one of the few locations with Puya raimondii, the largest bromeliad on Earth. With luck, we will also spot endemic bird species, like the red-fronter paraba and other fauna.
Dates may require coordination. Suggested: November (cacti floration) and April/May 2024 (end of wet season). Duration: 11 days.
Activity location
- Samaipata
- Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)
- Avenida G77
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Check availability
Plants and Habitats in the Elbow of the Andes in Multilingual
- 11d
- Opening hours: Wed 12:00 am-11:30 pm
- English
Pickup included
Price details
AU$4,986.96 x 1 AdultAU$4,986.96
Total
What's included, what's not
- Lodging is included.
- Airfares to/from Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
- Alcoholic drinks and other personal expenses
- Individual travel or health insurance
Know before you book
- Service animals allowed
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Activity itinerary
Day 1: Santa Cruz - tree fern forest - Samaipata
- 1 stop
- Meals: lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will stay at one of the several available options in Samaipata town.
Samaipata
- 12h
- Admission ticket included
We will travel by road around 3 hours from Santa Cruz into the mountains around Samaipata. Along the way, we will encounter representative samples of Yungas cloud forests.
The highlight of the day is a 3-hours walk in a forest of tree ferns near Samaipata. Possibly one of the areas in the world with the highest concentration of these primitive organisms, giving a glimpse to how the world looked like during the Carboniferous period.
We will spend the night in Samaipata, a picturesque and welcoming town situated at 1400 metres above sea level. The village invites you to short strolls through its charming streets. With a wide array of restaurants and lodging establishments, it provides a perfect setting for a delightful break.
Day 2: Samaipata - Postrervalle - sunkha palm - Vallegrande
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: Vallegrande is the main town in the area and has several comfortable hotel options.
Vallegrande
- 12h
The journey takes a from Samaipata to the South until the small town of Postrervalle. This transition offers a unique glimpse of the ecotone between the Yungas cloud forest and the encounter with the dry inter-Andean valleys.
From Postrervalle we will continue our trip towards the west in direction to Vallegrande. In this unpaved road we will find the only relict populations of Parajubaea sunkha. This critically endangered palm is one of the only two species of Parajubaea, an endemic genus of palm with few relict populations in the area covered by our trip.
From Postrervalle we will arrive to Vallegrande to spend the night. This colonial village is predominantly engaged in agriculture and livestock activities, complemented by a modest but charming selection of culinary delights and accommodation options.
Day 3: Vallegrande - Pucará - Santa Rosa bridge over Río Grande
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will camp at the Santa Rosa bridge over the Río Grande river. Informal but comfortable.
Pucara
- 12h
The journey to Río Grande river unfolds over several hours, punctuated by numerous stops for observation and interpretation. Initially tracing the historic site of Che Guevara's guerrilla battles, the route transcends this narrative to showcase a captivating transition from Vallegrande through the heights of Pucará, influenced by the Tucuman-Bolivian Forest, and ultimately descends to Rio Grande river.
Here, a convergence of watercourses from the dry inter-Andean valleys creates a striking landscape. The valley, largely unexplored until very recently, is now accessible by road thanks to a new bridge, where we will camp. The place is home to a plethora of endemic cactus and bromeliads. The breathtaking scenic beauty unfolds between the mountains and the river. It is common to spot various bird species, including the Andean condor.
Day 4: Santa Rosa bridge over Río Grande - Villa Serrano
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: Villa Serrano is a town of moderate size. We will spend the night on one the existing hostals.
Villa Serrano
- 12h
The day offers a gradual transition towards the valleys of Chuquisaca, departing from Rio Grande Valley. Winding through the mountains of central Bolivia, we will have time for frequent stops and explorations to appreciate the gradual changes in conditions and vegetation before arriving to Villa Serrano. We will rest in this town before the long route waiting for us the next day.
Day 5: Villa Serrano - Presto - El Palmar
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will spend the night at the community-owned eco-lodge in El Palmar.
Presto
- 12h
The journey continues through Presto and ascends to the El Palmar Protected Area, where we will spend the night. Roads are not good, as the area is truly remote.
El Palmar, while relatively small for Bolivia, is a habitat for another species of the endemic genus palm, Parajubaea torallyi. El Palmar is a Quechua-Yampara community, of cultural and historical significance. The community manages an eco-lodge where we will be able to spend the night comfortably. We will enjoy a dinner featuring "janchicoco", the fruit of Parajubaea torallyi that has been integrated into the local gastronomy under careful management plans.
Day 6: El Palmar - Presto - Sucre
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: Sucre is a modern city with plenty of options for comfortable accommodation.
Sucre
- 12h
After a restful night at the community-owned lodge, the following day unfolds with a morning walk to observe the region's flora. The trek takes you through the relict populations of the palm, which are well-integrated into a very particular forest type with other endemic and unique species. This unique environment also serves as the habitat for another endemic species, the Red-fronted Macaw, known for nesting in these towering palms.
After a restful break and lunch prepared by the community, we'll journey towards Sucre, a colonial city and the constitutional capital of the country (though administrative functions are in La Paz). Sucre invites leisurely strolls to delve into the nation's history, indulge in diverse gastronomy, and enjoy a comfortable stay at a hotel. This marks a well-deserved respite after several nights in lodges and campsites, offering a moment for proper relaxation.
Day 7: Sucre - Aiquile - Mizque - Kuri bridge
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will camp near the Caine river, not far from the main road.
Aiquile
- 12h
The Kuri Valley, in the upper part of the Caine river, stands as a highly representative area of the inter-Andean dry valleys and vegetation that has evolved to survive in these challenging conditions.
Aiquile and Mizque are charming towns nestled amidst the valleys of the Cochabamba Department, in one of the regions with the lowest rainfall. Despite this, the area boasts remarkable agricultural productivity. Along the journey, you'll witness several fascinating valleys, each showcasing diverse flora, often found in small relicts along streams and watercourses, prompting various stops for exploration.
We will camp in a singular spot near the Kuri Canyon, halfway to the town of Vacas in Cochabamba.
Day 8: Kuri bridge - stand of Puya raimondii - Mizque
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will spend the night in a hostal or small hotel in Mizque.
Vacas
- 12h
From the Kuri bridge we will go up for a while till reaching almost 4000 m in elevation. There, in the Vacas municipality, we will find a few stands of Puya raimondii, the largest bromeliad on Earth, also known as the Queen of the Andes for a reason. Visiting this impressive plant is the highlight of the day, one of the highlights of the trip, and a highlight in the life of anyone loving bromeliads or plants in general.
This very slow-growing plant reaches truly impressive sizes, considering that it is non-woody. It grows for 100 years or more, then produces an inflorescence of several metres in size, with millions of flowers. After fruiting, once, it dies.
Its life cycle is not well-known, but it seems it flowers anytime during the year, so we will have the chance to observe several or many flowering individuals.
After visiting the Puya stand, we will go back to spend the night at Mizque.
Day 9: Mizque - Aiquile - Omereque
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: Community eco-lodge at Omereque.
Omereque
- 12h
The journey to Omereque winds through diverse sandy and arid valleys, with open vegetation and plenty of spines, including those of a plethora of cactus species. There will be several meso-environments worth exploring. There are high chances of seeing several species that you won't see again anywhere else in the world.
Omereque is home to a nesting area for the Red-fronted Macaw, an endemic species in the Central Valleys of Bolivia, classified as threatened. To support conservation efforts, the community has built a tourist lodge, showcasing and valuing this unique species, where we will spend the night.
Day 10: Omereque - Pulquina Abajo - Mataral - Samaipata
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Accommodation: We will spend the night in one of the several hotels in Samaipata.
Mataral
- 12h
We will close the cycle by returning to Samaipata again through a different route. The gradient in precipitation is very marked along the route, and we will observe several complete turnovers of plant communities along the way. Near Mataral we will abandon "Cactus land" to enter again into the wetter mountains more exposed to the Amazonian winds.
Day 11: Samaipata - Santa Cruz
- 1 stop
- Meals: breakfast, lunch
- Accommodation: Not included
Santa Cruz
- 12h
We will use the day to buffer delays that could have happened during the previous days. If everything has gone well, we will have time to visit a hummingbird sanctuary a few kilometres away from Samaipata. There, around 20 different species have been recorded, and landowners keep a variety of local plants that feed these typically Andean bird species.
After that, we will repeat the route of our first day, back to Santa Cruz. We will stop on demand and depending on time availability and energies.
Location
Activity location
- Samaipata
- Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Viru Viru International Airport (VVI)
- Avenida G77
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia
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